Northern Ireland, HSC Pay Scales (2026/27)
In Northern Ireland, the health service is called HSC (Health and Social Care), not NHS. HSC uses the same Agenda for Change pay bands, but Northern Ireland operates its own pension tier structure with rates 0.2% higher than England at each tier. Income tax is not devolved; the same UK rates apply.
NI-specific: HSC pension tiers (0.2% higher than England), UK tax rates, no regional prefix, official HSC AfC pay scales.
HSC Northern Ireland Take Home Pay Calculator
Health and Social Care (HSC) AfC pay scales · UK income tax (not devolved) · No tax code prefix · 6-tier pension · Employer 23.2% · Plan 1 + Postgrad only. All 2026/27 rates.
| England/Wales/NI 6-Tier — NHS Employers March 2026 | ||
| Tier 1 | Up to £13,259 | 5.2% |
| Tier 2 | £13,260–£28,854 | 6.5% |
| Tier 3 | £28,855–£35,155 | 8.3% |
| Tier 4 | £35,156–£52,778 | 9.8% |
| Tier 5 | £52,779–£67,668 | 10.7% |
| Tier 6 | £67,669+ | 12.5% |
What Changed in 2026/27 for HSC Northern Ireland Staff
Three key changes for HSC Northern Ireland staff in 2026/27.
3.3% Consolidated Pay Award
Confirmed for all Agenda for Change staff, backdated to 1 April 2026. HSC Northern Ireland typically follows the same award as England, but implementation dates may lag. Check with your HR department for local dates.
Pension Restructured
From 1 April 2026, the HSC pension in Northern Ireland tier become 6 tiers ; the same restructure as England but with NI-specific rates that are 0.2% higher at Tiers 2–6.
Plan 2 Threshold Increased to £29,385
Up from £27,295. Northern Irish graduates on Plan 2 earning around Band 5 entry may now pay less each month, or nothing at all.
HSC Northern Ireland vs England: How Do Pay Scales and Take-Home Compare?
HSC Northern Ireland pay scales match England’s for 2026/27. The salary is the same. However because Northern Ireland operates its own pension tier structure with slightly higher contribution rates, HSC staff take home marginally less than England colleagues on the same salary.
| Band | NI monthly take-home | England monthly take-home | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 3 entry | £1,724 | £1,727 | −£3 |
| Band 5 entry | £2,036 | £2,040 | −£4 |
| Band 6 entry | £2,424 | £2,430 | −£6 |
| Band 7 entry | £2,927 | £2,934 | −£7 |
| Band 8a entry | £3,347 | £3,353 | −£6 |
| Aspect | Northern Ireland | England |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax rates | Same as England (20%/40%/45%) | Same |
| Tax code prefix | No prefix (e.g. 1257L) | No prefix |
| AfC pay scales | HSC Northern Ireland (same as England 2026/27) | NHS England |
| Pension tiers | 6 tiers — NI rates 0.2% higher than England | 6 tiers |
| Employer pension | 23.2% | 23.7% |
| HCAS | Not applicable | London zones only |
| Pay award timing | May lag behind England | Standard |
Northern Ireland Income Tax, Same as England, No Prefix
Income tax is not devolved in Northern Ireland. You pay the same UK rates as England and Wales.
| Band | Annual income range | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Basic rate | £12,571 – £50,270 | 20% |
| Higher rate | £50,271 – £125,140 | 40% |
| Additional rate | Above £125,140 | 45% |
HSC Northern Ireland Pension Tiers 2026/27
Northern Ireland operates its own HSC pension scheme under the same 6-tier structure introduced in April 2026, but with rates 0.2% higher than England at every tier above Tier 1.
Source: hscpensions.hscni.net, confirmed June 2026
| Tier | Annual pensionable pay | Employee rate (NI) | England rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Up to £13,259 | 5.2% | 5.2% | same |
| Tier 2 | £13,260 – £28,854 | 6.7% | 6.5% | +0.2% |
| Tier 3 | £28,855 – £35,155 | 8.5% | 8.3% | +0.2% |
| Tier 4 | £35,156 – £52,778 | 10.0% | 9.8% | +0.2% |
| Tier 5 | £52,779 – £67,668 | 10.9% | 10.7% | +0.2% |
| Tier 6 | £67,669 and above | 12.7% | 12.5% | +0.2% |
HSC Northern Ireland Pay Scales 2026/27
These figures assume 37.5 hours per week (full-time), tax code 1257L, no student loan, and pension on. Take-home shown after pension income and tax relief.
| Band | Starting Salary | Monthly Gross | HSC Pension Tier | Pension % | Monthly Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 | £2,106 | Tier 2 | 6.7% | £1,697 |
| Band 3 | £25,760 | £2,147 | Tier 2 | 6.7% | £1,724 |
| Band 4 | £28,392 | £2,366 | Tier 2 | 6.7% | £1,870 |
| Band 5 | £32,073 | £2,673 | Tier 3 | 8.5% | £2,036 |
| Band 6 | £39,959 | £3,330 | Tier 4 | 10.0% | £2,424 |
| Band 7 | £49,387 | £4,116 | Tier 4 | 10.0% | £2,927 |
| Band 8a | £57,528 | £4,794 | Tier 5 | 10.9% | £3,347 |
| Band 8b | £66,582 | £5,549 | Tier 5 | 10.9% | £3,735 |
| Band 8c | £79,504 | £6,625 | Tier 6 | 12.7% | £4,218 |
| Band 8d | £94,356 | £7,863 | Tier 6 | 12.7% | £4,841 |
| Band 9 | £112,782 | £9,399 | Tier 6 | 12.7% | £5,615 |
- HSC NI pay scales are announced separately from NHS England — monitor HSC NI circulars for updates
- The 3.3% pay award applies but implementation dates may lag
- Pension rates shown are NI-specific; they are 0.2% higher than England’s at Tiers 2–6
What You Actually Lose If You Opt Out of the HSC Pension
| Band | What you gain each month | What your employer was contributing | Net loss per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 3 | +£115 | −£498 | −£383 |
| Band 5 | +£182 | −£620 | −£438 |
| Band 6 | +£266 | −£773 | −£507 |
| Band 7 | +£329 | −£955 | −£626 |
Part-Time Take-Home in Northern Ireland
These figures assume 22.5 hours per week (0.6 WTE), tax code 1257L, no student loan, pension on. NI pension tiers applied to pro-rata salary.
