NHS band 3 salary after tax 2026/27

NHS band 3 take-home pay by pay point, 2026/27

Full-time pay in England from 1 April 2026. Take-home is after the NHS pension, Income Tax and National Insurance, with no student loan.

NHS band 3 pay in London and the fringe, 2026/27

Gross pay including the high cost area supplement (HCAS), which is pensionable. Inner London adds 20% of basic pay (minimum £5,794, maximum £8,746), outer London 15% (£4,870 to £6,137) and the fringe 5% (£1,346 to £2,270).

NHS band 3 take-home pay with a Plan 2 student loan

Plan 2 takes 9% of pay over £29,385 a year, worked out on gross pay, so the NHS pension does not reduce it.

Roles on band 3

NHS Health Careers gives these as examples of band 3 jobs: emergency care assistant and occupational therapy support worker. Your band depends on how your own job is evaluated, not only its title.

Your NHS pension tier

On band 3 your pensionable pay of £25,760 to £27,476 falls in the 6.5% tier (£13,260 to £28,854), so you pay £1,674 to £1,786 a year. Tiers are set by NHSBSA from 1 April 2026 and use your actual pay, so part-time staff are placed on what they earn.

Why the pension saves tax but not NI

NHS pension contributions come off your pay before Income Tax but not before National Insurance. At the band 3 entry point the £1,674 contribution cuts your Income Tax by £335, so it really costs you £1,340 a year. NI is still charged on the full £25,760.

Pay progression on band 3

You move up on your pay step date if you meet the standards in annex 23 of the NHS terms and conditions handbook. On band 3 that means £27,476 after 2 years, a rise of £1,716 before tax or £95.53 a month after it.

Unsocial hours on band 3

Hours on Saturdays and weekdays between 8pm and 6am are paid at time plus 35% on band 3, and Sundays and public holidays at time plus 69%. On the entry hourly rate of £13.17 that is £17.78 and £22.26 an hour before tax. These payments are pensionable, so they can move you into a higher pension tier.

Overtime on band 3

Hours over 37.5 a week are paid at time and a half, or double time on general public holidays. At the entry rate of £13.17 an hour that is £19.76 an hour. Part-time staff get plain time until they pass 37.5 hours in the week.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

These are England rates. NHS Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own pay sections in the NHS handbook and can pay differently. As a tax example only: a Scottish taxpayer on the England band 3 entry salary would take home £40 more a year (£1,730.58 a month), because Scotland has its own Income Tax bands.

Guides and definitions

• High Income Child Benefit Charge: how it is worked out and cut (Guide)
• How to read your payslip: every line explained, with an example (Guide)
• National Insurance rates 2026/27: what you pay and how it works (Guide)
• Emergency tax code (An emergency tax code, marked W1, M1 or X, taxes each payday on its own, as if you were paid that amount every period of the year.)
• Marginal tax rate (Your marginal tax rate is the share of your next pound or dollar of income that goes in tax and deductions.)
• P60 (A P60 is the yearly summary of your pay and tax from one employer, due by 31 May if you work there on 5 April.)
• Personal Allowance (The Personal Allowance is the income you can earn each UK tax year before Income Tax starts: £12,570 for 2026/27.)
• Tax code (A UK tax code tells your employer or pension provider how much tax-free pay to give you; 1257L, meaning £12,570, is the most common.)

Add your own hours, tax code and student loan

Other NHS bands

• NHS Band 1 (£1,700 a month at entry)
• NHS Band 2 (£1,700 a month at entry)
• NHS Band 4 (£1,874 a month at entry)
• NHS Band 5 (£2,040 a month at entry)

Every NHS band compared · £26,000 after tax · Add your own hours, tax code and student loan

Common questions