If you work as an NHS Band 5 member of staff, your take-home pay will be lower than your basic salary after deductions such as Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pension contributions.
The amount you actually receive depends on several factors, including where in the UK you work, your position on the Band 5 pay scale, your tax code, pension contributions, student loan repayments and any additional earnings from nights, weekends or overtime.
In this guide, we explain NHS Band 5 take-home pay for the 2026/27 financial year, including estimated monthly pay after the main deductions.
NHS Band 5 Salary 2026/27
NHS Band 5 basic pay varies across the UK because England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate Agenda for Change pay scales.
For England, the confirmed 2026/27 Band 5 salary is £32,073 at entry, £34,592 at the intermediate pay point and £39,043 at the top of the band. Staff normally become eligible for progression after the required period and subject to the usual pay progression rules.
For Scotland, Band 5 pay is higher. The 2026/27 salaries are £34,544 at the first pay point, £36,911 at the second pay point and £43,039 at the third pay point.
For Wales, the confirmed 2026/27 Band 5 salary is £32,557 at entry, £35,114 at the intermediate pay point and £39,631 at the top of the band.
For Northern Ireland, current official HSC Band 5 vacancies are showing a salary range of £31,049 to £37,796. We’ll use this currently advertised scale for our estimates.
Your basic salary is only the starting point. Income Tax, National Insurance, NHS pension contributions, student loan repayments and additional payments for nights, weekends or overtime can all affect your final take-home pay.
NHS Band 5 Take-Home Pay in England
For NHS staff in England, Band 5 basic pay for 2026/27 is £32,073 at entry, £34,592 at the intermediate pay point and £39,043 at the top of the band.
At the entry and intermediate salaries, NHS Pension Scheme members fall within the 8.3% employee contribution tier, which applies to pensionable pay between £28,855 and £35,155. At the top Band 5 salary, the contribution rate increases to 9.8%, because pensionable pay above £35,155 enters the next tier.
Using the standard Personal Allowance, normal employee National Insurance, NHS pension membership, no student loan and no additional earnings, estimated take-home pay would be approximately:
- Band 5 entry salary: £32,073
- NHS pension contribution: about £2,662 a year
- Income Tax: about £3,368 a year
- National Insurance: about £1,560 a year
- Estimated take-home pay: about £24,483 a year
- Estimated monthly take-home pay: about £2,040
At the intermediate Band 5 pay point:
- Band 5 salary: £34,592
- NHS pension contribution: about £2,871 a year
- Income Tax: about £3,830 a year
- National Insurance: about £1,762 a year
- Estimated take-home pay: about £26,129 a year
- Estimated monthly take-home pay: about £2,177
At the top of Band 5:
- Band 5 top salary: £39,043
- NHS pension contribution: about £3,826 a year
- Income Tax: about £4,529 a year
- National Insurance: about £2,118 a year
- Estimated take-home pay: about £28,570 a year
- Estimated monthly take-home pay: about £2,381
These estimates use the standard £12,570 Personal Allowance and the normal employee National Insurance rules for 2026/27.
Your actual payslip may be different if you receive London weighting, nights or weekend enhancements, overtime, repay a student loan or have a different tax code.
NHS Band 5 Take-Home Pay in Scotland
For NHS staff in Scotland, Band 5 basic pay for 2026/27 is £34,544 at the first pay point, £36,911 at the second pay point and £43,039 at the third pay point. Scotland uses its own Agenda for Change salary scale and Scottish Income Tax rates.
For the first two Band 5 pay points, the NHS Scotland pension contribution rate is 8.7%. At £43,039, the contribution rate rises to 9.8%.
Using the standard Personal Allowance, Scottish Income Tax rates, normal employee National Insurance, NHS pension membership, no student loan and no additional earnings, estimated take-home pay would be approximately:
- Band 5 first pay point: £34,544
- NHS pension contribution: about £3,005 a year
- Income Tax: about £3,774 a year
- National Insurance: about £1,758 a year
- Estimated take-home pay: about £26,007 a year
- Estimated monthly take-home pay: about £2,167
At the second pay point:
- Band 5 salary: £36,911
- NHS pension contribution: about £3,211 a year
- Income Tax: about £4,228 a year
- National Insurance: about £1,947 a year
- Estimated take-home pay: about £27,524 a year
- Estimated monthly take-home pay: about £2,294
At the third pay point:
- Band 5 top salary: £43,039
- NHS pension contribution: about £4,218 a year
- Income Tax: about £5,304 a year
- National Insurance: about £2,438 a year
- Estimated take-home pay: about £31,080 a year
- Estimated monthly take-home pay: about £2,590
For 2026/27, Scottish Income Tax uses rates of 19%, 20%, 21%, 42%, 45% and 48% across the relevant bands, while standard employee National Insurance is 8% between the main thresholds.
