NHS Band 6 Take Home Pay Calculator
Calculate your Band 6 salary after tax, National Insurance, and NHS pension deductions for 2025/26. Band 6 pay ranges from £37,338 to £44,962.
Calculate Your Band 6 Take Home Pay
Your Band 6 Take Home Pay
£28,547.78
Monthly: £2,378.98
Thinking about a Band 7 promotion? Compare your current take home pay with a Band 7 salary.
Compare Salaries →NHS Band 6 Pay Scale 2025/26
The NHS Band 6 pay scale for 2025/26 under Agenda for Change ranges from £37,338 to £44,962. Band 6 roles include senior staff nurses, community nurses, specialist practitioners, and junior ward managers. Your position on the scale depends on your years of experience at Band 6.
| Pay Point | Annual Salary | Monthly Gross | Est. Monthly Take Home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (Year 1) | £37,338 | £3,111.50 | ~£2,379 |
| Year 2 | £39,027 | £3,252.25 | ~£2,469 |
| Year 3 | £40,716 | £3,393.00 | ~£2,558 |
| Year 4 | £42,471 | £3,539.25 | ~£2,650 |
| Top of Band | £44,962 | £3,746.83 | ~£2,781 |
*Estimates based on full-time hours with NHS pension, no student loan.
Band 6 Part-Time Take Home Pay
Many Band 6 nurses and healthcare professionals work part-time or flexible hours. Your take home pay is calculated pro-rata based on your whole time equivalent (WTE). The table below shows Band 6 take home pay at different contracted hours based on the entry-point salary of £37,338.
| Hours/Week | WTE | Pro-Rata Salary | Est. Monthly Take Home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37.5 (Full-time) | 1.0 | £37,338 | ~£2,379 |
| 30 hours | 0.8 | £29,870 | ~£1,986 |
| 22.5 hours | 0.6 | £22,403 | ~£1,571 |
| 18.75 hours | 0.5 | £18,669 | ~£1,359 |
| 15 hours | 0.4 | £14,935 | ~£1,145 |
*Based on entry-point Band 6 salary with NHS pension. Use the calculator above for exact figures.
Band 6 NHS Pension Contribution
At Band 6 salary levels, you'll typically fall into pension contribution tier 4 (9.8%) or tier 5 (10.7%) depending on your exact salary. The pension contribution is deducted from your gross salary before tax is calculated, providing automatic tax relief.
| Pensionable Pay Range | Contribution Rate | Annual Cost at £37,338 |
|---|---|---|
| £32,692 - £49,078 | 9.8% | £3,659 |
| £49,079 - £62,924 | 10.7% | — |
Employer Contribution: Your NHS employer contributes 23.7% of your salary to your pension. For Band 6 at £37,338, that's an extra £8,849 per year.
What is NHS Band 6?
NHS Band 6 is a pay grade within the Agenda for Change (AfC) framework covering roles requiring significant experience and responsibility. Band 6 positions typically require several years of post-qualification experience and may involve leadership, specialist skills, or supervisory duties.
Common Band 6 Roles
Band 6 roles include senior staff nurses, community nurses, district nurses, health visitors, specialist practitioners (diabetes, tissue viability), occupational therapists, physiotherapists, radiographers, junior ward managers, team leaders, and clinical nurse specialists.
Band 6 Requirements
To progress to Band 6, you typically need completed preceptorship at Band 5, several years of clinical experience, developed specialist skills, and demonstrated leadership potential. Some roles require additional qualifications such as a specialist practice qualification (SPQ).
Band 6 vs Band 5 and Band 7 Take Home Pay
Understanding how Band 6 compares to adjacent bands helps with career planning.
| Band | Entry Salary | Monthly Take Home* | vs Band 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 5 | £29,970 | ~£2,010 | -£369/month |
| Band 6 | £37,338 | ~£2,379 | — |
| Band 7 | £46,148 | ~£2,818 | +£439/month |
Popular with Band 6 staff: Use our salary comparison tool to see the actual take home pay difference between your current salary and a potential Band 7 promotion.
Related NHS Pay Calculators
- Band 5 Take Home Pay Calculator - For newly qualified nurses
- Band 7 Take Home Pay Calculator - For ward managers and team leads
- Part-Time NHS Pay Calculator - Calculate pro-rata salary
- NHS Pension Contributions Calculator - See your pension tier
- NHS Scotland Pay Calculator - Scottish tax rates
- Agenda for Change Calculator - All AFC bands
- Full NHS Take Home Pay Calculator - Compare any salary