NHS Band 5 · Agenda for Change 2026/27

NHS Band 5 Salary 2026/27

Registered Nurse / Allied Health Professional. Newly qualified registered nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, radiographer.

Min salary
£30,959
Mid-scale
£32,074
Max salary
£37,687
Pension (emp)
9.8%
← All Bands ↓ Band 4 — £28,740/yr ↑ Band 6 — £42,044/yr
Updated April 2026 — 3.3% Agenda for Change pay award
2025/26 range
£29,969 – £36,483
+3.3%
2026/27 range
£30,959 – £37,687
+£990 at entry

NHS Band 5 Take-Home Pay by City

City Gross (inc. HCAS) Net after pension After 1-bed rent RTI%
London £37,644 £2,245/mo £95/mo 96%
Manchester £32,074 £1,956/mo £906/mo 54%
Birmingham £32,074 £1,956/mo £1,106/mo 43%
Edinburgh £32,074 £1,952/mo £852/mo 56%
Glasgow £32,074 £1,952/mo £1,052/mo 46%
Bristol £32,074 £1,956/mo £606/mo 69%
Leeds £32,074 £1,956/mo £1,056/mo 46%
Sheffield £32,074 £1,956/mo £1,131/mo 42%
Newcastle £32,074 £1,956/mo £1,206/mo 38%
Nottingham £32,074 £1,956/mo £1,106/mo 43%
Cardiff £32,074 £1,956/mo £1,056/mo 46%
Aberdeen £32,074 £1,952/mo £902/mo 54%
Liverpool £32,074 £1,956/mo £1,156/mo 41%
Leicester £32,074 £1,956/mo £1,156/mo 41%
Oxford £32,074 £1,956/mo £506/mo 74%
Cambridge £32,074 £1,956/mo £456/mo 77%
Reading £32,074 £1,956/mo £606/mo 69%
Brighton £32,074 £1,956/mo £556/mo 72%
York £32,074 £1,956/mo £1,006/mo 49%
Exeter £32,074 £1,956/mo £956/mo 51%

Net after pension = take-home after income tax, National Insurance, and 9.8% employee pension contribution. RTI% = rent-to-income ratio. London figure includes Inner HCAS of £5,570. Click any city for the full breakdown including council tax, transport, and monthly budget.

NHS Band 5 Pension

Contribution Rates
Employee rate 9.8%
NHS employer rate 23.7%
2015 CARE Scheme

NHS Band 5 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 5 salary in 2026/27? +
The NHS Band 5 Agenda for Change salary for 2026/27 runs from £30,959 at the minimum to £37,687 at the top of the band, with a mid-scale of £32,074. Staff in Inner London also receive the High Cost Area Supplement of £5,570, making the London mid-scale gross £37,644.
How much does an NHS Band 5 take home after pension? +
At Band 5 mid-scale, the employee NHS pension contribution is 9.8%. In London, at gross £37,644, take-home after income tax, NI, and pension is approximately £2,245/month. Outside London (no HCAS), take-home will be lower — see the city table above.
What does an NHS Band 5 do? +
NHS Band 5 covers the Registered Nurse / Allied Health Professional grade. Newly qualified registered nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, radiographer. 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 5? +
NHS Band 5 staff are enrolled in the 2015 CARE (Career Average) scheme. The employee contribution is 9.8% 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.

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