NHS Band 5 Salary Calculator UK 2025/26

NHS Band 5 salary calculator UK 2025/26 — newly qualified nurse take-home £29,970-£36,483. Includes NHS pension 9.8%, ta

Quick answer: NHS Band 5 (newly qualified nurse) 2025/26 spine points £29,970-£36,483. After 9.8% NHS pension contribution + tax + NI, take-home is approximately £24,500-£28,800/year (£2,042-£2,400/month).
Mustafa Bilgic
Reviewed by Mustafa Bilgic · UK Calculator Editor ·

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NHS Agenda for Change Band 5 covers newly qualified nurses, AHPs (allied health professionals), and similar registered roles. The 2025/26 pay range is £29,970 (entry) to £36,483 (top of band). NHS Pension Scheme 2015 contribution rate is typically 9.8% for Band 5. This calculator computes your exact take-home.

How nhs band 5 salary calculator works in 2025/26

NHS Band 5 spine points 2025/26 (Agenda for Change):

  • Year 1 (entry): £29,970
  • Year 2-3: £31,049
  • Year 4+: £36,483 (top of band)

NHS Pension Scheme 2015 contribution rates 2025/26:

Pensionable payEmployee rate
Up to £14,0325.2%
£14,033-£17,4786.5%
£17,479-£23,9488.3%
£23,949-£29,6359.8%
£29,636-£49,47110.7%
£49,472-£62,92412.5%

Pension contribution comes off GROSS pay before tax — so 28% (basic) or 42% (higher) tax relief is automatic.

London weighting (where applicable):

  • Inner London HCAS: 20% (max £8,172)
  • Outer London HCAS: 15% (max £5,478)
  • Fringe HCAS: 5% (max £2,086)

Worked example: Band 5 Year 1 entry £29,970 outside London

Salary £29,970. NHS pension 10.7% × £29,970 = £3,207 (after tax relief, real cost ~£2,310). Taxable pay £26,763. Tax: £14,193 × 20% = £2,839. NI £1,712. Take-home £22,212/year (£1,851/month).

Gross: £29,970 → Take-home: £22,212.00/year (£1,851.00/month)

Worked example: Band 5 top £36,483 + Inner London 20%

Total £43,780. Pension 10.7% = £4,684 (real cost £3,372 after tax). Taxable £39,096. Tax £5,305. NI £2,514. Take-home £31,277/year (£2,606/month).

Gross: £43,780 → Take-home: £31,277.00/year (£2,606.42/month)

Worked example: Band 5 with overtime — 100h annual unsocial hours

Base £36,483 + £4,500 unsocial hours premium (40% Sat-Sun, 30% nights). Total £40,983. Pension 10.7% on base only. Tax+NI on full. Take-home approximately £28,800/year.

Gross: £40,983 → Take-home: £28,800.00/year (£2,400.00/month)

Frequently asked questions

What does NHS Band 5 cover?
Newly qualified registered nurses, midwives, allied health professionals (physiotherapists, OTs, radiographers, dietitians), pharmacists pre-registration, junior healthcare scientists, and equivalent registered roles requiring degree-level qualification.
How much does the NHS pension cost me?
For Band 5 salary range, employee contribution is 10.7% (mid-band rate). On £35k that's £3,745/year. After tax relief (basic rate 20%) real cost is £2,996. NHS employer contribution is 23.7% — generous total benefit.
Is the NHS Pension Scheme 2015 a final salary or career average?
Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE). Each year you build pension at 1/54 of pensionable earnings. Revalued annually by CPI + 1.5% (during career). Normal retirement age = your State Pension Age.
Can I take 25% tax-free cash from NHS Pension?
Yes — when you retire from NHS pension, you can commute up to 25% of your pension into a tax-free lump sum. Commutation rate is typically 12:1 (£12 lump sum for every £1 of annual pension given up). Standard cash + pension formula.
Do I get unsocial hours pay on top of Band 5 base?
Yes — unsocial hours premiums per Section 2 of AfC Handbook: Saturdays/public holidays 60%, weekday nights/Sundays 30-39%. Premiums are pensionable AND taxable (full PAYE applies).
What's the McCloud judgment and does it affect me?
McCloud was a 2018 court case ruling 2015 NHS Pension transitional protections were age-discriminatory. Affected members (in service 31 March 2012 - 31 March 2022) got a choice: stay in 2015 scheme OR have those years in their old scheme (1995/2008). Most Band 5 nurses joined post-2022 — McCloud doesn't apply.
Should I salary sacrifice into AVCs or Money Purchase scheme?
NHS Money Purchase AVC (Prudential) lets you contribute extra for additional retirement income. Salary sacrifice saves NI; personal contributions get tax relief at source. Both work — choice depends on whether you want NI saving (sal sac) or flexibility (personal). NHS doesn't pre-set this — ask your employer.

Official UK Sources

Last reviewed: May 2026 against HMRC 2025/26 rates.

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