NHS take-home pay calculator
See what you'll actually be paid each month after income tax, National Insurance, NHS pension and student loan. Updated for 2026/27 pay scales and tax rates.
- Updated for 2026/27
- Official NHS and HMRC figures
- Checked 20 October 2026
Your take-home pay
£24,483 a year from £32,073 gross. You keep 76%.
Year, month and week breakdown
| Year | Month | Week | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | £32,073.00 | £2,672.75 | £616.79 |
| NHS pension (8.3%) | −£2,662.06 | −£221.84 | −£51.19 |
| Income tax | −£3,368.19 | −£280.68 | −£64.77 |
| National Insurance | −£1,560.24 | −£130.02 | −£30.00 |
| Take-home pay | £24,482.51 | £2,040.21 | £470.82 |
Assumes tax code 1257L and the same pay all year. Thinking about locum work? Compare it with your salary.
Take-home pay by Agenda for Change band
Monthly take-home pay at each 2026/27 pay point for a full-time employee in England in the NHS Pension Scheme, with no student loan.
| Band and pay point | Salary | Pension rate | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | £25,272 | 6.5% | £1,700 |
| Band 2 | £25,272 | 6.5% | £1,700 |
| Band 3 entry | £25,760 | 6.5% | £1,727 |
| Band 3 top | £27,476 | 6.5% | £1,823 |
| Band 4 entry | £28,392 | 6.5% | £1,874 |
| Band 4 top | £31,157 | 8.3% | £1,990 |
| Band 5 entry | £32,073 | 8.3% | £2,040 |
| Band 5 intermediate | £34,592 | 8.3% | £2,177 |
| Band 5 top | £39,043 | 9.8% | £2,381 |
| Band 6 entry | £39,959 | 9.8% | £2,430 |
| Band 6 intermediate | £42,170 | 9.8% | £2,548 |
| Band 6 top | £48,117 | 9.8% | £2,866 |
| Band 7 entry | £49,387 | 9.8% | £2,934 |
| Band 7 intermediate | £51,932 | 9.8% | £3,078 |
| Band 7 top | £56,515 | 10.7% | £3,309 |
| Band 8a entry | £57,528 | 10.7% | £3,353 |
| Band 8a intermediate | £60,417 | 10.7% | £3,477 |
| Band 8a top | £64,750 | 10.7% | £3,663 |
| Band 8b entry | £66,582 | 10.7% | £3,742 |
| Band 8b intermediate | £70,896 | 12.5% | £3,863 |
| Band 8b top | £77,368 | 12.5% | £4,136 |
| Band 8c entry | £79,504 | 12.5% | £4,226 |
| Band 8c intermediate | £84,346 | 12.5% | £4,429 |
| Band 8c top | £91,609 | 12.5% | £4,735 |
| Band 8d entry | £94,356 | 12.5% | £4,851 |
| Band 8d intermediate | £100,140 | 12.5% | £5,094 |
| Band 8d top | £108,814 | 12.5% | £5,459 |
| Band 9 entry | £112,782 | 12.5% | £5,626 |
| Band 9 intermediate | £119,583 | 12.5% | £5,835 |
| Band 9 top | £129,783 | 12.5% | £6,115 |
What comes out of your NHS pay
NHS pension contributions
Your contribution rate depends on your actual annual pensionable pay, including enhancements. The rate applies to all of your pensionable pay. Contributions are taken before tax (a "net pay arrangement"), so a 9.8% contribution costs a basic rate taxpayer about 7.8% of their pay.
| Pensionable pay (2026/27) | Contribution 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 over | 12.5% |
Income tax
Everyone gets a personal allowance of £12,570, which shrinks by £1 for every £2 earned over £100,000. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you then pay 20% up to £50,270, 40% above that and 45% above £125,140. Scotland has six bands from 19% to 48%.
National Insurance
Employees pay 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above that. Pension contributions don't reduce National Insurance.
Student loans
You repay 9% of earnings above your plan's threshold (6% for postgraduate loans): Plan 1 £26,900, Plan 2 £29,385, Plan 4 £33,795, Plan 5 £25,000 and postgraduate £21,000.
Frequently asked questions
- How much NHS pension do I pay?
- In 2026/27 members of the 2015 NHS Pension Scheme pay between 5.2% and 12.5% of their pensionable pay, depending on their actual annual pensionable pay. The rate applies to all of your pay, not just the part in each tier. Contributions come off before income tax, so they reduce your tax bill but not your National Insurance.
- Is my unsocial hours pay pensionable?
- Yes. Unsocial hours enhancements under Agenda for Change are pensionable and count towards the pay used to set your contribution tier. Add them in the "Enhancements and allowances" box.
- Why is my payslip different from this calculator?
- Payslips can differ because of your tax code, salary sacrifice schemes, pay arrears, overtime, high cost area supplements, union fees or a mid-year pay rise. This calculator assumes a standard 1257L tax code and the same pay all year.
- Does this work for Scotland?
- Choose Scotland to use Scottish income tax bands. The pay scales in the dropdown are for England. NHS Scotland has its own Agenda for Change pay scales.
Sources
- Pay scales for 2026/27 (Agenda for Change), NHS Employers. Checked 20 October 2026.
- Pay and Conditions Circular (M&D) 1/2026, NHS Employers. Checked 20 October 2026.
- Income Tax rates and Personal Allowances, GOV.UK. Checked 20 October 2026.
- Scottish income tax rates and bands 2026 to 2027, Scottish Government. Checked 20 October 2026.
- Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027, GOV.UK. Checked 20 October 2026.
- Repaying your student loan, GOV.UK. Checked 20 October 2026.
- Pay and contributions, NHS Business Services Authority. Checked 20 October 2026.
Last updated .