NHS Band Salary Comparison
Put two bands side by side and see the real difference.
Your details
hrs
Difference in monthly take-home, Band 5 to Band 6
+£389.57
+£4,674 a year after deductions
- Band 5 gross / year
- £32,073
- Band 6 gross / year
- £39,959
- Band 5 take-home / month
- £2,040.21
- Band 6 take-home / month
- £2,429.77
- Pension rate
- 8.3% vs 9.8%
- Gross difference / year
- +£7,886
Both figures include NHS Pension, income tax and National Insurance, with no student loan.
How it is worked out
- 1Pick the band you are on now and the one you are thinking about.
- 2Both are run through the same take-home calculation, so the gap you see is the gap after deductions.
Worth knowing
- A pay rise can push you into a higher pension tier, which is why take-home pay often rises by less than the headline salary.
Sources
The rules and figures behind this calculator come from:
- NHS Employers: Agenda for Change pay scales 2026/27
- NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook: Annex 2, pay bands and pay points
- GOV.UK: Income Tax rates and Personal Allowances
- GOV.UK: National Insurance rates and categories
- NHS Business Services Authority: Cost of being in the NHS Pension Scheme
Results are estimates for Agenda for Change staff in England using 2026/27 figures. They are not financial advice. Your payslip, employer or NHS Pensions statement has the final word.
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