UK NHS Take-Home Pay
Calculator 2026-27
Net pay for NHS staff on the 2026/27 Agenda for Change scales (effective 1 April 2026). Applies the 2026/27 NHS Pension Scheme tiers (5.2-12.5%), Income Tax, NIC, Student Loan and the £125 HMRC uniform flat rate expense — by region (Rest of England / Outer London / Inner London / Fringe) and band (Band 2 through Band 9).
Read the full answer — method, rates and figures
Quick answer: UK NHS take-home pay 2026-27 = Gross salary (AfC band + HCA) − NHS Pension contribution (tiered 5.2-12.5%, pre-tax via net pay) − Income Tax (PAYE: 0% to £12,570 PA, 20% to £50,270, 40% to £125,140, 45% above) − NIC (8% £12,571-£50,270, 2% above, on FULL gross — no pension relief on NIC) − Student Loan (9% above plan threshold). On the 2026/27 scales, a Band 5 newly-qualified nurse in the rest of England on £32,073 takes home about £24,508 a year (£2,042 a month) after £2,662 pension (8.3%), £3,343 Income Tax and £1,560 NIC, with the £125 uniform flat rate expense.
Inner London Band 5 entry with the £6,415 HCAS nets about £28,238 (£2,353 a month). Band 7 top £56,515 nets about £39,758 (£3,313 a month).
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Gross (base + HCA)
£32,073
£2,673/mo
NHS Pension (8.30%)
£2,662
Pre-tax
Tax + NIC + SL
£4,903
15.29% of gross
Take-home
£24,508
£2,042/mo
Calculation breakdown
- • Basic salary (Band 5 (entry — newly qualified nurse, AHP, midwife)): £32,073
- • Total gross pay: £32,073
- • NHS Pension Scheme contribution (8.30% tier, pre-tax via net pay): −£2,662
- • HMRC uniform flat rate expense: −£125
- • Taxable income after pension + expenses: £29,286
- • Income Tax (PAYE 0/20/40/45%): −£3,343
- • National Insurance Class 1 (8/2%, on full gross): −£1,560
- • Net take-home: £24,508 / £2,042 per month
- Effective deduction rate: 23.59% of gross
NHS Agenda for Change 2026/27 — rest-of-England base pay
NHS Employers, Pay scales for 2026/27, effective 1 April 2026. HCAS on top: Fringe 5% (£1,346–£2,270), Outer London 15% (£4,870–£6,137), Inner London 20% (£5,794–£8,746). Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own rates.
| Band / Spine | Rest of England | + Inner London (capped) |
|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 | £31,066 |
| Band 3 | £25,760 | £31,554 |
| Band 3 | £27,476 | £33,270 |
| Band 4 | £28,392 | £34,186 |
| Band 4 | £31,157 | £37,388 |
| Band 5 | £32,073 | £38,488 |
| Band 5 | £34,592 | £41,510 |
| Band 5 | £39,043 | £46,852 |
| Band 6 | £39,959 | £47,951 |
| Band 6 | £48,117 | £56,863 |
| Band 7 | £49,387 | £58,133 |
| Band 7 | £56,515 | £65,261 |
| Band 8a | £60,417 | £69,163 |
| Band 8b | £70,896 | £79,642 |
| Band 8c | £84,346 | £93,092 |
| Band 8d | £100,140 | £108,886 |
| Band 9 | £119,583 | £128,329 |
Pay progression moves you to the next step point after 2 years at entry, then 2 more years (Band 5) or 3 more years (Bands 6-9) to the top, subject to appraisal. Bands 2-3 reach the top after 2 years and Band 4 after 3.
Last updated: September 2026. Sources: NHS Employers, Pay scales for 2026/27 (published 12 February 2026, effective 1 April 2026); NHSBSA, member contribution tiers from 1 April 2026 and employer contribution rates 2026/27; HMRC, job expenses for uniforms, work clothing and tools; GOV.UK, professional fees and subscriptions.
Last reviewed 19 September 2026 by the Richify AI agent team.
