NHS Band 5 Take-Home Pay Calculator 2026/27

In 2026/27, an NHS Band 5 salary in England ranges from £32,073 (entry) to £39,043 (top). After tax, National Insurance and the 8.3% NHS pension, estimated monthly take-home is about £2,040 at entry and £2,381 at the top point, on the standard 1257L tax code.
Northern IrelandPending

England · Band 5 · Entry

£2,040.21

a month take-home · £24,482.51 a year

Gross

£32,073.00

Income tax

£3,368.19

NI

£1,560.24

Pension

£2,662.06

Net

£24,482.51

Where your pay goes
NHS pension
£2,662.06(8%)
Income tax
£3,368.19(11%)
National Insurance
£1,560.24(5%)
Take-home
£24,482.51(76%)
Total£32,073.00

Simulated monthly payslip

Gross pay£2,672.75
PAYE income tax− £280.68
Employee NI− £130.02
NHS pension (8.3%)− £221.84
Net bank credit£2,040.21

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

Band 5 spine points (England, 2026/27)

PointFull-time salaryMonthly take-home
Entry£32,073.00£2,040.21
Intermediate£34,592.00£2,177.41
Top of band£39,043.00£2,380.80

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 5 pay in England, explained

Band 5 typically covers newly-qualified nurses, midwives, paramedics, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and radiographers. Full-time basic pay runs from £32,073 at entry to £39,043 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 5 on entry pay is the 8.3% tier, not the 5% auto-enrolment rate generic calculators assume. That is why our monthly take-home estimate (£2,040 at entry) is more accurate than tools that under-count the pension.

Frequently Asked Questions

All NHS bands & nations

See the NHS take-home pay hub to compare every band across England, Scotland and Wales.