NHS Take-Home Pay Calculator 2026/27,
Updated April 2026
The 2026/27 tax year runs from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. This calculator uses the confirmed 3.3% pay award and the 2026/27 NHS pension thresholds (uplifted by 3.8% CPI). Compare your take-home against last year with the table below.
All AfC bands · All regions · Cumulative PAYE · 6-tier pension · London weighting · Part-time · Student loan · Salary sacrifice
Key Take-Home Changes; 2025/26 vs 2026/27
Based on 37.5 hours, tax code 1257L, no student loan, pension on, England. Take-home calculated with gross pension deducted before PAYE (HMRC EIM45715).
| Band | 2025/26 Take-Home | 2026/27 Take-Home | Monthly Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £1,655 | £1,700 | +£45 |
| Band 3 entry | £1,681 | £1,727 | +£46 |
| Band 4 | £1,823 | £1,874 | +£51 |
| Band 5 entry | £1,984 | £2,040 | +£56 |
| Band 6 entry | £2,361 | £2,430 | +£69 |
| Band 7 entry | £2,849 | £2,934 | +£85 |
| Band 8a entry | £3,265 | £3,353 | +£88 |
| Band 8b | £3,650 | £3,742 | +£92 |
| Band 8c | £4,119 | £4,226 | +£107 |
| Band 8d | £4,724 | £4,851 | +£127 |
| Band 9 | £5,474 | £5,626 | +£152 |
What Changed in the 2026/27 Tax Year?
3.3% Consolidated Pay Award
Confirmed for all Agenda for Change staff, backdated to 1 April 2026. The award is consolidated — it becomes part of your base salary and affects future pension calculations and subsequent percentage awards.
NHS Pension Thresholds Uplifted by 3.8%
The 6-tier contribution structure has been in place since 1 April 2024 — this has not changed. Thresholds are reviewed each 1 April based on whichever is higher: September CPI or the AfC pay award.
For 2026/27, September 2025 CPI was 3.8%, higher than the 3.3% pay award. Thresholds moved up by 3.8% while pay moved up by 3.3%. Most staff did not drift into a higher pension tier; in fact, the gap between pay and the top of each tier widened slightly.
HMRC Tax Bands and NI Thresholds
Personal Allowance remains at £12,570 (frozen since 2021/22). Basic rate (20%) applies £12,571–£50,270. Higher rate (40%) applies £50,271–£125,140. Above £100,000, the Personal Allowance tapers — tested against income after pension deduction (HMRC EIM45715).
- 0% on earnings up to £1,047.50/month
- 8% on earnings between £1,047.50 and £4,189/month
- 2% on earnings above £4,189/month
NI must be calculated using monthly thresholds directly, not annual figures divided by 12.
London Weighting (HCAS) Caps Updated
HCAS is pensionable — it is included in pensionable pay, affecting both your pension contribution tier and your future pension entitlement.
| Tier | Annual Pensionable Pay (2026/27) | Contribution Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to £13,259 | 5.2% |
| 2 | £13,260–£28,854 | 6.5% |
| 3 | £28,855–£35,155 | 8.3% |
| 4 | £35,156–£52,778 | 9.8% |
| 5 | £52,779–£67,668 | 10.7% |
| 6 | £67,669 and above | 12.5% |
If your band and increment stayed the same, your pension tier and rate almost certainly stayed the same too — your pension percentage did not change between 2025/26 and 2026/27 for any standard AfC band. The take-home increase is driven entirely by the 3.3% salary uplift.
2026/27 Pay Bands at a Glance
37.5 hrs/week · Tax code 1257L · No student loan · Pension on · Outside London · Take-home with gross pension deducted before PAYE
| Band | Starting Salary 2026/27 | Monthly Gross | Pension Tier | Pension % | Monthly Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 | £2,106 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,700 |
| Band 3 | £25,760 | £2,147 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,727 |
| Band 4 | £28,392 | £2,366 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,874 |
| Band 5 | £32,073 | £2,673 | Tier 3 | 8.3% | £2,040 |
| Band 6 | £39,959 | £3,330 | Tier 4 | 9.8% | £2,430 |
| Band 7 | £49,387 | £4,116 | Tier 4 | 9.8% | £2,934 |
| Band 8a | £57,528 | £4,794 | Tier 5 | 10.7% | £3,353 |
| Band 8b | £66,582 | £5,549 | Tier 5 | 10.7% | £3,742 |
| Band 8c | £79,504 | £6,625 | Tier 6 | 12.5% | £4,226 |
| Band 8d | £94,356 | £7,863 | Tier 6 | 12.5% | £4,851 |
| Band 9 | £112,782 | £9,399 | Tier 6 | 12.5% | £5,626 |
Part-Time Take-Home at 22.5 Hours; Pension Tiers Differ From Full-Time
22.5 hrs/week (0.6 WTE) · Tax code 1257L · No student loan · Pension on · Outside London
| Band | Pro-Rata Salary (22.5 hrs) | Pension Tier | Pension % | Monthly Take-Home | Full-Time Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £15,163 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,137 | £25,272 |
| Band 3 | £15,456 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,154 | £25,760 |
| Band 4 | £17,035 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,242 | £28,392 |
| Band 5 | £19,244 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,365 | £32,073 |
| Band 6 | £23,975 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,628 | £39,959 |
| Band 7 | £29,632 | Tier 3 | 8.3% | £1,907 | £49,387 |
| Band 8a | £34,517 | Tier 3 | 8.3% | £2,173 | £57,528 |
💡 Why part-time pension tiers differ
A full-time Band 7 pays pension at 9.8% (Tier 4). But a part-time Band 7 working 22.5 hours earns £29,632 pro rata, which falls into Tier 3 at 8.3% — a real saving on top of the normal pro-rata reduction. Most calculators ignore this. Ours handles it automatically.
