NHS Band 5 (Newly Qualified Nurse) on £26,000 - Take-home pay & payslip breakdown
Monthly net pay for a UK nhs band 5 (newly qualified nurse) earning £26,000 gross, calculated against HMRC 2026/27 PAYE bands and Class 1 employee National Insurance. Assumes 5% of qualifying earnings (£6,240–£50,270) under a net-pay arrangement, so it comes out of gross pay before income tax but not before National Insurance.
Verify my payslip free →Estimated take-home
£1,787.43/month
£21,449 per year · £412.48 per week
Full deduction breakdown
Tax code 1257L cumulative, England/Wales/NI bands, 2026/27 HMRC rates. Assumes 5% of qualifying earnings (£6,240–£50,270) under a net-pay arrangement, so it comes out of gross pay before income tax but not before National Insurance. On a different arrangement or percentage?
| Item | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £26,000 | £2,166.67 |
| Personal Allowance | £12,570 | £1,047.50 |
| Income Tax (PAYE) | -£2,488.40 | -£207.37 |
| National Insurance | -£1,074.40 | -£89.53 |
| Pension (5%) | -£988.00 | -£82.33 |
| Net take-home | £21,449 | £1,787.43 |
How does £26,000 compare?
£26,000 sits about 15% below the ONS ASHE 2024 median for an NHS Band 5 (Newly Qualified Nurse) (£30,420). This typically corresponds to early-career, part-time or trainee positions in the occupation.
It is below the UK full-time national median of £37,430 (ONS ASHE 2024).
For context, the 25th percentile for this role sits at £29,970 and the 75th at £36,483 (ONS ASHE 2024). Quirk specific to this occupation: Band 5 is the entry point for newly qualified nurses, midwives, occupational therapists and paramedics, £32,073 to £39,043 from 1 April 2026. The first two steps are in the 8.3% NHS Pension tier and the top of the band in the 9.8% tier. Section 2 unsocial-hours enhancements are paid a month in arrears through ESR.
Effective deduction rate at this gross: 17.5%. Marginal rate (next pound earned): 28%.
Other nhs band 5 (newly qualified nurse) salaries
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Upload & check free →Salary estimates: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2024, full-time gross annual pay by SOC 2020 occupation. Figures rounded to nearest £100.