Band 6 NHS pay 2026/27
Band 6 covers senior/specialist nurses, paramedics and experienced allied health professionals. It has three pay steps across roughly five years.
Band 6 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) | £38,682 | £39,959 | +£1,277 | £20.44 |
| 2+ years | £40,823 | £42,170 | +£1,347 | £21.57 |
| Top (5+ years) | £46,580 | £48,117 | +£1,537 | £24.61 |
Band 6 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) | £39,959 | £3,916 (9.8%) | £4,695 | £2,191 | £29,157 | £2,430 |
| 2+ years | £42,170 | £4,133 (9.8%) | £5,093 | £2,368 | £30,576 | £2,548 |
| Top (5+ years) | £48,117 | £4,715 (9.8%) | £6,166 | £2,844 | £34,391 | £2,866 |
Add student loan, switch tax year or turn pension off in the calculator.
Band 6 pay: quick answers
How much does a Band 6 earn in the NHS in 2026/27?+
In England, NHS Band 6 pay in 2026/27 runs from £39,959 at entry to £48,117 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 6 in 2026/27?+
Estimated take-home pay for a full-time Band 6 is roughly £2,430 to £2,866 a month depending on pay step, assuming NHS Pension membership, tax code 1257L and no student loan.
What is the Band 6 hourly rate in 2026/27?+
The full-time equivalent hourly rate for Band 6 ranges from £20.44 to £24.61 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.