NHS Band 3 take-home pay 2026/27
NHS Band 3 (emergency care assistants, senior HCAs, admin) pays £25,760 at the entry point rising to £27,476 at the top of the band under the Agenda for Change scales effective 1 April 2026 (England, checked 2026-08-29 against NHS Employers). At the entry point that is £1,838.90 a month in your pocket after income tax and National Insurance on the 2026/27 rates, and £1,941.86 a month at the top of the band, before NHS pension contributions, which are tiered by pay and reduce take-home further while earning tax relief and one of the best pensions in the UK. With a Plan 2 student loan (most who qualified 2012-2023), entry-point take-home is £1,838.90 a month.
Band 3 after tax, 2026/27
| Pay point | Annual | Take-home / year | Take-home / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry point | £25,760 | £22,066.80 | £1,838.90 |
| Top of band | £27,476 | £23,302.32 | £1,941.86 |
Standard 1257L code, England bands, no pension or student loan. Unsocial-hours enhancements (Section 2), High Cost Area Supplements in and around London, and NHS pension contributions all change the real payslip, use the main calculator to add your own pension rate and student loan plan.
All Agenda for Change bands
Scales from NHS Employers (England, from 1 April 2026); tax figures computed on 2026/27 HMRC rates, checked 2026-08-28. Scotland, Wales and NI have separate NHS scales.