NHS Band 5 Scotland Take-Home Pay Calculator 2026/27

In 2026/27, an NHS Band 5 salary in Scotland ranges from £34,494 (entry) to £42,977 (top) on a 36-hour week, taxed under Scottish bands and the SPPA pension. After tax, National Insurance and the 8.7% NHS pension, estimated monthly take-home is about £2,165 at entry and £2,618 at the top point, on the standard 1257L tax code.
Northern IrelandPending
Scotland does not operate HCAS / London weighting.

Scotland · Band 5 · Entry

£2,164.54

a month take-home · £25,974.50 a year

Gross

£34,494.00

Income tax

£3,764.60

NI

£1,753.92

Pension

£3,000.98

Net

£25,974.50

Where your pay goes
NHS pension
£3,000.98(9%)
Income tax
£3,764.60(11%)
National Insurance
£1,753.92(5%)
Take-home
£25,974.50(75%)
Total£34,494.00

Simulated monthly payslip

Gross pay£2,874.50
PAYE income tax− £313.72
Employee NI− £146.16
NHS pension (8.7%)− £250.08
Net bank credit£2,164.54

Scotland (Scottish taxpayer, S-prefix code) · Scottish income tax bands · estimate for the 2026/27 tax year, standard 1257LS code assumed.

Band 5 spine points (Scotland, 2026/27)

PointFull-time salaryMonthly take-home
Entry£34,494.00£2,164.54
Intermediate£36,857.00£2,290.82
Top of band£42,977.00£2,617.87

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

NHS Band 5 pay in Scotland, explained

Band 5 typically covers newly-qualified nurses, midwives, paramedics, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and radiographers. Full-time basic pay runs from £34,494 at entry to £42,977 at the top of the band for 2026/27. On top of basic pay, anyone working nights, weekends or bank holidays earns Section 2 unsocial-hours enhancements.

Three deductions come off: income tax at Scottish rates, National Insurance, and your SPPA pension contribution — which for a Band 5 on entry pay is the 8.7% tier, not the 5% auto-enrolment rate generic calculators assume. That is why our monthly take-home estimate (£2,165 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.