NHS Take Home Pay
Note: The NHS 25/26 Salary has not been finalised yet, the most recent pay update was for April 2024. The salaries below reflect take home pay for a standard employee without a student loan, and does not include deductions for the NHS Pension.
If you're considering a career in the NHS or are already part of the workforce, understanding how NHS pay works is crucial. The NHS pay structure is governed by the Agenda for Change (AfC) — a national pay system covering most NHS staff, excluding doctors, dentists, and very senior managers. This article outlines the latest pay rates as of April 2024 and explains how pay progression works.
How the Pay Bands Work
There are nine pay bands in the Agenda for Change system, and each band contains pay points which correspond to levels of experience. Staff typically move up within a band based on years of service, subject to satisfactory performance.
In addition to basic salary, employees in certain parts of the UK receive High Cost Area Supplements (HCAS) — extra pay to reflect the increased cost of living, especially around London.
NHS Pay Bands and Salary Ranges (April 2024)
Band 2
< 2 years' experience: £24,465 (Take Home £1761.35 per month)
2+ years: £24,465 (Take Home £1761.35 per month)
Examples: Healthcare assistant, domestic team leader, typist, security officer
Band 3
< 2 years: £24,937 (Take home £1789.67 per month)
2+ years: £26,598 (Take home £1889.33 per month)
Examples: Emergency care assistant, trainee clinical coder, OT support worker
Band 4
< 3 years: £27,485 (Take home £1942.55 per month)
3+ years: £30,162 (Take home £2103.17 per month)
Examples: Assistant practitioner, pharmacy technician, dental nurse
Band 5
< 2 years: £31,049 (Take home £2156.39 per month)
2–4 years: £33,487 (Take home £2302.67 per month)
4+ years: £37,796 (Take home £2561.21 per month)
Examples: Nurse, ODP, podiatrist, radiographer
Band 6
< 2 years: £38,682 (Take home £2614.37 per month)
2–5 years: £40,832 (Take home £2743.37 per month)
5+ years: £46,580(Take home £3088.25 per month)
Examples: Paramedic, school nurse, health records manager
Band 7
< 2 years: £47,810 (Take home £3162.05 per month)
2–5 years: £50,237 (Take home £3307.67 per month)
5+ years: £54,710 (Take home £3524.40 per month)
Examples: Advanced speech and language therapist, estates manager, comms manager
For the latest take home calculations and for further Bands 8a onwards, please visit NHS Take Home Pay Calculator
High Cost Area Supplements (HCAS)
Additional pay is available to NHS staff working in more expensive areas:
Inner London: 20% of basic pay (min £5,414, max £8,172)
Outer London: 15% of basic pay (min £4,551, max £5,735)
Fringe areas: 5% of basic pay (min £1,258, max £2,122)
These allowances help ensure fair compensation in high-cost regions.
Final Thoughts
The NHS pay system is structured, transparent, and designed to reward experience and responsibility. Whether you're applying from overseas or transitioning within the UK health sector, understanding how Agenda for Change works is the key to knowing what you’re worth.
Explore the NHS Careers website to see what role might suit you — and what salary to expect.
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