NHS Pay Rise Calculator 2026/27
See how much your take-home pay will actually increase after the 3.3% pay award — accounting for pension tier changes, tax, and NI.
Simulate Your Pay Rise
2026/27 Context: The 3.3% AfC pay award was confirmed on 12 February 2026, effective 1 April 2026.
Ready to Calculate
Enter your salary and pay rise percentage to see the real impact on your take-home pay.
How NHS Pay Rises Work
NHS pay for Agenda for Change (AfC) staff is reviewed annually through an independent process. The NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) gathers written and oral evidence from unions, employers, the Department of Health and Social Care, and other stakeholders. It then publishes recommendations to the government, which can accept, modify, or reject them.
Pay awards are effective from 1 April each year, but confirmation often arrives after that date. When this happens, the increase is backdated to 1 April, and arrears are paid as a lump sum — typically in the summer or autumn payroll run.
Consolidated vs Non-Consolidated Increases
A consolidated increase is added permanently to your basic salary, raising your pay point on the AfC scale. It improves overtime rates, pension contributions, and future increments. A non-consolidated award is a one-off lump sum that does not change your substantive pay — it has no lasting effect on pension or other calculations. The 2026/27 award of 3.3% is fully consolidated.
NHS Pay Rise History
Recent AfC pay awards reflect a period of above-average increases following sustained pressure on NHS recruitment and retention.
| Year | Award | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 5.5% | Consolidated |
| 2025/26 | 3.6% | Consolidated |
| 2026/27 | 3.3% | Consolidated (confirmed) |
While the 2024/25 award exceeded CPI inflation, subsequent awards have tracked closer to the Bank of England's 2% target. In real terms, the 2026/27 rise of 3.3% offers a modest increase in purchasing power — though the net gain depends heavily on your tax bracket and pension tier.
How a Pay Rise Affects Your Take-Home
Not every pound of a pay rise reaches your bank account. The gap between your gross increase and net increase is the effective rate — use the calculator above to see yours. Deductions that erode a pay rise include:
- Income tax — 20% (basic rate) or 40% (higher rate, above £50,270)
- National Insurance — 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270
- NHS Pension contributions — 5.2% to 12.5% depending on your tier
Worked Example — Band 5 Entry Point
A Band 5 entry-level nurse earning £30,625 in 2025/26 receives a 3.3% consolidated rise, taking their gross salary to approximately £31,636 — an increase of roughly £1,011 per year. After income tax (20%), National Insurance (8%), and NHS Pension contributions (8.3%), the net annual gain is around £645, or approximately £54 extra per month. That means the effective rate is roughly 64% — about two-thirds of the gross rise is kept.
Pension Tier Warnings
The NHS Pension Scheme uses tiered contribution rates based on your whole-time equivalent pensionable pay. When a pay rise pushes you across a tier boundary, your contribution rate increases — and this can temporarily make your net pay rise smaller than expected, or even negative in rare edge cases near a threshold.
| Pensionable Pay (2026/27) | Contribution Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £13,259 | 5.2% |
| £13,260 – £28,854 | 6.5% |
| £28,855 – £35,155 | 8.3% |
| £35,156 – £52,778 | 9.8% |
| £52,779 – £67,668 | 10.7% |
| £67,669 and above | 12.5% |
The calculator above flags pension tier changes with an ⚠️ warning. If you are close to a boundary, consider whether the long-term pension benefit (higher contributions mean a larger pension in retirement) outweighs the short-term reduction in take-home pay.
Pay Progression vs Pay Rise
It is important to distinguish between two separate mechanisms that can increase your salary each year:
📈 Annual Pay Award
Applies to all AfC staff equally. The 2026/27 award of 3.3% is added to every spine point across every band. You receive this regardless of performance or length of service.
🪜 Incremental Progression
Moving up to the next spine point within your band, typically once per year. This requires a satisfactory appraisal and completion of any mandatory training or competency requirements set by your employer.
Both can happen at the same time. For example, a Band 5 nurse at spine point 1 may receive the 3.3% pay award and progress to spine point 2 on their incremental date — resulting in a combined salary increase significantly larger than either change alone. Use the calculator above with your new spine-point salary to model the combined effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026/27 NHS pay rise paid?
The award is effective from 1 April 2026. If your employer processes it on time, you will see the new rate in your April or May payslip. If confirmation is delayed, arrears are backdated to 1 April and typically paid as a lump sum later in the year.
Will I get a back-pay lump sum?
Only if the increase is not applied from your April pay date. Any months paid at the old rate will be recalculated and the difference paid as a one-off sum. This lump sum is taxed in the month it is received, which can push you into a higher tax bracket temporarily.
Does overtime benefit from the pay rise?
Yes. Overtime, unsocial hours enhancements, and on-call payments are calculated as a percentage of your basic hourly rate. When your basic pay increases by 3.3%, these enhancements rise proportionally.
Do agency or bank staff receive the NHS pay rise?
Bank staff employed directly by an NHS trust on AfC terms are entitled to the pay award. Agency workers are paid by their agency, and their rates are set by contract — they do not automatically receive the AfC pay rise, though agency rates may be adjusted over time.
How does the pay rise affect my NHS pension?
A consolidated pay rise increases your pensionable pay, which means higher pension contributions now but a larger pension at retirement. If the rise moves you into a higher contribution tier, your percentage rate also increases — see the pension tier table above.
Is the pay rise the same in Scotland and Wales?
Not necessarily. Health is devolved, so the Scottish and Welsh governments set their own AfC pay awards. In recent years the awards have been similar but not identical. Scotland and Wales may announce different percentages or structures. Check with your employer or union for the specific award in your nation.
What if I started mid-year — do I still get the full rise?
Yes. The pay award applies to the pay scale, not to individual start dates. If you started in September 2026 you would already be on the 2026/27 rate. If you started in February 2026 on the old rate, the increase is applied from 1 April 2026 regardless of your start date.
Can I opt out of the pay rise?
No. The AfC pay award is applied to the national pay scales. All staff on AfC contracts receive the uplift automatically. However, you can adjust your pension contributions through salary sacrifice arrangements if you wish to manage your take-home pay differently.