Your actual take-home pay may differ if you work nights, weekends or overtime, receive additional allowances, repay a student loan or have a different tax code.
NHS Band 5 Take-Home Pay in Wales
For NHS staff in Wales, Band 5 basic pay for 2026/27 is £32,557 at entry, £35,114 at the intermediate pay point and £39,631 at the top of the band. Wales uses its own Agenda for Change salary scale, while the standard Welsh Income Tax rates currently match those used in England and Northern Ireland.
At the entry and intermediate salaries, NHS Pension Scheme members fall within the 8.3% employee contribution tier. At the top Band 5 salary of £39,631, the contribution rate is 9.8%. These rates are based on actual annual pensionable pay.
Using the standard Personal Allowance, normal employee National Insurance, NHS pension membership, no student loan and no additional earnings, estimated take-home pay would be approximately:
| Entry | Intermediate | Top | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual salary | £32,557 | £35,114 | £39,631 |
| NHS pension contribution | £2,702 | £2,914 | £3,884 |
| Income Tax | £3,457 | £3,926 | £4,635 |
| National Insurance | £1,599 | £1,804 | £2,165 |
| Estimated annual take-home | £24,799 | £26,470 | £28,947 |
| Estimated monthly take-home | £2,067 | £2,206 | £2,412 |
These are annualised estimates using the standard £12,570 Personal Allowance and the normal 8% employee National Insurance rate on earnings between the main thresholds. NHS pension contributions are deducted before Income Tax, but National Insurance is calculated on gross pay.
Your actual payslip may differ if you receive nights or weekend enhancements, overtime, additional allowances, repay a student loan or have a different tax code. Monthly payroll calculations and rounding can also cause small differences from these annual estimates.
NHS Band 5 Take-Home Pay in Northern Ireland
For Health and Social Care (HSC) staff in Northern Ireland, current official Band 5 vacancies show a basic salary range of £31,049 to £37,796. Northern Ireland implements Agenda for Change pay separately from England, Scotland and Wales.
The Health Minister announced an intention to proceed with the recommended 3.3% pay uplift for 2026/27. However, the figures below use the currently advertised salary range rather than assuming that a revised 2026/27 scale has been implemented. They should therefore be treated as provisional estimates for the 2026/27 guide.
For the 2026/27 scheme year, HSC Pension Scheme members earning between £28,855 and £35,155 pay an 8.5% employee contribution rate. Pensionable earnings between £35,156 and £52,778 attract a 10% contribution rate. These rates apply to the employee’s actual annual pensionable pay.
Using the standard Personal Allowance, normal employee National Insurance, HSC pension membership, no student loan and no additional earnings, estimated take-home pay would be approximately:
| Pay component | Entry | Top |
|---|---|---|
| Annual salary | £31,049 | £37,796 |
| HSC pension contribution | £2,639 | £3,780 |
| Income Tax | £3,168 | £4,289 |
| National Insurance | £1,478 | £2,018 |
| Estimated annual take-home | £23,764 | £27,709 |
| Estimated monthly take-home | £1,980 | £2,309 |
These are annualised estimates using the standard £12,570 Personal Allowance and the normal 8% employee National Insurance rate between the main thresholds. Pension contributions are deducted before Income Tax, while National Insurance is calculated on gross earnings.
Your actual take-home pay may differ if you receive nights or weekend enhancements, overtime, additional allowances, repay a student loan or have a different tax code. If Northern Ireland publishes a revised Agenda for Change salary scale, the figures in this guide should be updated.
NHS Band 5 Pay Comparison: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
NHS Band 5 salaries are not identical across the UK. Each nation uses its own Agenda for Change pay arrangements, and take-home pay can also differ because of Income Tax and NHS pension contribution rates.
| Country | Annual basic salary | Estimated monthly take-home |
|---|---|---|
| England | £32,073–£39,043 | £2,040–£2,381 |
| Scotland | £34,544–£43,039 | £2,167–£2,590 |
| Wales | £32,557–£39,631 | £2,067–£2,412 |
| Northern Ireland | £31,049–£37,796 | £1,980–£2,309 |
These estimates assume full-time basic salary, NHS or HSC pension membership, the standard Personal Allowance, normal employee National Insurance, no student loan and no additional earnings.
