NHS Take-Home Pay 2026/27: What Actually Lands in Your Account
Your band tells you your salary, not your pay. Here is how each deduction works, with monthly take-home figures for every band.
Updated · 5 min read
Try it with your own numbersNHS Take-Home Pay CalculatorMost NHS job adverts quote a salary, but nobody lives on a salary. You live on what is left after four deductions come out each month: your NHS Pension contribution, income tax, National Insurance and, for many staff, a student loan repayment. This guide walks through each one in the order payroll applies them, then shows what that means in pounds for every Agenda for Change band.
Start with the right salary
Agenda for Change pay is set nationally in England. From 1 April 2026 a Band 5 starts on £32,073, a Band 6 on £39,959 and a Band 7 on £49,387. Each band has up to three pay points, and you move up after a set number of years if your appraisal confirms you are meeting the standards for your role.
If you work part time, your salary is the full-time figure multiplied by your hours divided by 37.5. Someone on Band 5 working 30 hours a week earns 30 / 37.5 of £32,073, which is £25,658.
Deduction one: your NHS Pension
The NHS Pension comes off first, and this matters more than people realise. The scheme uses what is called a net pay arrangement, which means your contribution is taken before income tax is worked out. You get tax relief straight away without having to claim anything.
Your contribution rate depends on your actual pensionable pay, not your band. For 2026/27 the tiers are:
| Pensionable pay | Rate |
|---|---|
| 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% |
The rate applies to all of your pay, not just the slice above each threshold. That is different from income tax, and it is why a small pay rise can sometimes move you into a higher tier and nudge your take-home pay down.
Deduction two: income tax
After the pension comes out, income tax is charged on what is left. On the standard tax code of 1257L the first £12,570 a year is tax free. The next slice, up to £50,270 of income, is taxed at 20%, and income above that at 40%. Above £100,000 you also gradually lose your tax-free allowance.
Deduction three: National Insurance
National Insurance is charged at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 a year and 2% above that. Unlike income tax, it is worked out on your pay before the pension comes off, so the pension gives no NI saving.
Deduction four: student loan
If you have a student loan, you repay a percentage of what you earn above your plan's threshold. Plan 2, the most common plan for nurses and allied health professionals who studied in England after 2012, takes 9% of earnings over £29,385. The student loan guide explains every plan.
Monthly take-home pay by band
Here is what full-time staff on the entry pay point of each band take home in 2026/27, with tax code 1257L and no student loan:
| Band (entry point) | Salary | Pension rate | Take-home per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 | 6.5% | £1,700.11 |
| Band 4 | £28,392 | 6.5% | £1,873.79 |
| Band 5 | £32,073 | 8.3% | £2,040.21 |
| Band 6 | £39,959 | 9.8% | £2,429.77 |
| Band 7 | £49,387 | 9.8% | £2,933.86 |
| Band 8a | £57,528 | 10.7% | £3,352.53 |
| Band 8c | £79,504 | 12.5% | £4,225.58 |
A worked example: newly qualified nurse
Take a nurse starting on Band 5 at £32,073 with a Plan 2 student loan. Each month:
- Gross pay is £2,672.75.
- The pension takes 8.3%, which is £221.84.
- Income tax on the remaining pay is £280.68.
- National Insurance is £130.02.
- The student loan takes £20.16.
That leaves £2,020.05 a month. Roughly a quarter of the salary has gone before it reaches the bank, and about £222 of that is going into a pension that you will get back later.
What the calculator does not include
The figures above are for basic pay. Most ward-based staff earn more than this because of unsocial hours payments, overtime and, in and around London, the high cost area supplement. These are all taxed in the same way as basic pay, and unsocial hours payments are also pensionable.
Your actual payslip can differ if you are on a different tax code, for example because of a benefit in kind, an underpayment from a previous year or a second job. If you see a code other than 1257L, check it with HMRC.
How to read your NHS payslip
Your payslip follows the same order as this guide, which makes it easier to check. Near the top you will see your basic pay for the month, followed by any additions such as unsocial hours, overtime or arrears. Below that are the deductions: tax, National Insurance, superannuation (the NHS Pension) and, if you have one, the student loan. Your tax code and NI category letter are usually shown in a box on the payslip.
Three checks catch most mistakes:
- Your basic pay should be your yearly salary divided by 12, scaled to your hours.
- Your superannuation rate should match the tier for your actual yearly pay.
- Your tax code should normally be 1257L, unless HMRC has told you otherwise.
Common questions
Why did my take-home pay drop when I got a pay rise? Most likely your pay crossed a pension tier threshold, so a higher rate now applies to all of your pay. It can also happen if your tax code changed at the same time.
Why is my first payslip different? New starters are often put on an emergency tax code until HMRC receives details from a previous employer. Any overpaid tax is usually refunded in a later payslip once the right code is applied.
Does the NHS Pension reduce my National Insurance? No. It reduces income tax, because it is taken before tax, but National Insurance is worked out on your pay before the pension comes off.
What happens in a month with five Fridays? Agenda for Change staff are paid monthly, so your basic pay is the same each month. Weekly paid bank work can vary.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Comparing your take-home pay with a friend on the same band without allowing for hours, student loans and pay points.
- Forgetting that unsocial hours payments from one month appear on the next month's payslip at many trusts.
- Assuming an emergency tax code will fix itself. If it has not changed after two payslips, contact HMRC.
Try your own numbers
The take-home pay calculator lets you pick your band and pay point, set your hours, choose a student loan plan and switch the pension on or off. It shows the result as a yearly, monthly or weekly figure, so you can line it up against your payslip.
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.