NHS Unsocial Hours Calculator
Nights, Saturdays, Sundays — unsocial hours can add thousands to your NHS pay. Pick your band, enter your typical unsocial hours, and see what your rota is really worth.
How unsocial hours pay works
Under Agenda for Change Section 2, time worked between 21:00 and 06:00 on weekdays, and all Saturday hours, are paid at your basic hourly rate plus 30%. Sundays and bank holidays are paid at basic plus 60%. The premium counts towards your pension and is taxed like the rest of your pay — which is why the calculator above shows the take-home figure, not just the headline premium.
Unsocial hours questions
What percentage is NHS unsocial hours pay?
Plus 30% of basic pay for Saturdays and weekday nights (21:00–06:00), and plus 60% for Sundays and bank holidays, under Agenda for Change Section 2.
Is unsocial hours pay pensionable?
Yes — regular unsocial hours enhancements are pensionable pay in the NHS Pension Scheme, so they increase both your contributions and your eventual pension.
Do all NHS staff get Section 2 rates?
Most Agenda for Change staff do, but some groups — notably certain staff on Annex 5 arrangements — have unsocial hours built into their salary differently. Check your contract if your payslip looks different.
How much is a night shift worth at Band 5?
At the Band 5 entry point the basic hourly rate is about £16.45, so each unsocial hour adds roughly £4.93 at the 30% rate or £9.87 at the 60% rate, before tax and pension. Use the calculator for your exact band and rota.