NHS Band 8a Pay — Take-Home Breakdown
Principal practitioners, service managers. Salary range: £55,690–£62,682 (3 pay points).
2025/26 Take-Home Breakdown
Take-home pay for each Band 8a pay point, assuming England tax rates, standard tax code (1257L), NHS Pension Scheme contributions, and no student loan.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 5+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross | £55,690 | £58,487 | £62,682 |
| Pension tier | 10.7% | 10.7% | 10.7% |
| Pension | £5,959 | £6,258 | £6,707 |
| Taxable income | £49,731 | £52,229 | £55,975 |
| Income tax | £7,432 | £8,324 | £9,822 |
| National Insurance | £3,124 | £3,180 | £3,264 |
| Monthly take-home | £3,265 | £3,394 | £3,574 |
| Annual take-home | £39,174 | £40,725 | £42,889 |
Notes
- Figures use HMRC 2025/26 income tax and NI rates for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- NHS pension tier boundaries are from the 2025/26 scheme year.
- Scotland has different income tax bands — Scottish take-home will differ.
- Student loan repayments are not included. Use the calculator for a personalised breakdown.
Related
- Band 7 Pay — £47,810–£54,710
- Band 8b Pay — £64,455–£74,896
- NHS Pension Scheme — contribution tiers, NET pay, and how pension affects take-home
- NHS Take-Home Pay Calculator — personalised breakdown with student loans, salary sacrifice, and Scotland
- How UK Take-Home Pay Is Calculated — the PAYE deduction pipeline step by step
- All Resources