If you work for the NHS or are planning to join, understanding how your pay works can feel overwhelming. NHS salaries are based on structured pay bands — and that’s where the NHS Salary Calculator comes in.
It’s a free online tool that helps you see exactly how NHS take-home pay is calculated after tax, pension, and National Insurance deductions. Whether you’re a nurse, doctor, healthcare assistant, or administrative staff member, this calculator helps you estimate your real NHS salary after tax (2025)
figures in just seconds.
💷 How NHS Pay Bands Work
The NHS uses the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system, covering most non-medical staff.
There are nine NHS pay bands (Band 1 to Band 9), each representing different levels of responsibility, qualifications, and experience.
Your band determines your starting salary, annual increments (called steps), and pension deductions. For instance, knowing what the starting salary for NHS Band 5 is can help new nurses plan financially, while understanding the difference between Band 5 and Band 6 NHS salary helps when aiming for promotions.
🧾 How to Calculate NHS Salary Step-by-Step
Here’s how to use the NHS Salary Calculator effectively:
- Choose your pay band and step
Example: Band 5, Step 2 — part of the NHS Pay Bands Overview (Band 1 to Band 9). - Enter your contracted weekly hours
Full-time = 37.5 hours per week; part-time staff can also estimate proportionally. - Select your work region
London employees receive additional pay through High Cost Area Supplements (HCAS) — this can make a big difference in NHS take-home pay by band and location. - Add pension contribution and tax year
The calculator uses 2025 NHS Pension Scheme rates to show how much pension is deducted from NHS salary. - View your take-home pay
You’ll see a complete NHS salary breakdown (gross vs net pay), including income tax, NI, and pension deductions.
💰 How NHS Take-Home Pay is Calculated
Your take-home pay (net pay) depends on several factors:
- Gross pay: Your full annual salary before deductions.
- Income Tax & NI: Based on UK tax bands for 2025.
- Pension contributions: NHS Pension Scheme percentages vary by earnings.
- Regional allowances: Inner/Outer London Weighting adds extra income.
By combining all this data, the calculator shows how NHS take-home pay differs by band — for example, a Band 5 nurse earns differently from a Band 6 or Band 7 due to tax, pension tiers, and HCAS.
📊 Example: NHS Band 5 Staff Nurse (2025)
Let’s look at a Band 5 Staff Nurse (Step 1) working full-time (37.5 hrs/week) outside London.
| Description | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Gross Annual Salary | £28,407 |
| Pension Contribution (7.7%) | −£2,187 |
| Income Tax & NI | −£3,870 |
| Estimated Take-Home Pay | £22,350 per year (£1,862/month) |
This example highlights how NHS take-home pay is calculated — giving you a realistic view of your post-tax income.
If you work in London, the High Cost Area Supplement could increase this by up to £4,000 a year.
💡 NHS Pay Comparisons
Understanding pay differences between professions helps you make informed career choices.
- What is the average NHS nurse salary? Around £33,000–£37,000 depending on band and region.
- NHS Pharmacist vs Physiotherapist Pay: Entry-level roles for both professions usually fall within Agenda for Change Bands 5 or 6, although pharmacists may begin at the upper end because of their specialist expertise. With experience, senior physiotherapists and advanced nursing professionals can move into Band 7 or higher positions.
These insights make it easier to explore your NHS career path with confidence.
🧮 Why Use the NHS Salary Calculator?
✅ Compare bands and roles before applying for new positions.
✅ Understand how NHS pay bands work and what impacts your take-home pay.
✅ See exactly how much pension is deducted from NHS salary each month.
✅ Plan your finances with clear insight into gross vs net pay differences.
✅ Quickly spot differences between Band 5 and Band 6 NHS salary or between London and regional jobs.
Essentially, it bridges the gap between official NHS pay tables and what you actually receive in your bank account.
🔍 Difference Between NHS Salary Calculator and Tax Calculator
A standard UK tax calculator only estimates income tax and National Insurance.
In contrast, the NHS Salary Calculator also includes:
- NHS Pension contributions
- Agenda for Change banded pay
- High Cost Area Supplements
That’s why it gives a much more accurate NHS salary breakdown (gross vs net pay) for healthcare professionals.
👥 Who Can Use It?
This tool applies to all NHS employees under Agenda for Change, including:
- Nurses & Midwives
- Pharmacists & Physiotherapists
- Administrative & Clerical Staff
- Healthcare Assistants (HCA)
- Managers & Technical staff
(Doctors and Dentists follow the Medical & Dental Pay Scales instead.)
