NHS Pay Calculator UK 2026/27
Calculate your exact NHS take-home pay after tax, National Insurance, and pension. All Agenda for Change bands 2–9, spine points, London weighting, and part-time pro-rata. Free, instant, no sign-up.
| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | ||
| Gross pay | ||
| NHS Pension | ||
| Income Tax | ||
| National Insurance | ||
| Take-home pay |
NHS Agenda for Change pay bands 2026/27
The NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) framework sets pay for most NHS staff in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Each role is assigned to a pay band (Band 2 to Band 9) based on the skills, responsibilities, and qualifications required. Within each band, staff progress through spine points based on years of experience. The NHS salary structure covers over 1.3 million workers and is reviewed annually through collective bargaining.
| Band | Entry salary | Top of band | Spine points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £23,615 | £23,615 | 1 |
| Band 3 | £24,071 | £25,674 | 2 |
| Band 4 | £26,530 | £27,596 | 2 |
| Band 5 | £29,970 | £36,483 | 5 |
| Band 6 | £37,338 | £44,962 | 5 |
| Band 7 | £46,148 | £52,809 | 5 |
| Band 8a | £53,755 | £60,504 | 4 |
| Band 8b | £62,215 | £72,293 | 4 |
| Band 8c | £73,664 | £86,074 | 4 |
| Band 8d | £86,970 | £101,677 | 4 |
| Band 9 | £105,385 | £121,271 | 4 |
Band 5 is the entry point for newly qualified registered nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals. Band 6 covers experienced nurses and specialist practitioners. Band 7 is for advanced practitioners, ward managers, and team leaders. Bands 8a–9 are for senior managers, consultants, and directors.
Related: Band 5 nurse budgeting guide | Band 6 nurse budgeting guide | Band 7 nurse budgeting guide
NHS London weighting and location supplements
NHS staff working in and around London receive a High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) to help with the increased cost of living. These supplements are added to your base salary and are pensionable, meaning they count towards your pension calculation.
Location supplement rates
Inner London: £6,469 per year — applies to NHS trusts within the M25 and central London boroughs. This covers hospitals like Guy’s and St Thomas’, UCLH, King’s College, and Royal London.
Outer London: £4,693 per year — applies to NHS trusts in outer London boroughs. This includes hospitals like Croydon University Hospital, Barnet Hospital, and Queen’s Hospital Romford.
Fringe: £1,192 per year — applies to areas surrounding London, including parts of Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey, and Berkshire.
Part-time staff receive the supplement pro-rated based on their contracted hours. For example, a 0.6 WTE nurse in Inner London receives £6,469 × 0.6 = £3,881 per year.
Related: How to budget on £45,000 | Budgeting on £50,000
NHS pension contributions explained
The NHS Pension Scheme is one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK. It is a defined benefit (DB) scheme, meaning your pension is based on your career average earnings and years of service, not on investment performance. Your employer contributes 20.6% of your pensionable pay on top of your own contribution.
Contribution rates for 2026/27
NHS pension contributions are based on your pensionable pay (which includes base salary and any location supplement). The rate that applies is determined by which tier your total pensionable pay falls into:
| Pensionable pay | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £13,259 | 5.1% |
| £13,260 – £16,831 | 5.7% |
| £16,832 – £22,878 | 6.1% |
| £22,879 – £26,823 | 6.8% |
| £26,824 – £32,691 | 7.7% |
| £32,692 – £49,472 | 8.8% |
| Above £49,472 | 10.0% |
NHS pension contributions are deducted from your gross pay before income tax is calculated (a “net pay” arrangement). This means you automatically receive tax relief on your contributions. However, National Insurance is calculated on your gross pay before pension deductions.
While opting out of the NHS pension increases your monthly take-home pay, it is rarely recommended. You would lose the 20.6% employer contribution, the tax relief, and access to a secure defined benefit pension. For a Band 6 nurse on £37,338, opting out forfeits £7,692 per year in employer contributions alone.
