NHS Band 8b salary 2026/27.
In England, Band 8b pays £66,582 at entry, £70,896 after 2 years, £77,368 after a further 3 years from 1 April 2026. Full time, that is £5,549 to £6,447 a month before deductions, or roughly £3,742 to £4,136 take-home.
Band 8b pay steps 2026/27
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| Pay step | Annual | Monthly | Hourly | Years before next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £66,582 | £5,549 | £34.05 | 2 |
| Intermediate | £70,896 | £5,908 | £36.26 | 3 |
| Top | £77,368 | £6,447 | £39.57 | — |
You become eligible for the next step after the years shown, if you meet the pay progression requirements in your terms and conditions.
Band 8b 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 | £5,549 | £594 (10.7%) | £935 | £278 | £3,742 |
| Intermediate | £5,908 | £739 (12.5%) | £1,020 | £286 | £3,863 |
| Top | £6,447 | £806 (12.5%) | £1,209 | £296 | £4,136 |
Band 8b 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 | £3,742 | £4,136 |
| 30 hours | £3,124 | £3,540 |
| 22.5 hours | £2,429 | £2,775 |
| 15 hours | £1,776 | £1,979 |
For other hours, or to compare two working patterns, use the NHS pay calculator.
Your NHS Pension at Band 8b
At £66,582 you pay 10.7% of pensionable pay, and 12.5% at £77,368. 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 £1,233 a year at £66,582 and £1,433 at £77,368, before revaluation.
Estimate your NHS Pension at Band 8b →
Band 8b 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 | £64,455 | £66,582 | +£2,127 (+3.3%) |
| Intermediate | £68,631 | £70,896 | +£2,265 (+3.3%) |
| Top | £74,896 | £77,368 | +£2,472 (+3.3%) |
Band 8b pay questions
How much is NHS Band 8b per hour?
Band 8b is £34.05 an hour at the entry step and £39.57 at the top step in 2026/27 (England, published rates).
What is Band 8b take-home pay per month?
Full time and paying into the NHS Pension, estimated take-home is about £3,742 a month at the entry step and £4,136 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 8b?
You become eligible for each step after a set time in the band: £66,582 at entry, £70,896 after 2 years, £77,368 after a further 3 years. That is 5 years in total, provided you meet the pay progression requirements.
How much NHS Pension does Band 8b pay?
At £66,582 the member contribution rate is 10.7% of pensionable pay, rising to 12.5% at £77,368. In the 2015 Scheme, a year of full-time pay at £66,582 builds about £1,233 a year of pension, before revaluation.
Did Band 8b get a pay rise in 2026/27?
Yes. The 3.3% award from 1 April 2026 took the entry step from £64,455 in 2025/26 to £66,582.