Scotland has the highest basic Band 5 salary range in this comparison, but its separate Income Tax bands and pension contribution rates mean the difference in take-home pay is not the same as the difference in gross salary.
The Northern Ireland figures use the currently advertised salary scale and should be treated as provisional for the 2026/27 guide until any revised pay scale is officially implemented.
Actual take-home pay may be higher or lower depending on your pay point, pension tier, tax code, student loan plan, enhancements, overtime and other deductions.
NHS Band 5 Take-Home Pay for Part-Time Staff
NHS Band 5 part-time staff are normally paid on a pro-rata basis. Your basic salary depends on your contracted hours compared with the standard full-time NHS working week of 37.5 hours.
For example, using the 2026/27 England Band 5 entry salary of £32,073, part-time basic pay can be calculated as follows:
Annual salary = Full-time salary × Contracted hours ÷ 37.5
Using the standard Personal Allowance, normal employee National Insurance, NHS pension membership, no student loan and no additional earnings, the estimated take-home pay would be:
| Pay component | 20 hours | 25 hours | 30 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual basic salary | £17,106 | £21,382 | £25,658 |
| NHS pension contribution | £1,112 | £1,390 | £1,668 |
| Income Tax | £685 | £1,484 | £2,284 |
| National Insurance | £363 | £705 | £1,047 |
| Estimated annual take-home | £14,946 | £17,803 | £20,659 |
| Estimated monthly take-home | £1,246 | £1,484 | £1,722 |
These examples assume a 6.5% NHS pension contribution rate, based on actual annual pensionable earnings between £13,260 and £28,854. Part-time pension contributions are assessed using actual pensionable pay, so the contribution rate may be different from that of a full-time employee at the same Band 5 pay point.
The estimates use the standard £12,570 Personal Allowance and the normal 8% employee National Insurance rate above the main threshold. Pension contributions reduce taxable pay, while National Insurance is calculated on gross earnings. The figures are annualised and rounded to the nearest pound, so actual monthly payroll deductions may differ slightly.
Part-time staff may also earn extra money through additional shifts, nights, weekends or overtime. Additional hours up to the full-time threshold are normally paid at the standard hourly rate, while overtime rules may apply once the relevant full-time hours are exceeded.
Your actual take-home pay may differ if you work in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, have a different tax code, repay a student loan or receive additional allowances. Scottish Income Tax and the different NHS pension schemes can also change the estimate.
How Nights, Weekends and Overtime Affect NHS Band 5 Pay
NHS Band 5 staff who work nights, weekends and public holidays may receive unsocial-hours enhancements on top of their basic salary. These additional payments can make monthly take-home pay higher than the basic-pay estimates shown earlier in this guide.
Under the standard Agenda for Change arrangements, staff in Bands 4 to 9 receive an additional 30% for qualifying Saturday hours and weekday hours worked after 8pm and before 6am. Qualifying Sunday and public-holiday hours attract an additional 60%.
For example, if your normal hourly rate is £16, an hour attracting a 30% enhancement would be worth £20.80 before deductions, while an hour attracting a 60% enhancement would be worth £25.60 before deductions. These are illustrative figures, not the actual Band 5 hourly pay rate.
For certain continuous weekday evening or night shifts, the enhancement can apply to the whole shift if more than half of the shift falls between 8pm and 6am. Staff receive only one unsocial-hours payment rate for each hour worked.
Band 5 staff can also qualify for approved overtime. Under standard Agenda for Change terms, staff in Bands 1 to 7 are eligible for overtime payments when they work more than 37.5 hours in a week. Overtime is generally paid at time and a half, while overtime on a general public holiday is paid at double time.
For part-time employees, additional hours are normally paid at the standard hourly rate until total hours exceed 37.5 hours in that week. After that point, the overtime rate may apply, subject to the relevant contractual arrangements and approval.
Extra earnings are normally subject to Income Tax, National Insurance and applicable pension or student loan deductions. Actual payment arrangements can depend on your employer, contract and UK nation, so check your local payroll guidance.
For the official rules, see the NHS Employers guidance on unsocial-hours payments and the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook.
Does NHS Pension Reduce Band 5 Take-Home Pay?
Yes. If you are a member of an NHS pension scheme, your employee pension contribution is deducted from your pay, reducing the amount that reaches your bank account. However, contributions normally receive Income Tax relief because they are deducted before Income Tax is calculated.
