Is a Band 6 or Band 7 Job Worth It? Comparing NHS Pay Bands After Tax
A promotion that adds £8,000 to your salary does not add £8,000 to your pocket. Here is how to compare bands properly.
Updated · 5 min read
Try it with your own numbersNHS Band Salary ComparisonWhen you weigh up a move to a higher band, the headline salaries are the easy part. The harder question is how much more you will actually take home each month, and whether that is worth the extra responsibility, the change of hours or the loss of unsocial hours payments. This guide shows how to compare two bands on a fair footing.
Why the gross difference is misleading
Every extra pound of salary is taxed, has National Insurance taken from it and increases your pension contribution. On top of that, the NHS Pension uses tiered rates, so a pay rise can move all of your pay into a higher contribution band.
As a rough rule, someone paying basic rate tax keeps about 60 to 65 pence of each extra pound. A higher rate taxpayer keeps closer to 50 pence.
The numbers for 2026/27
Here is the difference between the entry points of neighbouring bands, for full-time staff with no student loan:
| Move | Extra salary | Extra take-home per month |
|---|---|---|
| Band 5 to Band 6 | £7,886 | £389.56 |
| Band 6 to Band 7 | £9,428 | £504.09 |
| Band 7 to Band 8a | £8,141 | £418.67 |
So the move from Band 5 to Band 6 is worth a little under £400 a month, even though the salary goes up by almost £7,900. Part of the gap goes on the pension, which rises from 8.3% to 9.8% of pay. That part is not lost: it builds a bigger pension.
Compare like with like
The fairest comparison uses the pay point you would actually be on. Many people moving up a band start at the entry point of the new band while already being at the top of their current one. A Band 5 nurse at the top point earns £39,043, while a new Band 6 starts at £39,959. On paper that move is worth only £916 a year at first, although the new band has more pay points ahead of it.
If you are at the top of your band, also look at when you would progress in the new band. A Band 6 moves to its middle point after two years and its top point after five more, which adds far more over time than the first-day difference suggests.
Unsocial hours can change the answer
Many ward-based roles at Band 5 and 6 earn a significant amount from unsocial hours. Some Band 7 and 8 roles are Monday to Friday office hours. If you currently earn £300 a month in enhancements and the new job has none, the real gain from the promotion is much smaller, or even negative for a while.
Before deciding, look at your last few payslips and work out your average monthly unsocial hours pay. The unsocial hours guide explains how those payments are calculated.
Hours and part-time work
If the new role comes with different hours, compare the take-home for the hours you would actually work. A Band 6 post at 30 hours a week pays £31,967 a year, which is slightly less than a full-time Band 5 at the entry point. In take-home terms, Band 6 at 30 hours is £2,034.45 a month, against £2,040.21 for full-time Band 5.
Other things that change with a band
- Pension: a higher salary builds more pension each year. In the 2015 scheme you build 1/54 of your pensionable pay every year, so an extra £8,000 adds about £148 a year to your eventual pension, before revaluation.
- Overtime: staff in Bands 8a and above are not normally paid for overtime, so extra hours may become time off in lieu instead.
- Student loan: repayments rise with pay. On Plan 2, every extra £1,000 of salary adds £90 a year to your repayments.
A worked comparison with unsocial hours
Imagine a Band 5 staff nurse on the top pay point of £39,043 who earns about £350 a month in unsocial hours payments. She is offered a Band 6 specialist role on £39,959 that is mostly weekdays, with around £80 a month of enhancements.
- Band 5 now: basic salary plus about £4,200 a year in enhancements.
- Band 6 offer: basic salary plus about £960 a year in enhancements.
On day one, the Band 6 role pays less overall, even though it is a promotion. After two years she would move to the Band 6 middle point of £42,170, and after five more to £48,117, at which point the new role clearly comes out ahead. The right answer depends on how long she expects to stay and how much she values the change in hours.
Common questions
Do I start at the bottom of the new band? Usually yes. Some employers will start you higher if you have relevant experience, but this is not guaranteed and needs to be agreed before you accept.
Does acting up count towards progression? Time spent acting up in a higher band may count if you are later appointed to that band, depending on local policy. Ask HR to confirm in writing.
Will a higher band change my pension tier? Often. Moving from Band 5 entry to Band 6 entry takes you from 8.3% to 9.8% of pay. That reduces take-home pay but builds a bigger pension.
Things to check before you say yes
- Whether the new role pays on-call, and how often.
- Whether the hours, location or travel costs change.
- How long until your first pay progression step in the new band.
- Whether the new post is in a different high cost area zone.
How to use the calculator
The band comparison calculator lets you pick your current band and pay point and the one you are considering, set your hours and see both take-home figures side by side, along with the pension rate for each. It also shows the monthly difference, which is the number to weigh against the extra responsibility.
This guide explains the general rules for staff in England using 2026/27 figures. It is not financial advice. Your employer, payslip or NHS Pensions statement has the final word on your own pay.