Pick your region to see AfC pay scales, then open your band to work out take-home pay after tax, NI, pension, and student loans. Built by HealthCore Training.

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England

Pay scales and take-home calculator for NHS staff in England.

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Scotland

Pay scales and take-home calculator for NHS staff in Scotland.

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Wales

Pay scales and take-home calculator for NHS staff in Wales.

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Northern Ireland

Pay scales and take-home calculator for NHS staff in Northern Ireland.

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Common questions

How is my NHS take-home pay calculated?

We start with your gross annual salary, add any unsocial hours uplifts you enter, then subtract income tax, National Insurance, NHS pension contributions, and student loan repayments. The figures use 2026/27 tax rates from HMRC and NHS Employers.

What is the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system?

Agenda for Change is the NHS grading and pay system used for most staff except doctors, dentists, and some senior managers. Jobs sit in pay bands from Band 2 to Band 9, with pay points that increase with experience.

Are unsociable hours included in the base salary?

No. Nights, weekends, and bank holidays are paid as a percentage uplift on your hourly rate, on top of basic pay. Use the shift inputs on the calculator to estimate what that adds to your annual and monthly pay.

How does the NHS Pension scheme affect my monthly pay?

You pay a tiered contribution based on pensionable pay, from 5.2% up to 12.5%. Because pension comes out before tax, it lowers your income tax bill as well as your take-home pay.