For Band 5 staff in England and Wales, the 2026/27 contribution rate is 8.3% on actual annual pensionable pay between £28,855 and £35,155. Pensionable earnings between £35,156 and £52,778 attract a 9.8% contribution rate. This means a Band 5 employee may move into a higher pension tier as their salary progresses.
For Scotland, the contribution system is different. Under the current-year 2026/27 table, pensionable earnings between £34,303 and £43,038 attract an 8.7% contribution rate, while earnings between £43,039 and £45,134 attract 9.8%. However, continuing members may have their rate determined using previous-year pensionable earnings, with reassessment following relevant employment or pay changes. Therefore, the rates used in the earlier Scottish take-home examples are simplified assumptions and your actual payroll rate may differ.
For Northern Ireland, the HSC Pension Scheme uses an 8.5% contribution rate on pensionable earnings between £28,855 and £35,155, increasing to 10% between £35,156 and £52,778 for the 2026/27 scheme year.
The NHS pension is a defined-benefit pension scheme, not simply an individual investment pot. In the 2015 Scheme, pension benefits build up based on pensionable earnings and are revalued under the scheme rules. This means your eventual pension is not determined solely by the total amount you personally contribute.
Your pension contribution rate can change if your pensionable earnings move into another tier. Not every additional payment is pensionable, and the rules for enhancements, overtime and multiple employments can differ between schemes. Check your payslip or payroll department if you are unsure which rate applies.
If you choose to opt out, your immediate take-home pay may increase, but you will stop building new pension benefits while opted out and may lose associated scheme benefits. Consider the long-term implications before making that decision.
How Student Loans Affect NHS Band 5 Take-Home Pay
Student loan repayments can reduce NHS Band 5 take-home pay if your earnings exceed the repayment threshold for your loan plan. For employees, repayments are normally deducted automatically through PAYE alongside Income Tax and National Insurance.
For the 2026/27 tax year, the annual repayment thresholds are:
| Student loan plan | Annual repayment threshold |
|---|---|
| Plan 1 | £26,900 |
| Plan 2 | £29,385 |
| Plan 4 | £33,795 |
| Plan 5 | £25,000 |
| Postgraduate Loan | £21,000 |
Plans 1, 2, 4 and 5 are repaid at 9% of earnings above the relevant threshold, while Postgraduate Loans are repaid at 6% above £21,000. The amount you borrowed does not determine your monthly repayment; your income and repayment plan do.
At NHS Band 5 salary levels, many employees will make student loan repayments from their basic pay. For example, an England Band 5 employee earning £32,073 would be above the Plan 1, Plan 2 and Plan 5 thresholds, but below the Plan 4 threshold. An employee on Plan 4 may begin repaying as their salary progresses or if additional earnings take them above £33,795.
Repayments are calculated using earnings before Income Tax and other deductions, including pension contributions. This means NHS pension membership does not normally reduce the earnings figure used to calculate student loan repayments in the same way that it reduces taxable pay.
Overtime, night shifts, weekend enhancements and bonuses can also increase student loan deductions. Payroll applies the relevant weekly or monthly threshold, so a larger payment in one month may result in a deduction even if your annual basic salary is below the yearly threshold.
If you have more than one job, student loan deductions through PAYE are normally calculated separately for each employment. Your repayment plan depends on the type of loan you took out and when or where you studied, not simply which NHS organisation you work for.
For the latest repayment thresholds and rules, consult the official GOV.UK student loan repayment guidance.
Calculate Your Own NHS Band 5 Take-Home Pay
Every NHS Band 5 payslip can be different because your take-home pay depends on your country, pay point, tax code, pension contribution rate, student loan plan and any additional earnings from nights, weekends or overtime.
Use the UK Salary Calculator to estimate your annual and monthly take-home pay after Income Tax and National Insurance. Enter your actual salary, including any additional earnings you want to include in your estimate.
You can also use the Workplace Pension Calculator to explore how pension contributions affect your pay. However, NHS pension schemes use their own contribution tiers and defined-benefit rules, so a standard workplace pension calculation should not be treated as an exact NHS pension estimate.
The Student Loan Calculator can help you estimate repayments based on your loan plan and earnings.
These tools are particularly useful if you work part-time or your actual earnings are higher than basic Band 5 pay because of enhancements, overtime or additional shifts. For a more accurate estimate, use the figures from your own payslip and check the relevant NHS pension contribution rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is NHS Band 5 take-home pay per month in 2026/27?
For 2026/27, estimated NHS Band 5 monthly take-home pay depends on where in the UK you work and your position on the pay scale.
