Take-home pay by job
Real take-home after tax, National Insurance and pension for some of the UK's most-searched public-sector roles. Figures are based on published pay scales and do not include bonuses, overtime or local allowances. For your exact numbers, use the free salary calculator.
Band 2 NHS
Band 2 covers healthcare assistants, porters, housekeeping and other vital support staff. From April 2026 Band 2 has a single national rate for England — the entry and top steps pay the same. High-cost area supplements and unsocial hours are not included.
Source: NHS Agenda for Change pay rates April 2026
Band 3 NHS
Band 3 covers experienced healthcare assistants, emergency care assistants, therapy assistants and clinical administrative staff. The two spine points below are the published April 2026 national rates for England. High-cost area supplements and unsocial hours are not included.
Source: NHS Agenda for Change pay rates April 2026
Band 4 NHS
Band 4 covers nursing associates, assistant practitioners and senior administrative roles. The two spine points below are the published April 2026 national rates for England. High-cost area supplements and unsocial hours are not included.
Source: NHS Agenda for Change pay rates April 2026
Band 5 NHS
Band 5 covers staff nurses, physiotherapists, radiographers, occupational therapists and many other registered professionals. The three spine points below are the published April 2026 national rates for England. High-cost area supplements and unsocial hours are not included.
Source: NHS Agenda for Change pay rates April 2026
Band 6 NHS
Band 6 includes specialist nurses, paramedics, midwives entering the register, podiatrists, dietitians and senior allied health professionals. The three spine points below are the published April 2026 national rates for England. High-cost area supplements and unsocial hours are not included.
Source: NHS Agenda for Change pay rates April 2026
Band 7 Nurse
Band 7 covers ward managers, advanced nurse practitioners, specialist physiotherapists and other senior clinicians. The three spine points below are the published April 2026 national rates for England. High-cost area supplements and unsocial hours are not included.
Source: NHS Agenda for Change pay rates April 2026
Band 8a NHS
Band 8a covers matrons, advanced clinical practitioners and senior service managers. The three spine points below are the published April 2026 national rates for England. High-cost area supplements and unsocial hours are not included.
Source: NHS Agenda for Change pay rates April 2026
Band 8b NHS
Band 8b covers strategic and operational managers, heads of education and training, clinical physiology service managers and head orthoptists. The three spine points below are the published April 2026 national rates for England. High-cost area supplements are not included.
Source: NHS Agenda for Change pay rates April 2026
Band 8c NHS
Band 8c covers heads of human resources, consultant clinical scientists and consultant paramedics. The three spine points below are the published April 2026 national rates for England. High-cost area supplements are not included.
Source: NHS Agenda for Change pay rates April 2026
Band 8d NHS
Band 8d covers consultant psychologists, chief nurses, estates managers and chief finance managers. The three spine points below are the published April 2026 national rates for England. High-cost area supplements are not included.
Source: NHS Agenda for Change pay rates April 2026
Band 9 NHS
Band 9 is the top of the Agenda for Change structure — podiatric consultants in surgery, directors of estates and facilities and other executive-level posts. Very senior managers and doctors sit outside Agenda for Change entirely. The three spine points below are the published April 2026 national rates for England.
Source: NHS Agenda for Change pay rates April 2026
Band 2 NHS (Scotland)
Band 2 covers healthcare support workers, porters and other support staff across NHS Scotland. Official rates from 1 April 2026, tier-accurate SPPA pension, Scottish income tax.
Source: NHS Scotland circular PCS(AFC)2026/1 + SPPA circular 2026/03
Band 3 NHS (Scotland)
Band 3 covers experienced healthcare support workers, therapy assistants and clinical admin staff in NHS Scotland. Official rates from 1 April 2026, SPPA pension, Scottish income tax.
Source: NHS Scotland circular PCS(AFC)2026/1 + SPPA circular 2026/03
Band 4 NHS (Scotland)
Band 4 covers assistant practitioners and senior administrative posts in NHS Scotland. Official rates from 1 April 2026, SPPA pension, Scottish income tax.
Source: NHS Scotland circular PCS(AFC)2026/1 + SPPA circular 2026/03
Band 5 Nurse (Scotland)
Band 5 covers staff nurses, physiotherapists and other registered professionals in NHS Scotland — paid more than England at every point. Official rates from 1 April 2026.
Source: NHS Scotland circular PCS(AFC)2026/1 + SPPA circular 2026/03
Band 6 Nurse (Scotland)
Band 6 includes specialist nurses, paramedics and midwives in NHS Scotland. Official rates from 1 April 2026, SPPA pension, Scottish income tax.
Source: NHS Scotland circular PCS(AFC)2026/1 + SPPA circular 2026/03
Band 7 Nurse (Scotland)
Band 7 covers ward managers and advanced nurse practitioners in NHS Scotland. Official rates from 1 April 2026, SPPA pension, Scottish income tax.
Source: NHS Scotland circular PCS(AFC)2026/1 + SPPA circular 2026/03
Band 8a NHS (Scotland)
Band 8a covers senior charge nurses, advanced practitioners and service managers in NHS Scotland. Official rates from 1 April 2026.
Source: NHS Scotland circular PCS(AFC)2026/1 + SPPA circular 2026/03
Resident Doctors (England)
Resident doctors — formerly junior doctors — on the new basic pay scale agreed in June 2026, from FY1 to ST8, with tier-accurate NHS pension. Rota enhancements are on top.
Source: June 2026 government offer (accepted) + NHS pension tiers
Teacher (England)
The figures below are the published 2026/27 main and upper pay range points for England excluding London. Actual classroom pay may also include TLR or leadership pay; those additions are not included in the basic-scale figures below.
Source: NEU teachers' pay scales 2026/27 England
Teacher (Wales)
Wales sets its own teacher pay through the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body, and its scale differs from England’s — it starts at M2, with no M1. The points below are the confirmed 2025/26 Wales main and upper pay range rates, in force from 1 September 2025. The 2026/27 Wales award is not yet confirmed: the Welsh Government is consulting on a 3.5% rise after the review body recommended 4.25%. Take-home is calculated at 2026/27 tax rates. TLR payments and ALN allowances are not included.
Source: NASUWT Wales teacher pay scales 2025/26
Police Constable (England & Wales)
The figures below are the published England and Wales constable basic pay scale points. Progression is normally one point per year over seven years. Regional allowances, overtime and the 2015 CARE pension contribution are not included in the basic-scale figures below.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Year 7
Year 8
Source: PolicePay England & Wales constable pay scales 2026/27
Firefighter (England)
The figures below are the published 2026 NJC basic annual rates for Firefighter Development and Firefighter Competent. Higher ranks and retained duty system rates are available on the FBU pay rates page.
Source: FBU NJC pay settlement 2026
Career-path guides
What each career actually pays at every stage, from newly qualified to Band 7: Paramedic · Midwife · Physiotherapist · Radiographer · Occupational therapist · Resident doctor
More useful pages
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