NHS overtime and bank shifts: rates, rules and what you keep
The short answer: on Bands 2 to 7, NHS overtime is paid at time and a half for hours over 37.5 a week, or double time on a public holiday. A 12.5-hour overtime shift at Band 5 entry pays about £308 before tax. Overtime isn’t taxed more than normal pay, but for full-time staff it isn’t pensionable either. Bank shifts are paid at rates your trust sets, which are often lower per hour but more flexible.
NHS overtime rates by band
| Band and step | Basic | Overtime (×1.5) | Public holiday (×2) | 12.5-hour overtime shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £12.92 | £19.38 | £25.84 | £242 |
| Band 3 entry | £13.17 | £19.76 | £26.34 | £247 |
| Band 4 entry | £14.52 | £21.78 | £29.04 | £272 |
| Band 5 entry | £16.40 | £24.60 | £32.80 | £308 |
| Band 5 top | £19.97 | £29.96 | £39.94 | £374 |
| Band 6 top | £24.61 | £36.92 | £49.22 | £461 |
| Band 7 top | £28.90 | £43.35 | £57.80 | £542 |
England, 2026/27, before tax. Bands 8 and 9 have no national overtime rate.
The rules
- Over 37.5 hours a week: overtime rates only start once you’ve worked a full-time week. For a part-timer, extra hours up to 37.5 are paid at your normal rate.
- Overtime or unsocial hours, not both: an overtime hour is paid at the overtime rate instead of the night or weekend rate. For Bands 4 and above, that can mean a Sunday overtime hour (time and a half) pays less than a contracted Sunday hour (time plus 60%).
- It must be agreed: overtime normally needs to be asked for or approved by your manager in advance.
- Time off instead: you can agree time off in lieu instead of overtime pay, normally at plain time.
- Bands 8 and 9: no national right to overtime pay. Some employers pay it, or give time off in lieu.
How much of it you keep
Overtime is added to your pay and taxed at your normal top rate, with National Insurance. Full-time overtime isn’t pensionable, so no pension contribution comes off. From each £100 of overtime you keep:
Most staff keep about £72. At the top of Band 7, after the pension contribution comes off your salary, you’re just into the higher-rate band, so overtime is taxed at 40% plus 2% National Insurance and you keep about £58. A student loan takes another 9% above the threshold.
If a big overtime month looks heavily taxed, it’s because payroll works out tax each month as if you earn that much all year. With a normal cumulative tax code, it evens out over the following months.
Bank shifts
Bank work is a separate arrangement with your trust’s staff bank, and each bank sets its own rates. Common approaches:
| How the bank pays | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Bottom of the band for the role | Usually lower than your own step if you’re further up the band |
| Your substantive step | Same basic rate as your normal job |
| With Agenda for Change enhancements | Nights, Saturdays and Sundays paid at the usual unsocial rates |
| Flat or incentive rate | One rate per hour, sometimes higher for hard-to-fill shifts |
Most banks also pay holiday pay on top, because bank staff don’t get paid leave in the usual way. Bank shifts are pensionable if you’re in the NHS Pension through the bank, which helps if you’re part time.
As a rough comparison for a Band 5 on the entry step: overtime pays £24.60 an hour. A bank shift paid at the same step with no enhancement pays £16.40 plus holiday pay. On a Sunday with enhancements it pays £26.24. Overtime usually wins on a weekday; bank can win at weekends if your trust pays enhancements on bank.
Watch your pension tier
For part-time staff, extra plain-time hours and bank shifts are pensionable, so a busy year can lift your actual pay into a higher NHS Pension tier. The tier rate then applies to all your pensionable pay. It’s worth checking where the next tier starts on the NHS pay calculator, though the extra pension you build up usually makes it worthwhile.
For nights and weekends within your contracted hours, see NHS night shift pay, and for every band’s hourly figure, NHS hourly rates. The overtime calculator shows what any amount of overtime adds to your take-home pay.
Based on Section 3 of the NHS terms and conditions handbook and England pay points from 1 April 2026. Bank rates and local overtime policies vary by employer.
Common questions
How is NHS overtime paid?
Staff on Bands 2 to 7 get time and a half for hours over 37.5 a week, or double time on public holidays. Bands 8 and 9 have no national right to overtime pay, though some employers pay it locally or give time off in lieu.
Do part-time NHS staff get overtime rates?
Not until they have worked 37.5 hours in the week. Extra hours up to that are paid at plain time and count towards the NHS Pension. Hours over 37.5 are paid at overtime rates.
Is NHS overtime pensionable?
For full-time staff, no. Overtime above 37.5 hours is not pensionable in the NHS Pension Scheme. Extra plain-time hours worked by part-time staff are pensionable, and so are bank shifts if you are a member through the bank.
Is overtime taxed more?
No. Overtime is taxed at your normal rates. A big overtime month can look heavily taxed because the payroll treats it as if you earn that much every month, but it evens out over the year under a normal tax code.
Is it better to do bank shifts or overtime?
Overtime at time and a half usually pays more per hour than bank work, if your ward offers it. Bank shifts give you more choice over when and where you work. Bank rates and enhancements are set by each trust, so compare your trust’s rate card with your overtime rate.