NHS Pay Rise 2027
What Bands 2–8 Take Home After Tax
The 2027/28 NHS pay award hasn't been confirmed yet — but we've calculated the exact take-home impact of a 3%, 4%, or 5% rise for every Agenda for Change band, after PAYE tax, NI, and NHS pension.
Current take-home — 2026/27
Your take-home now, before any 2027 rise
Based on approximate 2026/27 AfC midpoint salaries. NHS pension uses post-2023 contribution tiers (net-pay arrangement — pension deducted before tax). Standard tax code 1257L.
2027 pay rise scenarios
What a 3%, 4%, or 5% rise means for your monthly take-home
Extra monthly take-home after all deductions. Negative figures (shown in amber) indicate the pay rise triggers a higher NHS pension tier, temporarily reducing net benefit.
The NHS pension tier cliff edge — why a pay rise can cost you money
The NHS pension uses tiered contribution rates based on your full-time equivalent pensionable pay. Unlike income tax bands — where only the additional earnings are taxed at the higher rate — crossing an NHS pension tier threshold increases your contribution rate on your entire pensionable pay.
This creates a "cliff edge" effect: if a pay rise pushes you from just below a threshold to just above it, your pension deduction could increase by more than the pay rise itself — temporarily reducing your monthly take-home.
Source: NHS Employers — Agenda for Change pay circular 2023. Rates apply to full-time equivalent pensionable pay, not actual part-time earnings.
Current pension: 6.5% of £33,500 = £2,178/year. After rise: 7.2% of £34,505 = £2,484/year. That's £306 more in pension contributions — offset against the £1,005 gross pay rise. Net benefit is still positive, but the pension tier change absorbs about 30% of the rise.
NHS pay rise 2027 — frequently asked questions
When will the 2027 NHS pay award be announced?
The NHS Agenda for Change pay award for 2027/28 is typically recommended by the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) in spring 2027, with the government response — and the confirmed award — usually announced between April and July 2027. For 2026/27, the award was confirmed in spring 2026.
How much will NHS pay rise in 2027?
The 2027/28 NHS pay award has not yet been announced. The NHS Pay Review Body will submit recommendations to the government in early 2027. Based on recent awards and inflation trends, analysts expect an award in the 2%–5% range, though this depends on government spending plans and union negotiations.
How much extra will I take home after a 5% NHS pay rise?
A 5% pay rise for a Band 5 nurse at the midpoint (£32,000) would increase gross pay to £33,600 — an extra £1,600/year. After income tax, NI, and NHS pension, the monthly take-home increase is approximately £65–£75/month, depending on whether the rise pushes you into a higher NHS pension contribution tier.
Will an NHS pay rise push me into a higher pension tier?
Possibly. NHS pension contribution tiers are based on full-time equivalent pensionable pay. The key thresholds are £26,831, £33,952, £51,434, and £72,030. If a pay rise takes you above one of these thresholds, your contribution rate increases on your entire pensionable salary — not just the amount above the threshold. This 'pension tier cliff edge' means a small pay rise can temporarily reduce take-home pay.