You've done the maths. Now get the insights.
Based on a £38,682 salary and £31,372 take-home, here's what most people miss
Based on a £38,682 salary and £31,372 take-home, here's what most people miss
Get My Insights →Midwife Pay UK 2025/26
Midwives in the NHS are paid under Agenda for Change broadly in line with nursing bands, though the Royal College of Midwives has consistently pushed for Band 6 as the minimum entry point given the autonomous, high-risk nature of midwifery practice. The NHS faces a significant midwife shortage, with over 2,500 vacancies in England, which has increased uptake of independent midwifery, where practitioners charge £4,000–£6,000 per birth package. Unsocial hours enhancements are near-universal given the 24/7 nature of maternity services.
Based on typical midwife salaries, here is what you can expect to take home after income tax and National Insurance:
- Newly Qualified (Band 5): £25,876 take-home (£31,049 gross, outside London) / £30,347 take-home (£37,259 gross, London)
- Experienced Midwife (Band 6): £31,372 take-home (£38,682 gross, outside London) / £36,942 take-home (£46,418 gross, London)
- Senior / Specialist Midwife (Band 7): £37,944 take-home (£47,810 gross, outside London) / £43,833 take-home (£57,372 gross, London)
Key facts about midwife pay:
- Band 5 newly qualified midwife earns £31,049 nationally; with unsocial hours for mandatory shift patterns, total earnings typically reach £34,000–£38,000
- Band 6 midwife salary range: £37,338–£44,962; this is where most midwives spend the majority of their careers
- Specialist midwife roles (fetal medicine, safeguarding, antenatal education) sit at Band 7, earning £46,148–£52,809
- Independent midwives operating privately can earn significant income through birth packages and antenatal programmes
- NHS Pension Scheme employer contribution is 23.7%; private maternity hospitals rarely offer equivalent pension schemes
- NMC registration fee is £120 per year; mandatory revalidation every three years is a professional requirement
Your taxes (2025/26)
| Year | Month | Week | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | £37,500 | £3,125 | £721 |
| Pension Contributions£375 Saved! | £1,875 | £156 | £36 |
| Employer Pension ContributionsPot Increased | £1,125 | £94 | £22 |
| Taxable Income | £35,625 | £2,969 | £685 |
| Personal allowance | £12,570 | - | - |
| National Insurance | £1,843 | £154 | £35 |
| Income Tax | £4,611 | £384 | £89 |
| Take Home Pay | £29,171 | £2,431 | £561 |
| Added to Pension | £3,000 | £250 | £58 |
| Opportunities Found | View My Opportunities → | ||
Midwife Salary Breakdown UK 2025/26
The table below shows typical midwife salaries across experience levels and regions, alongside estimated take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance. Click any salary figure to open it in the calculator.
How Midwife Pay Works in the UK
- Band 5 newly qualified midwife earns £31,049 nationally; with unsocial hours for mandatory shift patterns, total earnings typically reach £34,000–£38,000
- Band 6 midwife salary range: £37,338–£44,962; this is where most midwives spend the majority of their careers
- Specialist midwife roles (fetal medicine, safeguarding, antenatal education) sit at Band 7, earning £46,148–£52,809
- Independent midwives operating privately can earn significant income through birth packages and antenatal programmes
- NHS Pension Scheme employer contribution is 23.7%; private maternity hospitals rarely offer equivalent pension schemes
- NMC registration fee is £120 per year; mandatory revalidation every three years is a professional requirement
Income Tax and National Insurance in 2025/26
Like all UK workers, midwives salaries are subject to income tax and National Insurance (NI) contributions. In the 2025/26 tax year:
- Up to £12,570: 0% (Personal Allowance)
- £12,571 to £50,270: 20% (Basic Rate)
- £50,271 to £125,140: 40% (Higher Rate)
- Above £125,140: 45% (Additional Rate)
Employee National Insurance contributions for 2025/26:
- 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270
- 2% on earnings above £50,270
Use the calculator above to see your exact take-home pay after all deductions, including pension contributions and student loan repayments if applicable.
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Explore Your Finances
Model your expenses, project your wealth, and find your path to financial independence.
Your Monthly Outgoings
Projected Pension
Wealth & Financial Independence More Info
- In today's money, you'll have at least £21,600 / year (£1,800 / month) when you retire at 66 - just from your savings
- In real terms (where inflation is not removed), that's £38,340 / year (£3,195 / month)
- That means all your outgoings are covered without having to make any further contributions!
- All your expenses are covered for your retirement, but your wealth may start to decrease towards old age
Projected Wealth
- FI Target = Annual outgoings (£21,600) * Years needed for 4.00% SWR (25.00) = £540,000
- Invested annual pension = £3,000
- Invested annual surplus = £2,171
- Inflation of 2.5% / year
- Assumes New State Pension, payments increasing with inflation (2.5% / year)
- Assumes student loans last 30 years max
- Assumes a flex-drawdown pension for illustration purposes
- Assumes you draw down pension up to the higher rate bracket (£50,270), then draw down your S&S ISA
- Pension lump sums are not included