Reviewed by Felix, Richify's AI CFO — an AI author, presented as one.
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Download Richify — It’s FreeHow it works
UK NHS take-home pay has four deductions from gross salary (basic + HCA): NHS Pension Scheme employee contribution (tiered 5.2-12.5% based on pensionable pay, deducted pre-tax via net pay arrangement), Income Tax (PAYE on post-pension taxable income — 0% to £12,570 PA, 20% to £50,270, 40% to £125,140, 45% above), National Insurance Class 1 (8% on £12,571-£50,270, 2% above — on FULL gross with no NHS Pension relief), and optionally Student Loan repayments (9% above plan threshold, 6% above £21,000 for Postgraduate Loan).
Example: a Band 5 nurse at the intermediate point, £34,592 (rest of England, 2026/27). NHS Pension at 8.3% = £2,871 (pre-tax, net pay arrangement). Taxable income = £34,592 − £2,871 − £125 uniform flat rate expense = £31,596. Income Tax = (£31,596 − £12,570) × 20% = £3,805. National Insurance on the full £34,592 = (£34,592 − £12,570) × 8% = £1,762. With a Plan 2 student loan (2026-27 threshold £29,385): (£34,592 − £29,385) × 9% = £469. Total deductions = £2,871 + £3,805 + £1,762 + £469 = £8,907. Take-home = £25,685 a year, £2,140 a month. The same nurse in Inner London adds about £6,918 HCAS (20%), taking gross pay to about £41,510 and the pension tier to 9.8%, for about £29,086 a year take-home.
Why NHS Pension contribution feels high but is great value
Employee contributions of 5.2% to 12.5% are higher than the 5% employee minimum under auto-enrolment, but the total employer rate is 23.7% of pensionable pay (in 2026/27 employers pay 14.38% directly and NHS England pays the other 9.4%). For a Band 6 nurse at the intermediate point (£42,170), that is about £9,994 a year from the employer alongside the nurse's own £4,133 (9.8%). CARE accrual at 1/54th builds about £781 a year of pension for that year's pay, revalued by CPI + 1.5% while you remain an active member. It is a defined-benefit promise, not a pot, so its value does not depend on investment returns.
HCA / London weighting — meaningful but capped
NHS HCAS is a percentage of basic pay with both a minimum and a maximum payment, so it is worth proportionally more to lower bands. In 2026/27 an Inner London Band 5 nurse at entry (£32,073) gets 20% = £6,415, inside the £5,794–£8,746 range. A Band 9 at the intermediate point (£119,583) would be due £23,917 at 20% but is capped at £8,746. In Outer London a Band 8a at the intermediate point (£60,417) hits the £6,137 maximum, and the Fringe maximum is £2,270. Figures: NHS Employers, Pay scales for 2026/27.
NHS Pension — 1995 / 2008 / 2015 sections
Three historical sections: the 1995 section (final salary, 1/80th accrual, NPA 60, automatic 3x lump sum), the 2008 section (final salary, 1/60th, NPA 65, no automatic lump sum), and the 2015 reformed section (CARE, 1/54th, NPA = State Pension Age, no automatic lump sum). From 1 April 2022 ALL active members accrue in 2015 — the 1995 and 2008 sections are closed to active service. Crucially, the McCloud remedy means service from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022 has been moved out of 2015 and put back into your legacy section (1995 or 2008) on a provisional basis — at retirement, you choose between 2015 and legacy treatment for that 7-year window. Most existing 1995/2008 members benefit from choosing legacy due to higher accrual rate and lower NPA. New joiners after 1 April 2015 are 2015-only with no choice. Pension is CPI-revalued in deferment and CPI-uplifted in payment, providing inflation protection (a feature private DC pots do NOT offer — you have to buy an inflation-linked annuity at extra cost).