Part-time staff often pay a lower pension contribution rate than full-time colleagues on the same band, because their pro-rata earnings fall into a lower tier. The full calculator handles this automatically.
Previous Tax Years & Archived Rates
Looking for NHS take-home pay for an earlier tax year? The table below shows the key rates for each year.
| Tax Year | Pay Award | Pension Structure | Key Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | 3.3% | 6 tiers | Thresholds uplifted by 1.7% CPI |
| 2024/25 | 5.5% | 6 tiers | First year of the current 6-tier structure (introduced 1 April 2024) |
| 2023/24 | 5.0% | 11 tiers | Interim structure, introduced October 2022 |
| 2022/23 | 4.0% | 11 tiers (from Oct) / 12 tiers (to Sep) | Phase 1 reform: moved from WTE basis to actual pay basis |
| 2021/22 | 3.0% | 12 tiers | — |
| 2020/21 | 2.1% | 12 tiers | COVID-19 year |
| 2019/20 | 2.5% | 12 tiers | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about NHS take-home pay for 2026/27, the 3.3% pay award, pension threshold changes, and how this year compares with 2025/26.
The 2026/27 pay award is confirmed at 3.3%, backdated to 1 April 2026. The award is consolidated — it becomes part of your base salary, which also affects future pension calculations and subsequent percentage awards.
The 2026/27 tax year runs from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. All rates in this calculator apply to that period.
See the “Key Take-Home Changes” table above. It shows your current take-home side by side with last year’s figures, including the exact monthly difference for every AfC band.
For the vast majority of staff, no. The NHS Pension Scheme has used the same 6-tier rate structure (5.2% to 12.5%) since 1 April 2024. For 2026/27, only the salary thresholds that define each tier moved — up by 3.8% in line with CPI. Because the 3.3% pay award was lower than this threshold uplift, almost no one moved into a higher pension tier this year. If your band and increment stayed the same as last year, your pension percentage almost certainly stayed the same too.
A Band 5 entry nurse gains approximately £56 per month in take-home pay after the 3.3% award. A Band 7 gains approximately £85 per month. These figures already include the small change in pension threshold position. Use the NHS Pay Rise Calculator for your exact figure.
Yes. Inner London maximum increased from £8,172 to £8,746. Outer London increased from £5,924 to £6,137. Fringe increased from £2,077 to £2,270. HCAS remains pensionable — it counts toward your pension contribution tier and your future pension entitlement.
The 3.3% award is backdated to 1 April 2026. If your trust implements it after April, you will receive a backdated lump sum. Use the NHS Back Pay Calculator to estimate what you’ll actually receive after tax, NI, and pension.
Student loan thresholds for 2026/27 are: Plan 1 £26,900, Plan 2 £29,385, Plan 4 (Scotland) £33,795, Plan 5 £25,000, and Postgrad £21,000.
Yes. The Scotland calculator uses the six Scottish income tax bands for 2026/27: Starter (19%), Basic (20%), Intermediate (21%), Higher (42%), Advanced (45%), and Top (48%). NI is not devolved; we use UK rates.
Your gross pay increases, and depending on exactly where your new salary sits, your pension tier may also change — for example, moving from Tier 3 (8.3%) to Tier 4 (9.8%) if your new pay crosses the £35,155 threshold. Use the full calculator to see your exact net gain after all deductions, including any pension tier change.
The archived rates table above shows key figures for each previous tax year. Our full calculator works for any year — your band and hours are the same, but pension thresholds, pay awards, and tax rates have changed each year. For official HMRC figures, visit gov.uk/estimate-take-home-pay.
Yes. Scotland has six income tax bands, from Starter at 19% to Top at 48%. Our Scotland calculator uses the correct 2026/27 Scottish bands. National Insurance is not devolved; we use the same UK rates. See the NHS Scotland Take-Home Pay Calculator for full details.
Updated April 2026 | 3.3% pay award confirmed · 6-tier pension (unchanged since April 2024) · HCAS caps updated | Gross pension deducted before PAYE per HMRC EIM45715 | For Agenda for Change staff, England unless stated