| Band | Pro-rata salary (22.5 hrs) | HSC Pension tier | Pension % | Monthly take-home | Full-time equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £15,163 | Tier 2 | 6.7% | £1,135 | £25,272 |
| Band 3 | £15,456 | Tier 2 | 6.7% | £1,152 | £25,760 |
| Band 4 | £17,035 | Tier 2 | 6.7% | £1,239 | £28,392 |
| Band 5 | £19,244 | Tier 2 | 6.7% | £1,362 | £32,073 |
| Band 6 | £23,975 | Tier 2 | 6.7% | £1,625 | £39,959 |
| Band 7 | £29,632 | Tier 3 | 8.5% | £1,903 | £49,387 |
| Band 8a | £34,517 | Tier 3 | 8.5% | £2,169 | £57,528 |
💡 Why part-time can mean a lower pension tier
A full-time Band 5 pays 8.5% (Tier 3). A part-time Band 5 at 22.5 hours earns £19,244 pro rata — falling into Tier 2 at 6.7%. That is a real saving on top of the pro-rata salary reduction. Most calculators ignore this. Ours handles it automatically.
Related Calculators
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Pro-rata with WTE at two decimal places
→ DoctorNHS Doctor Take-Home Pay
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52-week breakdown with correct SMP rules
→Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about HSC Northern Ireland take-home pay, NI-specific pension tiers, and the 2026/27 changes.
Approximately £2,036 per month after tax, NI, and pension, based on the 2026/27 HSC salary of £32,073, a 37.5-hour full-time week, HSC pension Tier 3 at 8.5%, tax code 1257L, and no student loan. This is £4/month less than the equivalent England figure (£2,040) because Northern Ireland’s pension tiers are 0.2% higher.
The health service in Northern Ireland is officially called HSC (Health and Social Care), not NHS. However, HSC uses the same Agenda for Change pay bands as the rest of the UK. This calculator uses official HSC Northern Ireland pay scales and the NI-specific pension tiers.
No. Income tax is not devolved in Northern Ireland. You pay the same UK rates as England and Wales: 20% basic rate, 40% higher rate, and 45% additional rate. Your tax code has no regional prefix — 1257L, not S1257L or C1257L.
No. National Insurance is also not devolved. You pay the same NI rates as the rest of the UK: 8% on earnings between £1,047.50 and £4,189 per month, 2% above £4,189.
No. Northern Ireland operates its own HSC pension tier structure. The 6-tier framework is the same as England from April 2026, but rates are 0.2% higher at every tier above Tier 1. Band 5 in NI pays 8.5% (vs 8.3% in England), Band 6 pays 10.0% (vs 9.8%), and so on. Many calculators incorrectly apply England’s pension rates to Northern Ireland — ours uses the correct NI-specific tiers from hscpensions.hscni.net.
Your HSC employer contributes 23.2% of your pensionable pay, slightly less than England’s 23.7%, but still one of the most generous employer pension contributions in the UK.
Very accurate. It uses official 2026/27 HSC AfC pay scales, the correct NI-specific pension tiers (hscpensions.hscni.net), UK income tax rates, and cumulative PAYE. Most calculators apply England’s pension tiers to Northern Ireland, which produces slightly wrong results. Ours doesn’t.
HSC Northern Ireland follows the same 3.3% pay award as England for 2026/27, but implementation dates may lag by weeks or months. This calculator uses the confirmed 2026/27 rates — check with your HR department for local implementation dates.
Approximately £2,927 per month after tax, NI, and pension, based on the 2026/27 salary of £49,387, HSC pension Tier 4 at 10.0%, and standard UK tax. This is £7/month less than the equivalent England figure (£2,934) due to NI’s higher pension contribution rate.
Yes. Enter your contracted hours. We show your WTE to two decimal places, apply NI-specific pension tiers to your pro-rata salary, and automatically adjust your tier if your pro-rata earnings cross a tier boundary.
Student loan thresholds for 2026/27: Plan 1: £26,900 · Plan 2: £29,385 · Plan 5: £25,000 · Postgrad: £21,000. Northern Irish students typically have Plan 1 or Plan 2 (same repayment rules as England). The calculator applies these thresholds automatically.
No. HCAS only applies to staff working in and around London. Northern Ireland does not receive London weighting.
Yes. If your trust implements the pay award after the effective date (1 April 2026), you will receive a backdated lump sum. Use our NHS Back Pay Calculator to estimate what you’ll actually receive after tax, NI, and pension.
Updated April 2026 | HSC NI pension tiers verified at hscpensions.hscni.net | Take-home after pension income tax relief | Cumulative PAYE accurate for any month of the tax year