Salary sacrifice for NHS staff
Many NHS trusts offer salary sacrifice schemes, such as cycle-to-work, electric vehicle leasing and home technology. Salary sacrifice reduces gross pay before Income Tax and National Insurance are calculated, so so each £1 sacrificed costs less than £1 of take-home pay. For a higher-rate taxpayer (income above £50,270), £100 sacrificed saves £40 of Income Tax and £2 of National Insurance (the NI rate above £50,270 is 2%), so it costs about £58 of take-home pay. Check the pension side first: if the sacrifice reduces your pensionable pay, your main-scheme contributions and CARE accrual fall too.
How to use this calculator
- Select your region: Rest of England, Fringe HCA (+5% capped), Outer London HCA (+15% capped), Inner London HCA (+20% capped). Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own AfC rates — choose Custom for those.
- Pick your Agenda for Change band and spine point: Band 2 through Band 9, with entry / mid / top points for the most common bands (3, 4, 5, 6, 7). The calculator auto-fills the 2026/27 NHS Employers rate (effective 1 April 2026). Override with a custom salary if needed.
- Select your Student Loan plan — Plan 2 covers most NHS staff under 35, Plan 5 is brand-new entrants Sep 2023+. Many NHS staff also have a Postgraduate Loan (PGCE, MSc Advanced Practice etc.) which stacks at 6% above £21,000.
- Optionally apply the £125 HMRC uniform flat rate expense (nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants, therapists and similar roles). Registration and approved professional-body fees are claimed separately at the actual amount you paid, so they are not included here.
- Review the breakdown: gross salary (band + HCA) → NHS Pension Scheme contribution (tiered 5.2-12.5%) → Income Tax → NIC → Student Loan → net pay (annual + monthly). NHS Pension comes off pre-tax; NIC is calculated on full gross.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How much take-home pay does an NHS nurse get in 2026-27?
A newly-qualified Band 5 nurse in the rest of England on £32,073 (2026/27 Agenda for Change entry point) takes home about £24,508 a year (£2,042 a month) after NHS Pension at 8.3% (£2,662), Income Tax (£3,343) and National Insurance (£1,560), with the £125 uniform flat rate expense claimed and no student loan. The same nurse in Inner London gets a £6,415 High Cost Area Supplement (20%), so gross pay is £38,488 and take-home about £28,238 a year (£2,353 a month) — the higher pay also moves pension contributions up to the 9.8% tier.
A Band 6 nurse at the intermediate point outside London (£42,170) takes home about £30,601 (£2,550 a month). A Band 7 at the top of the band (£56,515) takes home about £39,758 (£3,313 a month) after NHS Pension at 10.7% (£6,047), Income Tax (£7,569) and National Insurance (£3,141).
What are the NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) pay bands 2026/27?
The 2026/27 rates were published by NHS Employers on 12 February 2026 and apply from 1 April 2026 (England, before HCAS): Band 2 £25,272; Band 3 £25,760–£27,476; Band 4 £28,392–£31,157; Band 5 £32,073–£39,043 (entry, intermediate £34,592, top); Band 6 £39,959–£48,117; Band 7 £49,387–£56,515; Band 8a £57,528–£64,750; Band 8b £66,582–£77,368; Band 8c £79,504–£91,609; Band 8d £94,356–£108,814; Band 9 £112,782–£129,783. Band 1 is closed to new entrants.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own Agenda for Change rates — use the Custom salary option there.
What are the NHS Pension Scheme employee contribution rates 2026/27?
From 1 April 2026 (NHSBSA), based on actual annual pensionable pay: up to £13,259 → 5.2%; £13,260–£28,854 → 6.5%; £28,855–£35,155 → 8.3%; £35,156–£52,778 → 9.8%; £52,779–£67,668 → 10.7%; £67,669 and above → 12.5%. The rates have not changed since April 2024; the thresholds rise each April.
Contributions are deducted through a net pay arrangement, so you get Income Tax relief at your marginal rate automatically. The total employer rate is 23.7% of pensionable pay — in 2026/27 NHS employers pay 14.38% directly and NHS England pays the remaining 9.4% centrally.
The scheme is the 2015 Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) section, accruing 1/54th of pensionable earnings a year, revalued by CPI + 1.5% while you are an active member.
How does NHS High Cost Area Supplement (HCA / London weighting) work?
