NHS Take Home Pay Calculator 2026/27
Choose your Agenda for Change band and pay point to see your NHS salary after tax, National Insurance and pension contributions.
Band 5 take-home pay (entry)
£2,040.21 / month
£24,482.51 a year from £32,073 gross
- Take-home 76.3%
- Income Tax 10.5%
- NI 4.9%
- Pension 8.3%
NHS pension: 8.3% tier = £221.84 a month
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | Weekly | Daily | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | £32,073.00 | £2,672.75 | £616.79 | £123.36 | £16.45 |
| Pension | −£2,662.06 | −£221.84 | −£51.19 | −£10.24 | −£1.37 |
| Income Tax | −£3,368.19 | −£280.68 | −£64.77 | −£12.95 | −£1.73 |
| National Insurance | −£1,560.24 | −£130.02 | −£30.00 | −£6.00 | −£0.80 |
| Take-home pay | £24,482.51 | £2,040.21 | £470.82 | £94.16 | £12.56 |
Uses the Agenda for Change pay scales for England from 1 April 2026. Excludes high cost area supplements, unsocial hours and overtime.
NHS pay bands 2026/27
See every band's salary and take-home pay on our NHS pay bands 2026/27 page, or jump to a band:
NHS pension contribution rates from April 2026
| Actual annual pensionable pay | Member contribution |
|---|---|
| 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% |
Source: NHS Employers, NHS Pension Scheme member contributions from 1 April 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How is NHS take-home pay worked out?
Your NHS pension contribution is taken from your gross pay first, which lowers the pay you are taxed on. Income Tax, National Insurance and any student loan are then deducted to give your take-home pay.
How much do I pay into the NHS pension?
From 1 April 2026 members pay between 5.2% and 12.5% of pensionable pay, depending on their actual annual pensionable pay. The whole of your pay is charged at your tier's rate.
Does NHS pension reduce National Insurance?
No. NHS pension contributions are taken before Income Tax but not before National Insurance, so you get tax relief but still pay NI on your full salary.
Are these pay scales for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
These are the Agenda for Change pay scales for England. NHS Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own pay scales, which can differ.