NHS England · 2026/27
NHS Band 6 take-home pay
Compare each Agenda for Change pay step, with NHS pension deductions included. See what changes when you work fewer hours or move to the next band.
Calculate with your own detailsAverage monthly take-home at the entry step
£2,429.77
£39,959.00 gross a year · 37.5 hours a week
NHS pension included. No London supplement or student loan. Annual estimate, averaged monthly.
Pay at each step
Each step includes its own pension contribution tier. Progression depends on eligibility. These figures assume steady annual pay and a standard tax code.
Scroll the table to see all deductions.
| Pay step | Gross / year | Pension / year | Income Tax / year | NI / year | Take-home / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £39,959.00 | £3,915.98 | £4,694.60 | £2,191.12 | £2,429.77 |
| Intermediate | £42,170.00 | £4,132.66 | £5,093.40 | £2,368.00 | £2,548.00 |
| Top | £48,117.00 | £4,715.47 | £6,166.20 | £2,843.76 | £2,865.96 |
Working fewer hours
These examples use the entry step. Gross pay falls in proportion to hours. Your pension tier uses actual pensionable pay, so the percentage can change too.
| Hours / week | Gross / year | Take-home / month |
|---|---|---|
| 37.5 | £39,959.00 | £2,429.77 |
| 30 | £31,967.20 | £2,034.46 |
| 22.5 | £23,975.40 | £1,627.95 |
Where the deductions go
NHS pension contributions reduce taxable pay but not NI-able pay. At the entry step, the annual calculation is:
- Gross pay
- £39,959.00
- NHS pension
- £3,915.98
- Income Tax
- £4,694.60
- National Insurance
- £2,191.12
- Annual take-home
- £29,157.30
Moving to Band 7
At entry pay in both bands, moving from Band 6 to Band 7 adds £9,428.00 gross a year. Under the same assumptions, that is £504.08 more take-home a month.
If you are already at a higher step, this comparison will not describe your own increase. Check the starting step offered, hours and London supplement for the new role.
Arrears, shift enhancements, salary sacrifice or a different tax code change your payslip. Doctors’ contracts and pay scales outside England are not covered.