Band 5 NHS pay 2026/27
Band 5 is the starting band for newly qualified nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. It has three pay steps across roughly four years.
Band 5 pay steps
Full-time annual salary (37.5 hours/week, England). The 2026/27 rates include the 3.3% award effective 1 April 2026.
| Pay step | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Increase | Hourly (26/27) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (< 2 years) | £31,049 | £32,073 | +£1,024 | £16.40 |
| 2+ years | £33,487 | £34,592 | +£1,105 | £17.69 |
| Top (4+ years) | £37,796 | £39,043 | +£1,247 | £19.97 |
Band 5 take-home pay 2026/27
Estimated deductions at each pay step, assuming NHS Pension membership, standard tax code (1257L), no student loan and no other deductions.
| Pay step | Gross | Pension | Income tax | Nat. Insurance | Take-home / year | Take-home / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (< 2 years) | £32,073 | £2,662 (8.3%) | £3,368 | £1,560 | £24,483 | £2,040 |
| 2+ years | £34,592 | £2,871 (8.3%) | £3,830 | £1,762 | £26,129 | £2,177 |
| Top (4+ years) | £39,043 | £3,826 (9.8%) | £4,529 | £2,118 | £28,570 | £2,381 |
Add student loan, switch tax year or turn pension off in the calculator.
Band 5 pay: quick answers
How much does a Band 5 earn in the NHS in 2026/27?+
In England, NHS Band 5 pay in 2026/27 runs from £32,073 at entry to £39,043 at the top step (full-time, 37.5 hours a week), including the 3.3% Agenda for Change pay award.
What is the monthly take-home pay for a Band 5 in 2026/27?+
Estimated take-home pay for a full-time Band 5 is roughly £2,040 to £2,381 a month depending on pay step, assuming NHS Pension membership, tax code 1257L and no student loan.
What is the Band 5 hourly rate in 2026/27?+
The full-time equivalent hourly rate for Band 5 ranges from £16.40 to £19.97 before deductions, based on 37.5 hours a week.
Sources & data checks
Salaries on this page are the official Agenda for Change pay scales for England published by NHS Employers. Deductions are calculated from HMRC 2026/27 tax and National Insurance thresholds and the NHS Pension member contribution tiers. Every figure is re-checked by an independent calculation before publication — last reviewed 17 July 2026.