Find out your exact NHS paramedic take-home pay for 2025/26. Select your band or enter a custom salary to see monthly pay after income tax, National Insurance, and optional London weighting.
All salaries are Agenda for Change (AfC) rates for England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland may differ.
| Band | Role | Min | Max | Monthly (min, after tax) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 4 | Student Paramedic | £26,530 | £29,114 | ~£1,850 |
| Band 5 | Paramedic (newly qualified) | £29,970 | £36,483 | ~£2,075 |
| Band 6 | Senior / Specialist Paramedic | £37,338 | £44,962 | ~£2,530 |
| Band 7 | Advanced Paramedic | £43,742 | £50,056 | ~£2,900 |
| Band 8a | Consultant Paramedic | £50,952 | £57,349 | ~£3,200 |
London Ambulance Service (LAS) paramedics receive a High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) of 20% of basic pay (min £4,551, max £5,514). This is added before tax calculations.
| Band | Base Salary | +20% HCAS | Total Gross | Monthly Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 5 (min) | £29,970 | +£5,514* | ~£35,484 | ~£2,390 |
| Band 6 (min) | £37,338 | +£5,514* | ~£42,852 | ~£2,800 |
| Band 7 (min) | £43,742 | +£5,514* | ~£49,256 | ~£3,075 |
| Band 8a (min) | £50,952 | +£5,514* | ~£56,466 | ~£3,380 |
*HCAS capped at £5,514 per year. Minimum £4,551. Figures are approximate after standard income tax and NI.
Paramedics are one of the most vital professions in the NHS and wider UK healthcare system, providing emergency pre-hospital care to patients across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Whether you are a student paramedic just starting your journey, a newly qualified Band 5 working on an ambulance, or an experienced Advanced Paramedic in a specialist role, understanding your pay, take-home income, and deductions is essential for financial planning.
This guide covers every aspect of NHS paramedic pay in 2025/26 using the latest Agenda for Change (AfC) salary scales, 2025/26 tax rates, and NHS pension contribution thresholds.
NHS paramedics are employed under the Agenda for Change (AfC) framework, which sets out standardised pay bands and progression rules across the NHS. Rather than negotiating individual salaries, paramedics progress through defined pay points within their band over time. This means a paramedic at the top of Band 5 will earn £36,483 per year, while one at the entry point earns £29,970.
Pay progression in NHS bands is generally annual, subject to satisfactory performance (called an appraisal or Knowledge and Skills Framework review). Once you reach the top of your band, you must be promoted to a higher band to receive further pay increases.
Most paramedic degree programmes in the UK are university-based and students typically receive a bursary or salary if employed by an ambulance trust during training. Student paramedics on NHS employment contracts are usually placed on Band 4, earning between £26,530 and £29,114 per year. After tax and National Insurance, this equates to roughly £1,800–£2,000 per month take-home pay.
Some trusts require students to be supernumerary during university placement and pay a lower training rate. Always confirm your contract with your NHS ambulance trust before commencing training.
On qualifying and gaining HCPC registration, paramedics typically start on Band 5, the first qualified rung of the paramedic career ladder. The Band 5 salary range for 2025/26 is £29,970 to £36,483 per year. At the minimum point, take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance is approximately £2,075 per month.
Band 5 paramedics work across emergency ambulance operations, responding to 999 calls, urgent care transfers and community services. Many will work a 12-hour shift pattern, with unsocial hours enhancements available for evening, night and weekend work.
Band 6 encompasses Senior Paramedics, Specialist Paramedics in Emergency Care (SPEC), and those in clinical leadership roles. The 2025/26 salary range is £37,338 to £44,962 per year. Monthly take-home pay at the minimum point is approximately £2,530 after tax and NI. Band 6 roles typically involve more autonomous practice, mentoring junior staff, and specialist clinical skills such as advanced assessment and pharmacological interventions.
Advanced Paramedics operate at the highest level of clinical autonomous practice, often carrying out extended scope procedures, prescribing medications (if V300 qualified), and managing complex cases without direct physician supervision. Their 2025/26 salary range is £43,742 to £50,056 per year. Monthly take-home is approximately £2,900–£3,100.
Consultant Paramedics are the most senior clinical paramedic practitioners in the NHS. They typically hold advanced clinical qualifications, often at Master's or doctoral level, and contribute to service development, research and education. The Band 8a salary range starts at £50,952 and reaches £57,349 per year. Monthly net pay at this level is approximately £3,200–£3,500.
For 2025/26, the personal allowance remains £12,570. Earnings above this are taxed at 20% up to £50,270, and at 40% above that threshold. National Insurance contributions are 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above £50,270. These deductions are applied after any pension contributions, which are made on a salary sacrifice or pre-tax basis under the NHS Pension Scheme.
All NHS employees are automatically enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme. Contribution rates range from 5.2% for the lowest earners to 12.5% for higher earners. These contributions are deducted from gross pay before tax is calculated, meaning pension contributions reduce your taxable income and therefore your income tax bill. However, they do reduce your monthly take-home amount.
Paramedics working for NHS ambulance trusts are entitled to unsocial hours enhancements under AfC. Working between 8pm and 6am on weekdays, or any time on weekends, attracts enhancements of 30–60% on top of basic hourly rate. These enhancements can add several thousand pounds per year to gross earnings and are subject to normal income tax and NI contributions.
The paramedic profession has seen significant salary growth over the past decade, driven by professionalisation, degree-level entry requirements and increased union bargaining. The College of Paramedics and UNISON continue to advocate for improved pay parity with other NHS clinical professions. Future career moves into management, education or advanced practice offer further salary gains beyond Band 8a.
Last updated: April 2025. Salary data based on NHS Agenda for Change 2025/26. Tax calculations use HMRC 2025/26 rates. Figures are estimates; consult your payslip or a financial adviser for personalised advice. Author: Mustafa Bilgic (MB).