NHS Pay Comparison 2026/27

Compare any two NHS pay scenarios side by side — a promotion, a step point, part-time hours, or a different nation — and see the real monthly and yearly difference after tax, National Insurance and the NHS pension.

Scenario A

£2,040.21

a month · £24,482.51/yr

England Band 5 · £32,073 · 8.3% pension

Scenario B

£2,429.77

a month · £29,157.29/yr

England Band 6 · £39,959 · 9.8% pension

Scenario B takes home £389.57 more a month — £4,674.78 a year.

Why the take-home gap is smaller than the pay gap

Moving up a band or a step point raises your basic pay, but a larger share is taxed at the higher rate, National Insurance rises, and the NHS pension is tiered — so a bigger contribution comes off too. That is why a £2,000 pay rise rarely means £2,000 more in your pocket. Comparing the net figures side by side shows what actually changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Full breakdowns

For HCAS, unsocial hours, student loans and a full payslip, open the NHS take-home pay hub or a specific band page.