What an RAF Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman (AC) payslip looks like
A typical UK raf aircraftman / aircraftwoman (ac) payslip is paid monthly and shows a basic pay line at the top. Aircraftman is the entry RAF rank during initial trade training, before Trade Group qualification. The line items below depend on grade, shift pattern and contractual additions, but the structure usually mirrors HMRC's recommended payslip layout: a payments block, a deductions block, a year-to-date column, and a net pay summary.
Common employers in this occupation include Royal Air Force. Each employer runs payroll slightly differently, but the underlying PAYE computation against tax code 1257L and Class 1 National Insurance is identical across the UK (excluding Scotland for income tax). The biggest variability between two raf aircraftman / aircraftwoman (ac) payslips at the same gross will be in the additions block: Aircraftman and Aircraftwoman is the Phase 1 training rank on Initial Pay, £27,282. That is the same figure as OR2-01, so becoming a Senior Aircraftman changes the increment level rather than the money; the first rise is at OR2-02.
Year-to-date columns are critical to verify on this role because the additions and salary sacrifice items change month to month. If your YTD gross divided by months elapsed in the tax year does not match your expected annual run-rate, that is the single best signal that something is mis-coded.
Aircraftman and Aircraftwoman (OR-2, Initial Pay): £27,282 from 1 April 2026
Initial Pay is the single rate for personnel still in Phase 1 training. It is the same figure as OR2-01, so the move to Senior Aircraftman changes the increment level rather than the money; the rise comes at OR2-02.
- The top of the grade, £27,282, is £22,988 short of £50,270, so every step is taxed at 20% and the higher rate never applies on basic pay alone.
- Senior Aircraftman (OR2-01) starts at £27,282, £-0 below the top of this grade at £27,282: the two ranges overlap, so promotion can leave pay unchanged.
AFPRB 55th Report 2026, Appendix 1. Trade Supplement 1 and inclusive of the 14.5% X-factor, which is how the AFPRB publishes them, so they will not match a JPA basic-pay line on their own. Net figures are estimates on 1257L with rUK bands and no student loan, no pension line because Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 is non-contributory. Full scale, allowances and Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 tiers.
Common deductions for an RAF Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman (AC)
- PAYE income tax.Calculated against tax code 1257L. Cumulative coding means refunds can appear if you start mid-year.
- National Insurance (Class 1).8% between £12,570 and £50,270 of annual earnings, then 2% above. Period-by-period method is standard.
- Pension.Auto-enrolment minimum 5% employee on qualifying earnings (£6,240 - £50,270), unless your employer runs a more generous scheme such as the NHS, Teachers Pension or Civil Service alpha.
- Salary sacrifice patterns.Common in this occupation: cycle-to-work, electric-car salary sacrifice, additional pension contributions, and where applicable workplace nursery vouchers (still tax-efficient via pre-existing schemes).
- Union or professional body.Tax-deductible for HMRC-listed bodies. RAF Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman (AC)s commonly hold subscriptions covered by section 344 ITEPA 2003 (List 3).
RAF Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman (AC) payslip FAQ
How much does an RAF Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman (AC) earn in 2026/27?
Aircraftman and Aircraftwoman (OR-2, Initial Pay) is published at £27,282, effective 1 April 2026, in AFPRB 55th Report 2026, Appendix 1. Trade Supplement 1 and inclusive of the 14.5% X-factor, which is how the AFPRB publishes them, so they will not match a JPA basic-pay line on their own.
What is the take-home pay for an RAF Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman (AC)?
At the top of the grade, £27,282, income tax and National Insurance come to about £4,119 a year, leaving roughly £1,930 a month. At the bottom of the grade, £27,282, it is roughly £1,930 a month. Estimated on tax code 1257L with England, Wales and Northern Ireland bands and no student loan.
What is unusual about an RAF Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman (AC) payslip?
Aircraftman and Aircraftwoman is the Phase 1 training rank on Initial Pay, £27,282. That is the same figure as OR2-01, so becoming a Senior Aircraftman changes the increment level rather than the money; the first rise is at OR2-02.
Which tax code should an RAF Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman (AC) typically be on?
Most people in this role on standard PAYE will see 1257L. Check the prefix and suffix carefully: a K-prefix means deductions exceed your allowance (often after a bonus or P11D benefit), 0T means you have no allowance left at this employer, and BR means basic rate on the whole job (common in second jobs).
Related roles
Pay figures: AFPRB 55th Report 2026, Appendix 1, the determination in force from 1 April 2026. Tax, National Insurance and pension figures are estimates from this site's 2026/27 engine.