Three HCAS zones add a percentage of basic pay, with a minimum and a maximum payment. For 2026/27 (NHS Employers): Inner London 20% (minimum £5,794, maximum £8,746); Outer London 15% (minimum £4,870, maximum £6,137); Fringe 5% (minimum £1,346, maximum £2,270).
Which zone applies depends on your work base and is written into your contract. HCAS is pensionable and taxable, and counts for National Insurance.
Can NHS staff opt out of the NHS Pension Scheme?
Yes, by completing the SD502 opt-out form. But opting out gives up the 23.7% employer contribution: for a Band 5 nurse on £32,073 that is about £7,601 a year of pension paid by your employer, on top of the defined-benefit accrual it buys.
If you opt out you may be re-enrolled automatically every three years. This is general information, not financial advice — speak to a regulated adviser before opting out.
How does NHS bank or agency work compare to substantive PAYE?
Bank shifts worked directly for an NHS trust are paid through PAYE by that trust — Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS Pension contributions apply in the same way as your substantive post. Agency shifts are paid by the agency, and agency work does not earn NHS Pension.
When comparing rates, remember the NHS Pension employer contribution is 23.7% of pensionable pay — on a £25 an hour bank rate that is worth roughly £6 an hour that an agency rate does not include.
When do NHS pay rises happen and how does pay progression work?
The NHS Pay Review Body recommends an annual award, and the government's decision is applied from 1 April — the 2026/27 rates took effect on 1 April 2026. Within a band, pay progression is to set step points after a set number of years, subject to meeting the local appraisal requirements.
On the 2026/27 scales: Bands 2 and 3 move from entry to top after 2 years, Band 4 after 3 years; Band 5 moves to its intermediate point after 2 years and to the top after 2 more (4 years in total); Bands 6 to 9 move to intermediate after 2 years and to the top after 3 more (5 years). Moving up a band means applying for a post at that band.
Can I claim uniform laundry and professional registration on tax?
Yes, but they are two different claims. The uniform flat rate expense is a fixed amount set by HMRC: £125 a year for nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants, therapists, radiographers, phlebotomists and healthcare scientists (plus £12 for shoes and £6 for tights or stockings where a set colour or style is required), £185 for ambulance staff on active service, and £80 for laboratory staff, pharmacists and pharmacy assistants.
Registration fees you must pay to do your job, and subscriptions to professional bodies on HMRC's approved list, are claimed at the actual amount you paid, not a flat rate — your regulator or body can tell you how much is allowable. You can claim for the current tax year and the 4 previous years, and you cannot claim for anything your employer paid.
This calculator applies the £125 uniform amount only.
How does NHS Pension retirement work — 1995, 2008, 2015 schemes?
NHS Pension has three sections: 1995 (final salary, 1/80th accrual, normal pension age 60, automatic lump sum of 3x pension), 2008 (final salary, 1/60th, normal pension age 65, no automatic lump sum) and 2015 (CARE, 1/54th, normal pension age = State Pension age). Since 1 April 2022 all active members build benefits in the 2015 section; benefits already built in 1995 or 2008 are kept.
Under the McCloud remedy, service from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022 was moved back into the legacy section, and eligible members choose at retirement between legacy and 2015 benefits for that period. Pensions in payment rise with CPI.
In the 2008 and 2015 sections you can give up pension for a tax-free lump sum at £12 of lump sum for each £1 a year of pension given up, within the usual limits.
Is NHS work financially worth it in 2026?
The pension is what changes the comparison. A Band 5 nurse at the 2026/27 entry point (£32,073) also receives about £7,601 a year in employer pension contributions (23.7%), so total pay plus pension is about £39,674 — or about £46,089 in Inner London with the £6,415 HCAS.
A Band 6 at the top of the band (£48,117) receives about £11,404 in employer contributions, about £59,521 in total. Those contributions buy a defined-benefit pension that is revalued each year while you work, which a defined-contribution workplace pension does not guarantee.
Whether that outweighs a higher salary elsewhere depends on your own career and plans.
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