How much does a Band 5 take home after tax?

As a rough estimate on a standard tax code, a Band 5 at the bottom of the range (£32,073) takes home about £26,612 a year — roughly £2,218 a month — after income tax and National Insurance. This estimate excludes the NHS pension contribution and any student-loan repayment, which reduce take-home further, so your payslip will differ.

Does Band 5 pay more in London?

Yes. NHS staff working in and around London receive a High Cost Area Supplement on top of basic pay: 5% on the London Fringe, 15% in Outer London and 20% in Inner London (subject to national minimum and maximum cash amounts set in the NHS terms and conditions). A Band 5 on Inner London weighting earns roughly £38,488 to £46,852 before enhancements.

What roles are Band 5?

Band 5 typically covers Newly qualified nurse, midwife, physiotherapist, paramedic. Banding reflects the job's responsibilities under the NHS Job Evaluation Scheme rather than a specific job title, so the exact roles vary between employers.

Do Band 5 staff earn more than basic pay?

Usually, yes. Basic pay excludes unsocial-hours enhancements (nights, weekends and bank holidays), on-call payments, overtime and any London weighting. For staff who work shifts, these can add a meaningful amount to gross pay above the £32,073 to £39,043 basic range.

NHS Band 5 salary in 2026/27

NHS pay in England follows the Agenda for Change bands. A Band 5 covers newly qualified nurse, midwife, physiotherapist, paramedic. Here is the 2026/27 basic pay range, what London weighting adds, and an estimated take-home figure — all from the official NHS Employers pay scales.

Reference period: July 2026. Figures are drawn directly from the official sources named on this page.

Agenda for Change 2026/27, effective 1 April 2026 · NHS Employers · England · basic pay excludes London weighting, enhancements and pension

What is the NHS Band 5 salary in 2026?

In 2026/27, an NHS Band 5 salary in England is £32,073 to £39,043 in basic pay under the Agenda for Change scales effective 1 April 2026, per NHS Employers. Band 5 typically covers newly qualified nurse, midwife, physiotherapist, paramedic. On top of basic pay, London weighting adds 5% to 20%, and unsocial-hours and overtime enhancements can raise actual earnings further.

Source:NHS Employers — Agenda for Change pay scales 2026/27·as of April 2026 (2026/27 pay year)updated annually, on the 1 April pay award (last: 3 July 2026)

Band 5 pay, London weighting and take-home

The basic pay range is set nationally. Two things change what actually lands in your account: High Cost Area Supplements for London (added to basic pay), and deductions for income tax, National Insurance and the NHS pension. The table shows the basic range, the London-weighted equivalents, and an estimated take-home based on standard England tax bands.

NHS Band 5 pay, 2026/27 (England)
Component	Amount	Notes
Basic pay (2026/27)	£32,073 to £39,043	The published Agenda for Change range for the band
+ London Fringe (5%)	£33,677 – £40,995	High Cost Area Supplement, fringe zone
+ Outer London (15%)	£36,884 – £44,899	High Cost Area Supplement, outer zone
+ Inner London (20%)	£38,488 – £46,852	High Cost Area Supplement, inner zone
Estimated take-home (bottom of band)	£26,612/yr (~£2,218/mo)	Estimate; excludes NHS pension and student loan
Estimated take-home (top of band)	£31,631/yr (~£2,636/mo)	Estimate; excludes NHS pension and student loan

How the take-home estimate is worked out

The take-home estimate applies the standard England thresholds — a £12,570 personal allowance, 20% income tax up to £50,270 and 40% above, and employee National Insurance of 8% between £12,570 and £50,270 (2% above) — to the basic-pay figure. It excludes the NHS pension contribution (typically several percent of pay, though it attracts tax relief) and any student-loan repayment, both of which lower take-home further. It is an illustration, not a payslip; use it to compare bands, not to budget to the pound.

NHS Band 5 salary: frequently asked questions

What is the NHS Band 5 salary in 2026?: An NHS Band 5 salary in England for 2026/27 is £32,073 to £39,043 in basic pay, under the Agenda for Change scales effective 1 April 2026 (source: NHS Employers). Where you sit in that range depends on your years of experience in the band.
How much does a Band 5 take home after tax?: As a rough estimate on a standard tax code, a Band 5 at the bottom of the range (£32,073) takes home about £26,612 a year — roughly £2,218 a month — after income tax and National Insurance. This estimate excludes the NHS pension contribution and any student-loan repayment, which reduce take-home further, so your payslip will differ.
Does Band 5 pay more in London?: Yes. NHS staff working in and around London receive a High Cost Area Supplement on top of basic pay: 5% on the London Fringe, 15% in Outer London and 20% in Inner London (subject to national minimum and maximum cash amounts set in the NHS terms and conditions). A Band 5 on Inner London weighting earns roughly £38,488 to £46,852 before enhancements.
What roles are Band 5?: Band 5 typically covers Newly qualified nurse, midwife, physiotherapist, paramedic. Banding reflects the job's responsibilities under the NHS Job Evaluation Scheme rather than a specific job title, so the exact roles vary between employers.
Do Band 5 staff earn more than basic pay?: Usually, yes. Basic pay excludes unsocial-hours enhancements (nights, weekends and bank holidays), on-call payments, overtime and any London weighting. For staff who work shifts, these can add a meaningful amount to gross pay above the £32,073 to £39,043 basic range.

Add to your NHS pay with flexible online work

Many NHS staff top up their income with flexible remote consultations. GeraClinic is a separate telemedicine platform where UK-registered clinicians can set their own hours and fee — around your NHS rota, not instead of it.

See how it works Full NHS pay scales

Contains public sector information published by NHS Employers and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS Employers — Agenda for Change pay scales 2026/27 (April 2026 (2026/27 pay year)).

This page is independent educational information for people researching UK healthcare qualification, registration and pay of their own accord. It is not legal, immigration, financial or careers advice, and it is not a job offer. Gera Systems Ltd is not a medical regulator and is not a recruitment agency — it does not register clinicians and does not place anyone into NHS or other UK jobs. Fees, pay scales and immigration rules change periodically — always confirm the current figure with the named source (NHS Employers, GMC, NMC and GOV.UK) before making any decision.

More cost & salary answers

See also our comparison of how much nurses earn across all NHS bands.