NHS Band 6 salary 2026/27.
In England, Band 6 pays £39,959 at entry, £42,170 after 2 years, £48,117 after a further 3 years from 1 April 2026. Full time, that is £3,330 to £4,010 a month before deductions, or roughly £2,430 to £2,866 take-home.
Roles at this band include, for example: Senior nurse, specialist. Your contract and job description set your actual band.
Band 6 pay steps 2026/27
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| Pay step | Annual | Monthly | Hourly | Years before next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £39,959 | £3,330 | £20.44 | 2 |
| Intermediate | £42,170 | £3,514 | £21.57 | 3 |
| Top | £48,117 | £4,010 | £24.61 | — |
You become eligible for the next step after the years shown, if you meet the pay progression requirements in your terms and conditions.
Band 6 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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| Pay step | Gross | NHS Pension | Income tax | National Insurance | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £3,330 | £326 (9.8%) | £391 | £183 | £2,430 |
| Intermediate | £3,514 | £344 (9.8%) | £424 | £197 | £2,548 |
| Top | £4,010 | £393 (9.8%) | £514 | £237 | £2,866 |
Band 6 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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| Weekly hours | Entry step | Top step |
|---|---|---|
| 37.5 hours | £2,430 | £2,866 |
| 30 hours | £2,034 | £2,351 |
| 22.5 hours | £1,628 | £1,866 |
| 15 hours | £1,183 | £1,365 |
For other hours, or to compare two working patterns, use the NHS pay calculator.
Your NHS Pension at Band 6
At £39,959 you pay 9.8% 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 £740 a year at £39,959 and £891 at £48,117, before revaluation.
Estimate your NHS Pension at Band 6 →
Band 6 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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| Pay step | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £38,682 | £39,959 | +£1,277 (+3.3%) |
| Intermediate | £40,823 | £42,170 | +£1,347 (+3.3%) |
| Top | £46,580 | £48,117 | +£1,537 (+3.3%) |
Band 6 pay questions
How much is NHS Band 6 per hour?
Band 6 is £20.44 an hour at the entry step and £24.61 at the top step in 2026/27 (England, published rates).
What is Band 6 take-home pay per month?
Full time and paying into the NHS Pension, estimated take-home is about £2,430 a month at the entry step and £2,866 at the top step, 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 long does it take to reach the top of Band 6?
You become eligible for each step after a set time in the band: £39,959 at entry, £42,170 after 2 years, £48,117 after a further 3 years. That is 5 years in total, provided you meet the pay progression requirements.
How much NHS Pension does Band 6 pay?
At £39,959 the member contribution rate is 9.8% of pensionable pay. In the 2015 Scheme, a year of full-time pay at £39,959 builds about £740 a year of pension, before revaluation.
Did Band 6 get a pay rise in 2026/27?
Yes. The 3.3% award from 1 April 2026 took the entry step from £38,682 in 2025/26 to £39,959.