NHS Band 6 · Agenda for Change 2026/27

NHS Band 6 Salary 2026/27

Senior Nurse / Specialist Practitioner. Senior nurse, specialist practitioner, senior allied health professional.

Min salary
£38,570
Mid-scale
£42,044
Max salary
£46,446
Pension (emp)
9.8%
← All Bands ↓ Band 5 — £32,074/yr ↑ Band 7 — £51,708/yr
Updated April 2026 — 3.3% Agenda for Change pay award
2025/26 range
£37,338 – £44,962
+3.3%
2026/27 range
£38,570 – £46,446
+£1,232 at entry

NHS Band 6 Take-Home Pay by City

City Gross (inc. HCAS) Net after pension After 1-bed rent RTI%
London £47,614 £2,761/mo £611/mo 78%
Manchester £42,044 £2,473/mo £1,423/mo 42%
Birmingham £42,044 £2,473/mo £1,623/mo 34%
Edinburgh £42,044 £2,461/mo £1,361/mo 45%
Glasgow £42,044 £2,461/mo £1,561/mo 37%
Bristol £42,044 £2,473/mo £1,123/mo 55%
Leeds £42,044 £2,473/mo £1,573/mo 36%
Sheffield £42,044 £2,473/mo £1,648/mo 33%
Newcastle £42,044 £2,473/mo £1,723/mo 30%
Nottingham £42,044 £2,473/mo £1,623/mo 34%
Cardiff £42,044 £2,473/mo £1,573/mo 36%
Aberdeen £42,044 £2,461/mo £1,411/mo 43%
Liverpool £42,044 £2,473/mo £1,673/mo 32%
Leicester £42,044 £2,473/mo £1,673/mo 32%
Oxford £42,044 £2,473/mo £1,023/mo 59%
Cambridge £42,044 £2,473/mo £973/mo 61%
Reading £42,044 £2,473/mo £1,123/mo 55%
Brighton £42,044 £2,473/mo £1,073/mo 57%
York £42,044 £2,473/mo £1,523/mo 38%
Exeter £42,044 £2,473/mo £1,473/mo 40%

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 6 Pension

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

NHS Band 6 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 6 salary in 2026/27? +
The NHS Band 6 Agenda for Change salary for 2026/27 runs from £38,570 at the minimum to £46,446 at the top of the band, with a mid-scale of £42,044. Staff in Inner London also receive the High Cost Area Supplement of £5,570, making the London mid-scale gross £47,614.
How much does an NHS Band 6 take home after pension? +
At Band 6 mid-scale, the employee NHS pension contribution is 9.8%. In London, at gross £47,614, take-home after income tax, NI, and pension is approximately £2,761/month. Outside London (no HCAS), take-home will be lower — see the city table above.
What does an NHS Band 6 do? +
NHS Band 6 covers the Senior Nurse / Specialist Practitioner grade. Senior nurse, specialist practitioner, senior allied health professional. 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 6? +
NHS Band 6 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.