NHS pay bands after tax (2026/27)
Agenda for Change, England · tax year 2026/27
Take-home pay for NHS staff on Agenda for Change, from Band 2 to Band 9, after income tax, National Insurance and the NHS Pension. Choose a band for every pay point.
Pay scales effective from 1 April 2026. Source: NHS Employers: Pay scales for 2026/27. Checked 5 October 2026.
Pension: NHS Pension Scheme member contribution rates from 1 April 2026 (NHSBSA: Cost of being in the Scheme).
Top of each band
| Band | Salary | Take-home a month (with pension) | Take-home a month (no pension) | Pension a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 | £1,700.11 | £1,809.62 | £136.89 (6.5%) |
| Band 3 | £27,476 | £1,822.80 | £1,941.86 | £148.83 (6.5%) |
| Band 4 | £31,157 | £1,990.32 | £2,162.72 | £215.50 (8.3%) |
| Band 5 | £39,043 | £2,380.80 | £2,635.88 | £318.85 (9.8%) |
| Band 6 | £48,117 | £2,865.96 | £3,180.32 | £392.96 (9.8%) |
| Band 7 | £56,515 | £3,308.99 | £3,611.34 | £503.93 (10.7%) |
| Band 8a | £64,750 | £3,662.95 | £4,009.37 | £577.35 (10.7%) |
| Band 8b | £77,368 | £4,135.69 | £4,619.24 | £805.92 (12.5%) |
| Band 8c | £91,609 | £4,735.00 | £5,307.55 | £954.26 (12.5%) |
| Band 8d | £108,814 | £5,459.04 | £5,992.23 | £1,133.48 (12.5%) |
| Band 9 | £129,783 | £6,115.48 | £6,714.28 | £1,351.91 (12.5%) |
2026/27 tax rates, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, standard tax code, no student loan. Pension contributions are taken before tax (net pay arrangement). Select a take-home figure to open it in the calculator.
How NHS pay works
Most NHS staff in England, apart from doctors, dentists and very senior managers, are paid on the Agenda for Change pay system. Each job is matched to a band, and each band has between one and three pay points. You move up to the next pay point after the set number of years in the band, provided you meet the expected standards.
NHS Pension contributions
Members of the NHS Pension Scheme pay a contribution based on their actual annual pensionable pay. The rates from 2026 are:
- Up to £13,259: 5.2%
- £13,260 to £28,854: 6.5%
- £28,855 to £35,155: 8.3%
- £35,156 to £52,778: 9.8%
- £52,779 to £67,668: 10.7%
- £67,669 and above: 12.5%
Contributions are taken from your pay before income tax (a net pay arrangement), so you get tax relief at your highest rate. They don’t reduce your National Insurance. The calculator links in the table open with your contribution rate already filled in.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Band 5 nurse take home a month in 2026/27?
A Band 5 starting salary of £32,073 gives £2,040.21 a month after tax, National Insurance and a 8.3% NHS Pension contribution, in 2026/27.
How much do I pay into the NHS Pension?
It depends on your actual pensionable pay: from 5.2% up to 12.5%. Contributions are taken before income tax, so you get tax relief at your highest rate automatically.
Do these figures include high cost area supplements?
No. The tables use the national pay points. Staff in London and the surrounding areas get a high cost area supplement on top, which increases take-home pay.
Bands
Figures for 2026/27, verified against HMRC on 5 October 2026.
Sources:HMRC rates and thresholds for employers, Income Tax rates and Personal Allowances, Income Tax in Scotland. Methodology →