NHS Band 4 · Agenda for Change 2025/26

NHS Band 4 Salary 2025/26

Associate Practitioner. Associate practitioner, assistant practitioner, therapy assistant, senior medical secretary.

Min salary
£26,530
Mid-scale
£27,822
Max salary
£29,114
Pension (emp)
5.1%
← All Bands ↓ Band 3 — £25,149/yr ↑ Band 5 — £31,049/yr

NHS Band 4 Take-Home Pay by City

City Gross (inc. HCAS) Net after pension After 1-bed rent RTI%
London £33,214 £2,145/mo £95/mo 96%
Manchester £27,822 £1,845/mo £795/mo 57%
Birmingham £27,822 £1,845/mo £995/mo 46%
Edinburgh £27,822 £1,845/mo £745/mo 60%
Glasgow £27,822 £1,845/mo £945/mo 49%
Bristol £27,822 £1,845/mo £495/mo 73%
Leeds £27,822 £1,845/mo £945/mo 49%
Sheffield £27,822 £1,845/mo £1,020/mo 45%
Newcastle £27,822 £1,845/mo £1,095/mo 41%
Nottingham £27,822 £1,845/mo £995/mo 46%
Cardiff £27,822 £1,845/mo £945/mo 49%
Aberdeen £27,822 £1,845/mo £795/mo 57%
Liverpool £27,822 £1,845/mo £1,045/mo 43%
Leicester £27,822 £1,845/mo £1,045/mo 43%
Oxford £27,822 £1,845/mo £395/mo 79%
Cambridge £27,822 £1,845/mo £345/mo 81%
Reading £27,822 £1,845/mo £495/mo 73%
Brighton £27,822 £1,845/mo £445/mo 76%
York £27,822 £1,845/mo £895/mo 51%
Exeter £27,822 £1,845/mo £845/mo 54%

Net after pension = take-home after income tax, National Insurance, and 5.1% employee pension contribution. RTI% = rent-to-income ratio. London figure includes Inner HCAS of £5,392. Click any city for the full breakdown including council tax, transport, and monthly budget.

NHS Band 4 Pension

Contribution Rates
Employee rate 5.1%
NHS employer rate 23.7%
2015 CARE Scheme

NHS Band 4 staff are in the 2015 Career Average (CARE) defined-benefit scheme. Each year of service builds a guaranteed, inflation-linked pension — paid for life at retirement. The 23.7% NHS employer contribution is effectively additional salary you cannot withdraw early.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NHS Band 4 salary in 2025/26? +
The NHS Band 4 Agenda for Change salary for 2025/26 runs from £26,530 at the minimum to £29,114 at the top of the band, with a mid-scale of £27,822. Staff in Inner London also receive the High Cost Area Supplement of £5,392, making the London mid-scale gross £33,214.
How much does an NHS Band 4 take home after pension? +
At Band 4 mid-scale, the employee NHS pension contribution is 5.1%. In London, at gross £33,214, take-home after income tax, NI, and pension is approximately £2,145/month. Outside London (no HCAS), take-home will be lower — see the city table above.
What does an NHS Band 4 do? +
NHS Band 4 covers the Associate Practitioner grade. Associate practitioner, assistant practitioner, therapy assistant, senior medical secretary. The AfC framework defines the band by the skills, responsibility, and knowledge required — not just the job title.
How does the NHS pension work for Band 4? +
NHS Band 4 staff are enrolled in the 2015 CARE (Career Average) scheme. The employee contribution is 5.1% of pensionable pay. The NHS employer adds 23.7%. Each year of service accrues a guaranteed, inflation-linked annual pension of 1/54th of that year's pensionable pay. This is a defined-benefit scheme — your pension is not subject to investment risk.