✓ Updated for 2026/27 — 3.3% pay award confirmed

NHS Take Home Pay Calculator 2026/27

Created by NHS Pay Calculator Team | Verified by NHS Payroll Specialists | Last reviewed: 18 April 2026

Calculate your exact take-home pay after tax, National Insurance, and NHS pension contributions. Updated for all AfC Bands 2–9 with regional adjustments.

Your years in current band
⏰ Shifts & Overtime ▼
📋 Deductions ▼
e.g., Cycle to Work, tech scheme
Default: 1257L
📈 Projected Pay Rise (Simulator) ▼
Monthly Take Home
£0.00
per month
Gross Annual Salary £0
Gross Pay £0
Income Tax -£0
National Insurance -£0
NHS Pension (0%) -£0
Annual Take Home £0
Weekly Take Home £0
Standard Hourly £0
Unsocial Hourly £0
Effective Tax Rate 0%
Note: Based on Tax Code 1257L. Updated for confirmed 3.3% AfC pay award effective 1 April 2026.

Last updated: 18 April 2026 | Next update: May 2026 (when new pay scales confirmed)

Data sources: NHS Employers (pay scales) | HMRC (tax rates) | NHS BSA (pension tiers) | HMRC (NI rates)

Quick Take Home Pay Guide — All NHS Bands 2026/27

Reference table showing the minimum spine point (starting salary) per band — the same Agenda for Change figures published in our full NHS pay scales guide for England/Wales/Northern Ireland, effective 1 April 2026. Take-home totals use the calculator above with tax code 1257L, standard employee NHS pension tiers, England income tax rates, full-time hours 37.5, and no student loan. They are illustrative: your payslip is the authoritative record.

Band Job Roles Starting Salary Monthly Gross Pension % Monthly Take Home*
Band 2 Healthcare Assistants £23,615 £1,968 6.5% ~£1,608
Band 3 Senior HCAs £24,336 £2,028 6.5% ~£1,648
Band 4 Assistant Practitioners £26,530 £2,211 6.5% ~£1,770
Band 5 Newly Qualified Nurses £30,049 £2,504 8.3% ~£1,930
Band 6 Specialist Nurses £36,483 £3,040 9.8% ~£2,244
Band 7 Ward Managers £44,608 £3,717 9.8% ~£2,678
Band 8a Modern Matrons £53,134 £4,428 10.7% ~£3,117
Band 8b Senior Managers £62,970 £5,248 10.7% ~£3,586
Band 8c Assistant Directors £76,702 £6,392 12.5% ~£4,108
Band 8d Directors £93,385 £7,782 12.5% ~£4,810
Band 9 Executive Directors £111,653 £9,304 12.5% ~£5,579

*Rounded to nearest pound. Pension rate shown is for the NHS Pension Scheme tier that applies at that spine point.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Select your region — England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland (Scotland has different tax rates)
  2. Choose your pay band — Band 2 through Band 9
  3. Select spine point — Your experience level within the band
  4. Enter contract hours — Full-time (37.5) or part-time
  5. Add location supplement — If working in London or fringe areas (England only)
  6. Confirm pension status — Contributing or opted out
  7. Add student loan — If applicable
  8. Click calculate — See your exact monthly take-home pay

What your result means (and what it does not)

The figures above consolidate public rules into one estimate. They reflect the Agenda for Change basic pay stored in our open dataset plus the statutory PAYE building blocks spelled out on our methodology page. Payroll teams still adjust for arrears, on-call mapping, honorary contracts, maternity pay smoothing, taxable benefits, AVCs, irregular additional hours, cumulative tax adjustments, bespoke tax codes — anything we cannot infer from dropdowns.

NHS Pay Bands Explained 2026/27

Band 2 — Healthcare Assistants (£23,615–£24,336)

Entry-level clinical support roles — Healthcare Assistants, porters, and similar AfC Band 2 posts. England full-time salaries for 2026/27 span two spine points; progression is yearly on anniversary while you remain on the band.

Band 3 — Senior Healthcare Assistants (£24,336–£25,674)

More senior support roles requiring additional competency. Uses two spine points in 2026/27 in England/Wales/Northern Ireland.

Band 4 — Assistant Practitioners (£26,530–£29,114)

Assistant practitioners and technician-style roles bridging support and registration. Includes four spine points.

Band 5 — Newly Qualified Nurses & AHPs (£30,049–£36,483)

Newly qualified registered nurses, allied health professionals, midwives and similar — the band most searched by clinical staff moving from student to substantive post. Seven spine points in England from April 2026.

Band 6 — Specialist Nurses & Senior Therapists (£36,483–£44,608)

Senior bedside and specialist clinicians (e.g., sister/charge roles, specialist nurses, senior therapists). Shares the Band 5 top spinal value at entry in England: promotion often unlocks future increments, not an immediate jump in basic pay.

Band 7 — Advanced Practitioners & Ward Managers (£44,608–£53,134)

Advanced practice and first-line managerial roles. Six spinal points carry you from Band 7 entry to overlap with Band 8a starting pay — see pay scales tables for each point.

Band 8a–8d — Senior Leaders & Directors

Senior management and leadership roles from Modern Matrons (8a) through to Directors (8d).

NHS Pension Contributions 2026/27 — Is It Worth It?

The NHS Pension Scheme uses a tiered contribution system based on your pensionable pay:

Tier Pensionable Pay Contribution Rate Example (Band 5)
1 Up to £13,259 5.2% —
2 £13,260–£28,854 6.5% —
3 £28,855–£35,155 8.3% ~£208/month (Band 5, starting spine)
4 £35,156–£52,778 9.8% —
5 £52,779–£67,668 10.7% —
6 £67,669+ 12.5% —

Why it's worth it: At Band 5’s starting spine point in England 2026/27, typical member NHS Pension contributions land around £208/month (8.3% tier). On-top employer contributions apply at broadly 23.7% of pensionable pay (check your trust’s briefing for the precise rate). Giving up pension to lift short-term cash also gives up valuable defined-benefit accrual — model your trade-offs before opting out.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Band 5 nurse take home in 2026/27? ▼
Starting Band 5 salary of £30,049 gives roughly £1,930/month take home on our England model using tax code 1257L, standard NI rules, no student loan and the 8.3% pension tier that applies before you cross into higher contribution bands. Payslips can differ slightly.
How much does a Band 6 nurse take home? ▼
Band 6 starting salary (£36,483) attracts the 9.8% pension tier. Our calculator yields about £2,244/month net in England with pension on and no student loans — rounded; see methodology for deductions order.
Is the NHS pension worth it? ▼
At the Band 5 starting spine point member contributions sit around £208/month — well below the hypothetical “lost employer match” headline people quote from older examples. Employer rates are materially higher still (typically ~23.7%). Read your Total Reward Statement and our pension estimator before opting out solely for marginal net pay.
How is London weighting calculated? ▼
Inner London adds 20% of basic salary (capped at £8,172/year). Outer London adds 15% (capped at £5,924/year). Fringe adds 5% (capped at £2,077/year).
Does the 3.3% pay rise apply to all NHS staff? ▼
Yes — the 3.3% award applies to all Agenda for Change staff from 1 April 2026. Scottish NHS staff receive 3.75% under a separately negotiated deal.