NHS Band 8a Pay Rise 2025-26
Modern matron, consultant AHP · England · 5.5% award
Band 8a pay rise 2025-26 — full breakdown
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-point salary (gross) | £54,151 | £57,129 | +£2,978 |
| Annual take-home | £41,965 | £43,692 | +£1,727 |
| Monthly take-home rise | — | £144/month | you keep 58% |
Frequently asked questions
How much more take-home pay does the NHS Band 8a pay rise give in 2025-26?
The 5.5% pay rise increases Band 8a mid-point salary from £54,151 to £57,129 — a gross rise of £2,978/year (£248/month). After Income Tax and NI, the take-home increase is £1,727/year — £144/month extra in your pay packet. You keep 58% of the gross rise.
Why do I only keep 58% 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 8a, the extra income falls primarily in the higher (40%) rate band, meaning the government takes 42p 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 8a salary after the 2025-26 pay rise?
The new Band 8a mid-point salary in 2025-26 is £57,129 (up from £54,151 in 2024-25). Annual take-home (England, no pension contribution shown) is approximately £43,692 — compared to £41,965 in 2024-25, an increase of £1,727/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.