Physiotherapists are paid on the NHS Agenda for Change scale, typically starting at Band 5 in rotational posts as a newly qualified physio. Specialist physiotherapists — musculoskeletal, respiratory, neuro — are typically Band 6, with advanced practitioners, clinical specialists and team leads at Band 7. The table below shows what each stage actually pays after tax, National Insurance and the NHS Pension, using the April 2026 national rates for England.
Take-home pay at every career stage
| Career stage | Gross | Pension tier | Take-home / year | / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly qualified (rotational) — Band 5 point 1 | £32,073 | 8.3% | £24,483 | £2,040 |
| Band 5 point 2 | £34,592 | 8.3% | £26,129 | £2,177 |
| Band 5 point 3 | £39,043 | 9.8% | £28,570 | £2,381 |
| Specialist physiotherapist — Band 6 point 1 | £39,959 | 9.8% | £29,157 | £2,430 |
| Band 6 point 2 | £42,170 | 9.8% | £30,576 | £2,548 |
| Band 6 point 3 | £48,117 | 9.8% | £34,391 | £2,866 |
| Advanced / team lead — Band 7 point 1 | £49,387 | 9.8% | £35,206 | £2,934 |
| Band 7 point 2 | £51,932 | 9.8% | £36,939 | £3,078 |
| Band 7 point 3 | £56,515 | 10.7% | £39,708 | £3,309 |
Each row links to a full breakdown page for that pay point — income tax, National Insurance and pension, by year, month and week.
One thing most “salary after tax” calculators get wrong here: the NHS Pension Scheme is a net pay arrangement, so the contribution comes off your pay before income tax is worked out. Relief is automatic at your top rate and there is nothing to claim back — but it also means your taxable pay is lower than your headline salary, so the take-home figures above are higher than a calculator that taxes the full salary and then subtracts the pension would tell you.
NHS Pension contributions are tiered by pay, and the tier applies to your whole salary — that is why the rate column changes as you climb. The table uses the 2026/27 member tiers; most online calculators apply one flat rate to every band and get this wrong.
Many physiotherapy posts are Monday-to-Friday, so the basic-scale figures above are closer to reality than they are for 24/7 professions. That said, on-call, weekend and seven-day-service enhancements do exist and vary by trust — they are not included here.
Do physiotherapists start on Band 5 or Band 6?
Band 5. NHS Health Careers lists physiotherapy as “typically starting on band 5”, usually in rotational posts across specialties. Progression to a Band 6 specialist post is worth about £4,675 a year in take-home terms on these figures.
What does a Band 7 physiotherapist earn after tax?
Band 7 covers advanced practitioners, clinical specialists and physiotherapy team leads — £49,387 to £56,515 gross in 2026/27, roughly £35,206 to £39,708 a year in your pocket after tax, NI and the pension.
Figures based on the NHS Agenda for Change pay rates April 2026 (England) and the NHS Pension member contribution tiers effective 1 April 2026. Actual take-home depends on your exact tax code, Scottish or Welsh rates, student loan plan, and whether you pay into the NHS Pension. Sources: Health Careers — Agenda for Change pay rates · NHS Employers — pension contribution tiers · NHS Health Careers — physiotherapist role profile
Your actual take-home may differ because of your tax code, student loan, unsocial-hours enhancements or pension opt-out. Put your real numbers into our free salary calculator — nothing is recorded.
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