Pension Bible
NHS pay · Band 1

NHS Band 1 salary 2026/27.

In England, Band 1 pays a single salary of £25,272 from 1 April 2026. Full time, that is about £2,106 a month before deductions, or roughly £1,700 take-home.

Band 1 is closed to new entrants. Existing Band 1 staff are paid the same as Band 2.

Band 1 pay steps 2026/27

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Band 1 full-time pay, 2026/27
Pay stepAnnualMonthlyHourlyYears before next step
Single salary£25,272£2,106£12.92—

Band 1 take-home pay

Estimated for a full, steady tax year, full time, paying into the NHS Pension, with a standard tax code. Income tax is the annual figure divided by 12.

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Band 1 estimated monthly take-home, full time, 2026/27
Pay stepGrossNHS PensionIncome taxNational InsuranceTake-home
Single salary£2,106£137 (6.5%)£184£85£1,700

Band 1 part-time pay

Pay is pro rata to a 37.5-hour week. The NHS Pension tier is based on your actual pensionable pay, so part-time staff can pay a lower contribution rate.

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Band 1 estimated monthly take-home by weekly hours, 2026/27
Weekly hoursSingle salary step
37.5 hours£1,700
30 hours£1,419
22.5 hours£1,137
15 hours£799

For other hours, or to compare two working patterns, use the NHS pay calculator.

Your NHS Pension at Band 1

At £25,272 you pay 6.5% of pensionable pay. Contributions reduce taxable pay but not National Insurance. In the 2015 Scheme, each year of full-time pay builds 1/54 of that pay as pension: about £468 a year at £25,272, before revaluation.

Estimate your NHS Pension →

Band 1 pay rise

The 2026/27 award was 3.3%, from 1 April 2026. See the NHS pay rise page for 2027/28.

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Band 1 full-time annual pay, 2025/26 vs 2026/27
Pay step2025/262026/27Change
Single salary£24,465£25,272+£807 (+3.3%)

All NHS pay bands 2026/27 →

Band 1 pay questions

How much is NHS Band 1 per hour?

Band 1 is £12.92 an hour in 2026/27 (England, published rate).

What is Band 1 take-home pay per month?

Full time and paying into the NHS Pension, estimated take-home is about £1,700 a month, after income tax, National Insurance and pension contributions, with a standard tax code. Payslips can differ with enhancements, HCAS, student loans or salary sacrifice.

How much NHS Pension does Band 1 pay?

At £25,272 the member contribution rate is 6.5% of pensionable pay. In the 2015 Scheme, a year of full-time pay at £25,272 builds about £468 a year of pension, before revaluation.

Did Band 1 get a pay rise in 2026/27?

Yes. The 3.3% award from 1 April 2026 took the salary from £24,465 in 2025/26 to £25,272.