NHS Band 3 Take-Home Pay Calculator 2026/27

In 2026/27, an NHS Band 3 salary in England ranges from £25,760 (entry) to £27,476 (top). After tax, National Insurance and the 6.5% NHS pension, estimated monthly take-home is about £1,727 at entry and £1,823 at the top point, on the standard 1257L tax code.
Northern IrelandPending

England · Band 3 · Entry

£1,727.27

a month take-home · £20,727.28 a year

Gross

£25,760.00

Income tax

£2,303.12

NI

£1,055.20

Pension

£1,674.40

Net

£20,727.28

Pay-rise impact

+0.0%

Drag to model a future pay award. You keep less than the headline % — tax, National Insurance and the pension take a share of the increase too.

Where your pay goes
NHS pension
£1,674.40(7%)
Income tax
£2,303.12(9%)
National Insurance
£1,055.20(4%)
Take-home
£20,727.28(80%)
Total£25,760.00

Simulated monthly payslip

Gross pay£2,146.67
PAYE income tax£191.93
Employee NI£87.93
NHS pension (6.5%)£139.53
Net bank credit£1,727.27

England · rest-of-UK income tax bands · estimate for the 2026/27 tax year, standard 1257L code assumed.

Email me my results

Get your Band 3 breakdown — every spine point, the 6.5% pension tier and your monthly payslip — emailed instantly. Plus a heads-up when the 2027/28 pay award lands.

Free. No spam. Privacy policy.

Band 3 spine points (England, 2026/27)

PointFull-time salaryMonthly take-home
Entry£25,760.00£1,727.27
Top of band£27,476.00£1,822.80

Full-time, standard 1257L tax code, in the NHS Pension Scheme, no student loan or HCAS. Adjust the calculator above for your situation.

NHS Band 3 pay in England, explained

Band 3 typically covers senior healthcare assistants, emergency care assistants, pharmacy assistants and clerical officers. Full-time basic pay runs from £25,760 at entry to £27,476 at the top of the band for 2026/27. On top of basic pay, London staff receive a High Cost Area Supplement, and anyone working nights, weekends or bank holidays earns Section 2 unsocial-hours enhancements.

Three deductions come off: income tax, National Insurance, and your NHS pension contribution — which for a Band 3 on entry pay is the 6.5% tier, not the 5% auto-enrolment rate generic calculators assume. That is why our monthly take-home estimate (£1,727 at entry) is more accurate than tools that under-count the pension.

Frequently Asked Questions

Compare & explore

Put this band next to another — or a different nation — with the NHS pay comparison tool, or see every band on the hub.