NHS pay and pension

Everything for NHS and HSC staff on Agenda for Change, in one place: what you take home each month, what your pension will pay, and guides to the rules behind your payslip.

Updated for the 2026/27 tax year

NHS pay calculator

Take-home pay for every band in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with London weighting, unsocial hours, on-call, overtime and salary sacrifice.

Band 5 entry, England£2,040.21 a month
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NHS Pension calculator

Your pension and lump sum at retirement in today’s money, across the 1995, 2008 and 2015 schemes, with the McCloud choice and annual allowance.

Aged 35 on £34,592, retiring at 67£30,285 a year
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NHS jobs: pay and what the role involves

NurseBand 5 to 7Healthcare assistantBand 2 and 3Nursing associateBand 4MidwifeBand 5 to 7ParamedicBand 5 and 6, ambulance payPhysiotherapistBand 5 to 7Charge nurseBand 6Ward managerBand 7 to 8aMental health nurseBand 5 to 7Health visitorBand 6 to 7Advanced clinical practitionerBand 7 to 8aDental nurseBand 3 to 5RadiographerBand 5 to 7Occupational therapistBand 5 to 7Speech and language therapistBand 5 to 7DietitianBand 5 to 7Operating department practitionerBand 5 to 6PharmacistBand 6 to 8aPharmacy technicianBand 4 to 6Biomedical scientistBand 5 to 7Clinical psychologistBand 6 to 8bPhlebotomistBand 2 to 3Medical secretaryBand 3 to 4NHS adminBand 2 to 4PorterBand 2 to 3

NHS pay guides

NHS pay rise 2026/27Old and new pay for every bandNHS Wales payWelsh pay scales and take-homeNHS Scotland pay3.75% rise, 36-hour week, Scottish taxHSC Northern Ireland payRates paid now and the pending risePart-time payPro-rata pay and extra hoursUnsocial hoursNights, weekends and bank holidaysSalary sacrificeCycle to work, lease cars, buying leaveUniform tax relief£125 or £185 a year, backdatedStaff discounts and benefitsWhat is worth having

NHS pay in 2026/27 at a glance

  • England and Wales: 3.3% on every pay point from 1 April 2026.
  • Scotland: 3.75% from 1 April 2026, and a 36-hour full-time week.
  • Northern Ireland: 3.3% recommended, still waiting for approval.
  • NHS Pension contributions: 5.2% to 12.5% of pay in England and Wales, based on actual pay.

See every band and step in the pay band table, or compare NHS pay with other public sector jobs.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an NHS worker take home a month?

On the entry step of each band, full time in England, after tax, NI and the NHS Pension: Band 2 about £1,700, Band 3 £1,727, Band 4 £1,874, Band 5 £2,040, Band 6 £2,430, Band 7 £2,934 and Band 8a £3,353. Unsocial hours, London weighting and overtime come on top.

What is the hourly rate for a Band 5 nurse?

£16.40 an hour on the entry step in 2026/27, rising to £19.97 at the top of the band. That is basic pay divided by 37.5 hours a week over a year, before unsocial hours enhancements.

How much does the NHS Pension take from my pay?

Between 5.2% and 12.5% of your pensionable pay, depending on what you earn. A Band 5 on the entry step pays 8.3%, or £221.84 a month. Because it comes out before tax, it only reduces take-home by about £177.47.

Is it worth staying in the NHS Pension?

For most people, yes. A year on the Band 5 entry step adds about £594 a year to your pension for life, increased each year by CPI plus 1.5% while you work. It costs you about £2,130 a year after tax relief, and your employer pays in 23.7% of your pay on top. This is general information, not advice.

Do I pay tax on my NHS Pension contributions?

No. They come out of your pay before Income Tax is worked out, so you get tax relief at your highest rate straight away. National Insurance is still charged on your full pay.

How much do nights and weekends add to NHS pay?

It depends on how many unsocial hours you work. A Band 5 on the entry step averaging 8 hours a week of nights or Saturdays and 4 hours of Sundays takes home about £2,228 a month instead of £2,040, roughly £187 more. Use the calculator to add your own pattern.

How much student loan comes out of a Band 5 salary?

On Plan 2, about £20.08 a month on the Band 5 entry step. Repayments are 9% of what you earn above the threshold, so they rise as you move up the band or work extra hours.

What does a part-time NHS worker take home?

A Band 5 working 22.5 hours a week takes home about £1,365 a month. It is not simply 60% of the full-time figure, because tax, NI and the pension tier are worked out on the lower pay.