NHS Band 6 Salary Calculator UK 2025/26

NHS Band 6 salary calculator UK 2025/26 — senior nurse £37,338-£44,962. NHS pension 10.7%, tax + NI breakdown. Take-home

Quick answer: NHS Band 6 (senior nurse, advanced practitioner, ward sister) 2025/26 spine points £37,338-£44,962. After 10.7% NHS pension + tax + NI, take-home is approximately £28,500-£33,200/year.
Mustafa Bilgic
Reviewed by Mustafa Bilgic · UK Calculator Editor ·

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NHS Agenda for Change Band 6 covers experienced clinical practitioners — senior nurses, ward managers, advanced AHPs, specialist roles. The 2025/26 pay range is £37,338 entry to £44,962 top of band. NHS Pension Scheme 2015 contribution is typically 10.7%. This calculator computes exact take-home including London weighting.

How nhs band 6 salary calculator works in 2025/26

NHS Band 6 spine points 2025/26 (Agenda for Change):

  • Year 1 (entry): £37,338
  • Year 2-4: £39,405
  • Year 5+: £44,962 (top of band)

Common Band 6 roles: Senior staff nurse, ward sister/charge nurse, specialist nurse, midwife (post-preceptorship), senior AHP (physio Band 6), pharmacy technician advanced, biomedical scientist senior, occupational therapist Band 6, deputy ward manager.

NHS Pension contribution rate: For Band 6 salary range (£37k-£45k), employee rate is 10.7% on pensionable earnings. Higher employer contribution (23.7%) means total ~34% goes into your pension — among best schemes in UK.

London weighting (HCAS): Inner London 20% (max £8,172), Outer London 15% (max £5,478), Fringe 5% (max £2,086) — added on top of base before tax/NI.

Worked example: Band 6 entry £37,338, no London

Pension 10.7% × £37,338 = £3,995 (real cost £2,876 after tax relief). Taxable £33,343. Tax £4,154. NI £1,981. Take-home £27,208/year (£2,267/month).

Gross: £37,338 → Take-home: £27,208.00/year (£2,267.33/month)

Worked example: Band 6 top £44,962 + Inner London 20%

Total £53,954. Pension 12.5% (Band 7 of pension table) = £6,744 (real cost £4,856). Taxable £47,210. Tax £6,888. NI £3,289. Take-home £37,033/year (£3,086/month).

Gross: £53,954 → Take-home: £37,033.00/year (£3,086.08/month)

Worked example: Band 6 mid £41,150 + Outer London 15%

Total £47,323. Pension 10.7% = £5,064. Taxable £42,259. Tax £5,936. NI £2,759. Take-home £33,564/year (£2,797/month).

Gross: £47,323 → Take-home: £33,564.00/year (£2,797.00/month)

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to reach Band 6 from Band 5?
Typical career path: Band 5 (qualifying) → 3-5 years experience + post-grad qualifications → Band 6. NHS uses competency frameworks rather than purely tenure. For nurses, BSc + 2-3 years often suffices for Band 6 ward sister roles.
What's the McCloud Remedy and does it apply to Band 6?
McCloud was a 2018 court case ruling 2015 NHS Pension transitional protections were age-discriminatory. Affects members in service 31 March 2012 - 31 March 2022. Most Band 6 staff in scheme during that window get a choice between staying in 2015 scheme OR claiming back to old 1995/2008 scheme for those years.
Is overtime paid on top of Band 6?
Yes — enhanced rates per AfC Section 2: Saturday 60%, Sunday 60%, weekday nights (8pm-6am) 39%, Bank Holidays 60-100%. These ARE pensionable. Many Band 6 staff add £3-8k/year via overtime + unsocial hours.
What's the Band 6 → 7 progression?
Band 7 covers senior charge nurse, advanced practitioner, lead therapist, clinical specialist. Usually requires MSc or significant clinical specialism. Pay £46,148-£52,809.
Can I do private NHS work alongside?
Yes — most Band 6 roles allow ad-hoc agency or bank shifts (within working time regulations 48h/week unless opted-out). Bank work pays similar to your hourly equivalent + enhancements. Agency work can pay 30-60% more but is taxed as separate employment.
Are NHS bonuses pensionable?
Some are: regional retention payments and "high-cost area" supplements ARE pensionable. One-off cost-of-living payments (e.g. 2023 NHS bonus) usually NOT pensionable. Check via NHS Pensions Member Hub.
What's the difference between NHS Pension 2015 and old schemes?
2015 = Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) — 1/54 of yearly pay accrual. 1995/2008 = Final Salary — 1/80 (1995) or 1/60 (2008) of best pay. CARE is generally less generous for high-progression careers but more predictable.

Official UK Sources

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

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