NHS Pay Calculator

Free NHS pay calculator for 2025/26. Select your Agenda for Change band and point to see your salary, tax, NI, pension and take-home pay.

NHS Pay Calculator 2025/26

Select your Agenda for Change (AfC) band and pay point to calculate your take-home pay after income tax, National Insurance, and NHS pension contributions. All rates are based on the 2025/26 NHS pay scales.

NHS AfC Pay Scales 2025/26

The table below shows the full Agenda for Change pay bands for 2025/26. These rates apply to NHS staff in England. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland may have slightly different rates.

BandMinimumMaximumTypical Roles
Band 1£23,615£23,615Domestic, catering assistant
Band 2£23,615£25,674Healthcare assistant, porter
Band 3£25,674£28,407Senior HCA, phlebotomist
Band 4£28,407£31,437Assistant practitioner, admin
Band 5£29,970£36,483Newly qualified nurse, OT, physio
Band 6£37,338£44,962Senior nurse, specialist practitioner
Band 7£46,148£52,809Advanced practitioner, ward manager
Band 8a£53,755£60,504Principal practitioner, manager
Band 8b£62,215£72,293Senior manager, consultant nurse
Band 8c£73,664£86,074Associate director
Band 8d£87,754£101,477Deputy director
Band 9£105,385£121,271Chief nurse, director

NHS Pension Contribution Rates 2025/26

NHS pension contributions are tiered based on your pensionable pay. Higher earners pay a larger percentage. All NHS employees are automatically enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme.

Pensionable PayContribution Rate
Up to £13,2475.2%
£13,248 - £26,8236.5%
£26,824 - £32,6918.3%
£32,692 - £49,0789.8%
£49,079 - £77,27410.7%
£77,275 - £114,52512.5%
Over £114,52513.5%

Related Calculators

Salary Calculator | Tax Calculator | NI Calculator | Pension Calculator | Student Loan Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the NHS Agenda for Change pay bands for 2025/26?
NHS AfC pay bands for 2025/26 range from Band 1 at £23,615 to Band 9 at £105,385-£121,271. Band 5 (entry-level nursing) starts at £29,970, while Band 8a (senior roles) starts at £53,755. Each band has multiple pay points that staff progress through annually based on satisfactory performance.
How much NHS pension do I pay?
NHS pension contributions for 2025/26 are tiered based on salary: 5.2% for earnings up to £13,247, 6.5% for £13,248-£26,823, 8.3% for £26,824-£32,691, 9.8% for £32,692-£49,078, 10.7% for £49,079-£77,274, 12.5% for £77,275-£114,525, and 13.5% for earnings over £114,525. For example, a Band 5 nurse earning £29,970 would pay 8.3% (£2,487 per year).
How is NHS take-home pay calculated?
NHS take-home pay is calculated by deducting income tax, National Insurance contributions, and NHS pension contributions from your gross salary. Tax is calculated using UK 2025/26 rates (personal allowance £12,570, basic rate 20%, higher rate 40%). NI is 8% on earnings between £12,570-£50,270 and 2% above. Your NHS pension tier is based on your total pensionable salary.

Official Sources

Data verified against official NHS and UK government sources. Last checked April 2026.