🧭 Related Tools
- NHS Pension Calculator
- NHS Take-Home Pay Estimator
- Band-specific tools: Band 5, Band 6 , and Band 7, Band 8 , Band 9 salary calculators
- Salary Inflation Calculator UK
FAQs
Q1: Is the NHS Salary Calculator accurate?
Yes, it uses official NHS pay tables and UK tax data for 2025, though payslips may vary slightly due to local payroll adjustments.
Q2: Does it include overtime or unsocial hours?
Some calculators allow you to add shift allowances. Otherwise, manually include them in your gross salary.
Q3: Can I use it for part-time roles?
Absolutely. You can calculate part-time pay by adjusting contracted hours.
Q4: Where can I check official NHS pay scales?
Visit the NHS Employers – Agenda for Change Pay Scales.
NHS Salary Calculator 2025/26
Gross: £0.00
Tax: £0.00
NI: £0.00
Pension: £0.00
Net: £0.00
Monthly: £0.00
NHS Salary Calculator 2025/26
Use this NHS Salary Calculator — the most accurate and up-to-date NHS pay calculator — to quickly estimate your take-home pay after tax, National Insurance, and pension deductions. Whether you’re a nurse, doctor, or healthcare professional, this NHS calculator helps you clearly understand your monthly and yearly earnings based on your Agenda for Change pay band, increment step, and work pattern.
With our interactive NHS pay calculator 2025 (covering 2025/26, 2025, and even past years like 2023/24), you can easily work out NHS pay across different roles and regions.
Simply choose your NHS pay band — from Band 2 up to Band 9, or even consultant level — and instantly see both your gross and net pay. This all-in-one NHS calculator salary tool also serves as an NHS wage calculator and NHS wages calculator, giving you a complete picture of your real earnings.
Why Use Our NHS Pay Calculator 2025/26?
This tool makes it simple for NHS staff to plan finances confidently and get a clear view of their take-home pay, wherever they work in the UK. Whether you’re checking the NHS pay calculator Wales for regional variations or just comparing across England and Scotland, you’ll get accurate results for your role and step.
Explore NHS Pay by Role
- NHS Band 5 Salary Calculator – Perfect for newly qualified nurses and professionals starting their NHS career.
- NHS Band 6 Salary Calculator – Check your pay if you’re a senior nurse, specialist, or experienced clinician.
- NHS Band Salary Calculator – Compare pay across all bands and steps within the Agenda for Change pay scale.
- NHS Nurse Salary Calculator – Ideal for nurses at any level looking to estimate their real take-home pay.
- NHS Doctor Salary Calculator & NHS Salary Calculator for Doctors – Understand your earnings whether you’re a junior doctor, registrar, or consultant.
- NHS Consultant Salary Calculator – Calculate consultant pay including pension and tax deductions.
- NHS Salary Calculator Doctors – Compare take-home pay for hospital doctors and GPs across the UK.
- NHS Salary Calculator London – Adjusts for London weighting to show how pay differs in inner, outer, or fringe London.
- NHS Scotland Salary Calculator – Uses the latest pay scales specific to NHS Scotland staff.
FAQs
1. How accurate is this NHS Pay Calculator?
A- Our NHS pay calculator 25 26 and NHS pay calculator 2025/26 provide close estimates using the latest 2024/25 NHS pay bands and current UK tax rules. Actual take-home pay may vary depending on your tax code, region, or local allowances.
2. Do part-time staff use the same calculator NHS tool?
A- Yes. Simply adjust the “Work pattern (FTE proportion)” field — for example, 0.5 for half-time. The pay calculator NHS automatically recalculates your salary to reflect your hours.
3. Does it include overtime or unsocial hours pay?
A- Not currently. This NHS pay calculator focuses on standard contracted salary only, excluding overtime, on-call payments, or unsocial hours enhancements.
4. Is pension contribution optional?
A- Yes. You can toggle NHS pensioncontributions on or off to see how this affects your take-home pay in the calculator NHS tool.
Related NHS Tools
If you’re looking to understand how sick pay or absence triggers affect your income, try these additional tools:
- NHS Sick Pay Calculator 2025 – Estimate your pay during sickness absence.
- NHS Sick Pay (6-Months) Calculator – See how your entitlement changes over time.
- NHS Sick Pay (12-Months) Calculator – View your entitlement over a full year.
- NHS Absence Trigger Calculator – Track and manage sickness absence thresholds easily.