NHS Band Promotion: How Much Extra Will You Take Home Each Month?
We calculated the real take-home difference for every NHS band transition. See what Band 5 to 6, Band 6 to 7, and other promotions actually mean for your monthly pay.
You've been offered a Band 6 role. Or maybe you're considering applying for Band 7. The salary looks better on paper, but how much will actually land in your bank account each month?
We used our UK Salary Calculator to calculate the real take-home difference for every NHS band transition.
The Agenda for Change Pay Scale Reality
When you see NHS pay bands advertised, they show gross annual salary ranges. But your actual take-home depends on:
- Income Tax
- National Insurance
- NHS Pension contributions (varies by salary)
- Student loan repayments (if applicable)
A £5,000 gross pay rise doesn't mean £5,000 more in your pocket. Let's see what the numbers actually look like.
We Ran the Numbers: Band 5 to Band 6
The most common NHS promotion - Band 5 to Band 6. Using our calculator for a nurse outside London with no student loan:
Band 5 Take-Home (2025/26)
| Pay Point | Gross Salary | Monthly Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Band 5 Min | £29,970 | £2,001 |
| Band 5 Mid | £33,227 | £2,178 |
| Band 5 Max | £36,483 | £2,362 |
Band 6 Take-Home (2025/26)
| Pay Point | Gross Salary | Monthly Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Band 6 Min | £37,338 | £2,409 |
| Band 6 Mid | £41,150 | £2,618 |
| Band 6 Max | £44,962 | £2,823 |
The Real Promotion Increase
| Transition | Gross Increase | Monthly Take-Home Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Band 5 Max → Band 6 Min | +£855/year | +£47/month |
| Band 5 Mid → Band 6 Min | +£4,111/year | +£231/month |
| Band 5 Min → Band 6 Min | +£7,368/year | +£408/month |
Interpretation: Moving from top of Band 5 to bottom of Band 6 only adds about £47/month to your take-home. The promotion is often about career progression rather than immediate financial gain.
Calculate your exact take-home
Band 6 to Band 7: The Senior Clinician Jump
For those moving into management or specialist roles:
Band 7 Take-Home (2025/26)
| Pay Point | Gross Salary | Monthly Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Band 7 Min | £46,148 | £2,895 |
| Band 7 Mid | £49,479 | £3,061 |
| Band 7 Max | £52,809 | £3,228 |
Band 6 to Band 7 Increase
| Transition | Gross Increase | Monthly Take-Home Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Band 6 Max → Band 7 Min | +£1,186/year | +£72/month |
| Band 6 Mid → Band 7 Min | +£4,998/year | +£277/month |
i Top of Band 6 to bottom of Band 7 is only £72 extra per month. Consider whether the additional responsibility is worth it financially.
Band 7 to Band 8a: Into Management
The jump to Band 8 represents a significant step into management:
Band 8a Take-Home (2025/26)
| Pay Point | Gross Salary | Monthly Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Band 8a Min | £53,755 | £3,274 |
| Band 8a Mid | £57,130 | £3,428 |
| Band 8a Max | £60,504 | £3,582 |
Band 7 to Band 8a Increase
| Transition | Gross Increase | Monthly Take-Home Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Band 7 Max → Band 8a Min | +£946/year | +£46/month |
| Band 7 Min → Band 8a Min | +£7,607/year | +£379/month |
Interpretation: Moving from Band 7 maximum to Band 8a minimum adds only £46/month. Long-term Band 8 progression is where the money comes, not the initial jump.
The Student Loan Impact
Many NHS staff are still paying student loans. Here's what Plan 2 loan repayments look like across bands:
| Band & Point | Take-Home (No Loan) | Take-Home (Plan 2) | Loan Cost/Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 5 Min | £2,001 | £1,981 | £20 |
| Band 5 Max | £2,362 | £2,293 | £69 |
| Band 6 Max | £2,823 | £2,690 | £133 |
| Band 7 Max | £3,228 | £3,058 | £170 |
| Band 8a Max | £3,582 | £3,381 | £201 |
Interpretation: At Band 8a max, you're paying £201/month towards student loans - over £2,400/year.
High Cost Area Supplements (HCAS)
NHS staff in and around London receive location-based supplements:
Band 6 Mid with HCAS
| Location | Annual HCAS | Monthly Take-Home | vs. Rest of England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of England | £0 | £2,618 | - |
| Fringe (5%) | £2,058 | £2,726 | +£108 |
| Outer London (15%) | £5,162 | £2,874 | +£256 |
| Inner London (20%) | £6,882 | £2,967 | +£349 |
***** Inner London HCAS adds about £349/month to your take-home at Band 6 mid - that's £4,188/year extra.
Unsocial Hours Enhancement
NHS staff working nights, weekends, and bank holidays receive enhancements. Here's what they're worth:
| Enhancement | Typical Annual Value | Extra Take-Home/Month |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday (time + 0.5) | ~£2,000-3,000 | +£107-£161 |
| Sunday/Bank Holiday (double) | ~£3,000-5,000 | +£161-£268 |
| Night shifts (time + 0.5) | ~£2,500-4,000 | +£134-£215 |
Interpretation: A nurse working regular weekend shifts might add £200-300/month to their take-home through enhancements.
Complete Band Comparison
Here's the full picture for someone at the mid-point of each band (no student loan, outside London):
| Band | Mid-Point Gross | Monthly Take-Home | vs. Previous Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £23,615 | £1,666 | - |
| Band 3 | £25,147 | £1,755 | +£89 |
| Band 4 | £27,857 | £1,888 | +£133 |
| Band 5 | £33,227 | £2,178 | +£290 |
| Band 6 | £41,150 | £2,618 | +£440 |
| Band 7 | £49,479 | £3,061 | +£443 |
| Band 8a | £57,130 | £3,428 | +£367 |
| Band 8b | £64,782 | £3,723 | +£295 |
Interpretation: The biggest monthly jump is moving from Band 5 to Band 6 or Band 6 to Band 7 - both around £440/month at mid-points.
Your Promotion Checklist
Before accepting that band promotion:
- Calculate your current take-home - Know your baseline
- Model the new band - Check where you'd start on the new scale
- Factor in student loans - They reduce every increase
- Consider HCAS - Location matters significantly
- Don't forget enhancements - Unsocial hours can make a big difference
- Think long-term - Progression through the band matters more than the initial jump
Run your own salary calculation
The Bottom Line
Our calculations reveal:
- Band 5 to Band 6 (top to bottom): Only +£47/month initially
- Band 6 to Band 7 (top to bottom): Only +£72/month initially
- Band 7 to Band 8a (top to bottom): Only +£46/month initially
- Student loans reduce every band by £20-200/month
- Inner London HCAS adds up to £349/month
- Unsocial hours can add £200-300/month
The pattern is clear: moving from top of one band to bottom of the next rarely makes a big financial difference immediately. The real gains come from progressing through your new band over time.
Understanding these numbers helps you make career decisions that balance financial reality with professional development.
Know your numbers before you apply.
Calculations based on 2025/26 NHS Agenda for Change pay scales. NHS Pension contribution rates vary by salary tier. Use our calculator for your exact situation.