Band 2
Open band calculatorExample Roles: Domestic support worker, healthcare assistant, security officer
NHS Take-Home Pay Calculator2026/27
Enter your NHS salary to see your annual, monthly and weekly take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance.
Popular NHS Bands
- Band 5£32,073£26,613
- Band 6£39,959£32,291
- Band 7£49,387£39,079
- Band 8a£57,528£43,924
- Band 8b£66,582£49,175
Your NHS take-home pay
Add your salary and we'll break down income tax, National Insurance and your final take-home for 2026/27.
Your taxes (2026/27)
| Year | Month | Week | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | £37,500 | £3,125 | £721 |
| Pension (You)£375 Saved! | £1,875 | £156 | £36 |
| PensionEmployer Added! | £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 → | ||
HMRC Tax rates and rules last updated 6th Apr 2026
How to Use Our NHS Pay Calculator
If you're part of the NHS workforce, understanding your payslip can sometimes feel like a puzzle. Whether you're a nurse, doctor, or working behind the scenes, our easy-to-use tools can help you see exactly what you take home each month. By simply entering your salary band, we'll give you a clear breakdown of your pay after tax, national insurance, and other deductions.
You can adjust for overtime, pension contributions, and tax codes too, ensuring the figures reflect your personal circumstances. This way, you'll have a full picture of your earnings and know exactly how much money lands in your account each month.
Understanding NHS Pay Bands
NHS salaries are structured around a system of pay bands. These bands are used to determine your pay based on your role, experience, and responsibilities. Here's a breakdown of the different NHS pay bands for the current tax year.
Band 3
Open band calculatorExample Roles: Emergency care assistant, trainee clinical coder
Band 4
Open band calculatorExample Roles: Assistant practitioner, pharmacy technician, dental nurse
Band 5
Open band calculatorExample Roles: Newly qualified nurses, ODP, podiatrist
Band 6
Open band calculatorExample Roles: School nurse, experienced paramedic, estates officer
Band 7
Open band calculatorExample Roles: Communications manager, estates manager, high intensity therapist
Band 8a
Open band calculatorExample Roles: Consultant prosthetist/orthotist, modern matron, nurse consultant
Band 8b
Open band calculatorExample Roles: Strategic management, head of education and training, clinical physiology service manager
Band 8c
Open band calculatorExample Roles: Head of HR, consultant clinical scientist, consultant paramedic
Band 8d
Open band calculatorExample Roles: Consultant psychologist, chief nurse, chief finance manager
Band 9
Open band calculatorExample Roles: Podiatric consultant, director of estates and facilities
It's important to note that these bands reflect base salaries, and your actual take-home pay can differ based on factors like pension contributions, overtime, and tax deductions. Many NHS staff also receive additional payments for unsocial hours or on-call duties.
Additional Benefits for NHS Staff
Beyond your salary, NHS staff are entitled to various additional benefits that can make a big difference to your overall compensation. These include:
- Pension Scheme: The NHS pension is one of the most generous in the UK, offering substantial employer contributions and providing long-term financial security
- Annual Leave: NHS employees receive between 27 and 33 days of annual leave, depending on their length of service
- Sick Pay: Depending on your length of service, you may be eligible for full pay for up to six months if you are unwell
- Maternity and Paternity Pay: Enhanced maternity and paternity leave options allow for more financial support during family leave
- Career Development: With various training programmes and support for further education, the NHS invests in the long-term development of its staff
Whether you're just starting your NHS career or have been with the service for years, these benefits add up to a well-rounded compensation package designed to support you both now and in the future
Tax and National Insurance
Like any other job, your NHS salary is subject to income tax and National Insurance (NI) contributions. These deductions can sometimes make it hard to predict exactly how much you'll take home, but understanding the basics will help you plan your finances better.
In the 2026/27 tax year, income tax is applied as follows:
- 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)
Your National Insurance contribution is also based on your earnings and is calculated as a percentage of your gross pay. For 2026/27:
- 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270
- 2% on earnings above £50,270
By having a clear view of your tax and National Insurance contributions, you can better plan your savings, spending, and overall financial health.
Take it further
Explore Your Finances
Model your expenses, project your wealth, and find your path to financial independence.
Your Monthly Outgoings
Projected Pension
Estimated pension growth over 31 years. Assumes a fund fee of 0.35%. Growth adjusted for inflation.
Wealth & Financial Independence More Info
Financial independence means having enough saved that your expenses will be covered for the rest of your life.
- 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
Estimated income over 50 years, adjusted for inflation, with a 5% annual return and 0.35% yearly platform fee.
Calculations
- 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