Related: Salary sacrifice calculator | Junior doctor budgeting guide
How to calculate your NHS take-home pay
Your NHS take-home pay is calculated by applying deductions to your gross salary in a specific order. Understanding this helps you plan your budget and make informed decisions about overtime, additional hours, and salary sacrifice schemes.
Step-by-step calculation
1. Start with your base salary — this is determined by your AfC band and spine point. Use the calculator above to find your exact figure.
2. Add location supplement — if you work in or around London, add the relevant HCAS (Inner London £6,469, Outer London £4,693, Fringe £1,192).
3. Adjust for part-time — multiply by (your hours ÷ 37.5) if you work part-time.
4. Deduct salary sacrifice — if you have any salary sacrifice arrangements (e.g. Cycle to Work), deduct this from your gross. This reduces both tax and NI.
5. Deduct NHS pension — apply the pension tier rate to your pensionable pay. This reduces your taxable income but not your NI.
6. Calculate income tax — apply 2026/27 tax rates to your taxable income (gross minus pension minus personal allowance).
7. Calculate National Insurance — apply NI rates to your gross pay (after salary sacrifice but before pension). 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, then 2% above.
8. Deduct student loan — if applicable, 9% of earnings above the threshold for your plan.
The calculator above does all of this automatically. Simply select your band, spine point, and options to see your exact take-home figure.
Related: How to budget your salary in the UK | Best budgeting apps UK 2026
Frequently asked questions about NHS pay
How much does a Band 5 NHS nurse earn after tax?
A Band 5 nurse on the entry spine point earns a gross NHS salary of £29,970 per year. After NHS pension contributions (7.7%), income tax, and National Insurance, the monthly take-home pay is approximately £1,938. This rises to around £2,460 per month at the top of Band 5 (£36,483). London-based nurses earn more thanks to the High Cost Area Supplement.
What is the average NHS salary in the UK?
The average NHS salary varies significantly by band and role. Healthcare assistants (Band 2–3) earn £23,615–£25,674, while newly qualified nurses and AHPs (Band 5) earn £29,970–£36,483. Senior nurses and specialists (Band 6–7) earn £37,338–£52,809. The median NHS salary across all staff is approximately £33,000–£35,000. Use the calculator above to find the exact NHS salary for your band.
Is NHS pension worth it or should I opt out?
The NHS pension is almost always worth keeping. For every pound you contribute, your employer adds 20.6% of your pensionable pay to the scheme. A Band 5 nurse on £29,970 who opts out gains around £192 per month in take-home pay but forfeits £6,174 per year in employer pension contributions. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme — your retirement income is guaranteed regardless of stock market performance.
Does NHS London weighting count towards my pension?
Yes. The High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) is pensionable, meaning it is included when calculating both your pension contributions and your eventual pension benefits. A Band 6 nurse with Inner London weighting has a pensionable pay of £43,807 (£37,338 + £6,469) rather than just the base salary.
Budgeting tips for NHS staff
2026/27 UK tax rates used in this calculator
This calculator uses the following HMRC rates and thresholds for the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027).
| Band | Rate | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | 0% | Up to £12,570 |
| Basic rate | 20% | £12,571 – £50,270 |
| Higher rate | 40% | £50,271 – £125,140 |
| Additional rate | 45% | Over £125,140 |
| NI / Student Loan | Rate | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| NI — primary | 8% | £12,570 – £50,270 |
| NI — upper | 2% | Above £50,270 |
| Student loan Plan 1 | 9% | Above £24,990 |
| Student loan Plan 2 | 9% | Above £27,295 |
| Student loan Plan 5 | 9% | Above £25,000 |
Personal allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income above £100,000, creating an effective 60% marginal rate between £100,000 and £125,140. This affects NHS staff on Band 8d and Band 9.
Related: Budgeting on £80,000 | Solicitor salary guide
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