- England: about £2,040 per month at entry and £2,381 per month at the top of Band 5.
- Scotland: about £2,167 per month at the first pay point and £2,590 per month at the third pay point.
- Wales: about £2,067 per month at entry and £2,412 per month at the top of Band 5.
- Northern Ireland: about £1,980 to £2,309 per month, based on the currently advertised Band 5 salary range.
These are annualised estimates based on full-time basic salary, membership of the relevant NHS or HSC pension scheme, the standard Personal Allowance, normal National Insurance, no student loan and no additional earnings. Scotland uses separate Income Tax and pension contribution rules.
Northern Ireland’s figures remain provisional for this guide until any revised 2026/27 pay scale is officially implemented. Your actual monthly pay may differ because of your tax code, pension tier, student loan, nights, weekends, overtime or other deductions.
Do NHS Band 5 staff pay into the NHS pension?
Yes. Most eligible NHS Band 5 employees are automatically enrolled into the NHS Pension Scheme when they start work, although membership is voluntary and staff can choose to opt out.
For England and Wales, the 2026/27 employee contribution rate is 8.3% on actual annual pensionable pay between £28,855 and £35,155, rising to 9.8% between £35,156 and £52,778. The applicable rate is generally charged on all pensionable pay, not just the portion above a threshold.
For Scotland, the contribution system uses separate tables. Under the current-year table, earnings between £34,303 and £43,038 attract 8.7%, rising to 9.8% between £43,039 and £45,134. Continuing members may instead have their rate assessed using previous-year pensionable earnings, so their actual payroll rate can differ.
For Northern Ireland, the HSC Pension Scheme uses 8.5% between £28,855 and £35,155 and 10% between £35,156 and £52,778 for 2026/27.
Pension contributions reduce take-home pay but normally receive Income Tax relief. The NHS pension is a defined-benefit scheme, so members build pension benefits under the scheme rules rather than simply accumulating an individual savings pot. Your actual contribution rate depends on your pensionable earnings and the relevant scheme rules.
Does working nights increase NHS Band 5 take-home pay?
Yes. Working qualifying night shifts can increase NHS Band 5 take-home pay because unsocial-hours enhancements are paid on top of basic salary.
Under standard Agenda for Change terms, staff in Bands 4 to 9 receive an additional 30% for qualifying weekday hours worked after 8pm and before 6am, as well as qualifying Saturday hours. Sunday and public-holiday hours attract an additional 60%.
For certain continuous weekday evening or night shifts, if more than half of the shift falls between 8pm and 6am, the enhancement can apply to the whole shift. Only one unsocial-hours payment rate applies to each hour worked.
These enhancements increase gross earnings, but the additional pay is normally subject to Income Tax, National Insurance and applicable pension or student loan deductions. Your exact payment depends on your employer, working pattern and contractual arrangements.
Can NHS Band 5 staff earn more through overtime?
Yes. NHS Band 5 staff can earn more by working approved overtime. Under standard Agenda for Change terms, staff in Bands 1 to 7 are eligible for overtime payments when they work more than 37.5 hours in a week.
Overtime is generally paid at time and a half, while overtime worked on a general public holiday is paid at double time. Overtime must normally be agreed with your line manager or team leader.
For part-time employees, additional hours are normally paid at the standard hourly rate until total hours exceed 37.5 hours in that week. After that point, the overtime rate may apply. Staff may also agree to take time off in lieu instead of receiving overtime pay.
Overtime increases gross earnings, but it can also increase Income Tax, National Insurance and student loan deductions. Pension treatment depends on whether the particular payment is pensionable under the relevant NHS scheme rules.
Your actual overtime arrangements may differ depending on your employer, contract and UK nation, so check your local payroll guidance.
Final Thoughts on NHS Band 5 Take-Home Pay
NHS Band 5 take-home pay varies depending on where in the UK you work, your position on the pay scale, pension contribution rate, tax code, student loan plan and whether you work nights, weekends or overtime.
The figures in this guide are annualised estimates based on standard 2026/27 assumptions. Your actual NHS payslip may differ because of enhancements, overtime, local allowances, pensionable earnings, payroll rounding or other deductions. Northern Ireland’s estimates use the currently advertised salary range and should be updated when a revised pay scale is officially implemented.
If you want to check your own figures, use the WeFixPay calculators to estimate your salary deductions, pension contributions and student loan repayments using your actual pay. For the most accurate result, compare the estimate with your payslip and the contribution rules of your NHS or HSC pension scheme.