NHS Band 8b Salary After Tax 2025-26
Head of department, senior consultant · Pay range: £62,215 – £72,293
NHS Band 8b tax breakdown 2025-26
| Item | Annual | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £67,254 | £5,605 | £1,293 |
| Personal Allowance (tax-free) | £12,570 | £1,048 | £242 |
| Income Tax | −£14,334 | −£1,195 | −£276 |
| National Insurance | −£3,356 | −£280 | −£65 |
| Net take-home | £49,564 | £4,130 | £953 |
About NHS Band 8b
NHS Band 8b sits within the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay framework, which applies to the majority of NHS staff in England. Typical roles at this band include Head of department, senior consultant.
The pay range runs from £62,215 to £72,293. Staff progress through incremental pay points, usually annually subject to satisfactory performance. The mid-band salary of £67,254 is used for the calculations on this page.
For context, Band 5 is the most common clinical entry point (e.g. newly qualified nurses and allied health professionals). Band 8b represents senior management or advanced specialist roles above the typical clinical entry grade.
Frequently asked questions
What will I actually take home on NHS Band 8b?
On the mid-band salary of £67,254, an NHS Band 8b worker takes home £49,564 per year (£4,130/month) after Income Tax (£14,334) and National Insurance (£3,356). Your gross monthly is £5,605 — deductions of £1,475/month leave you £4,130.
Does NHS pension affect my take-home pay on Band 8b?
Yes — NHS pension contributions are mandatory under the NHS Pension Scheme and are deducted before tax (salary sacrifice). At Band 8b (£67,254 mid-band), your pension contribution rate is typically 7.1–9.8% depending on your earnings tier. This further reduces your take-home below the £4,130/month figure shown here (which assumes no pension deduction). However, pension contributions reduce your taxable income, so you save on Income Tax too.
What jobs are NHS Band 8b?
Typical NHS Band 8b roles include: Head of department, senior consultant. These positions sit within the NHS Agenda for Change pay framework, which sets out standardised pay scales for NHS staff in England.
What is the hourly rate for NHS Band 8b?
The mid-band gross salary of £67,254 works out at £34 per hour (based on 37.5 hours per week, 52 weeks per year). After tax and NI, the net hourly rate is approximately £25.
Why is my NHS take-home lower than I expected on Band 8b?
Several deductions come out of your NHS gross pay before you see anything. On £67,254 (Band 8b mid-band), Income Tax is £14,334/year and National Insurance is £3,356/year — already £17,690 in PAYE deductions. Add mandatory NHS pension contributions (7.1–9.8%) and any student loan repayments and your take-home can feel significantly lower than your headline salary. The effective tax rate (IT + NI only) is 26.3%.
Is NHS Band 8b the highest pay band?
NHS Band 8b (Band 8b) is not the absolute ceiling — Band 8c, 8d, and Band 9 also exist within the AfC framework for very senior roles. However, Band 8b represents senior head-of-department or senior consultant level with a mid-band salary of £67,254 and take-home pay of £49,564/year.