NHS Band 5 Pay Rise 2025-26
Staff nurse, newly qualified therapist · England · 5.5% award
Band 5 pay rise 2025-26 — full breakdown
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-point salary (gross) | £31,494 | £33,226 | +£1,732 |
| Annual take-home | £26,195 | £27,443 | +£1,248 |
| Monthly take-home rise | — | £104/month | you keep 72.1% |
Frequently asked questions
How much more take-home pay does the NHS Band 5 pay rise give in 2025-26?
The 5.5% pay rise increases Band 5 mid-point salary from £31,494 to £33,226 — a gross rise of £1,732/year (£144/month). After Income Tax and NI, the take-home increase is £1,248/year — £104/month extra in your pay packet. You keep 72.1% of the gross rise.
Why do I only keep 72.1% of the NHS pay rise?
Income Tax (20% basic or 40% higher rate) and National Insurance (8% up to £50,270, 2% above) are deducted from every additional pound of pay. For Band 5, the extra income falls primarily in the basic (20%) rate band, meaning the government takes 27.900000000000006p of every extra £1. NHS pension contributions (if applicable) would reduce take-home further but build valuable defined-benefit pension entitlement.
What is the new Band 5 salary after the 2025-26 pay rise?
The new Band 5 mid-point salary in 2025-26 is £33,226 (up from £31,494 in 2024-25). Annual take-home (England, no pension contribution shown) is approximately £27,443 — compared to £26,195 in 2024-25, an increase of £1,248/year.
Does the NHS pay rise affect my pension contributions?
Yes — NHS pension contribution tiers are based on your pensionable pay. A higher salary may push you into a higher NHS Pension Scheme contribution band (ranging from 5.1% to 13.5% of pensionable pay in 2025-26). If your pay rise moves you into a higher contribution tier, the net take-home increase may be smaller than the figures above, which assume no pension contribution change.