Take Home Pay
Take Home Pay
This NHS Northern Ireland pay calculator is for Agenda for Change staff in Health and Social Care Northern Ireland who need 2026/27 take-home pay. Enter AfC band, step, hours, pension and tax inputs to estimate gross salary, NHS Pension contributions, Income Tax, National Insurance and net monthly and annual pay under NI pay arrangements. Use it when comparing HSC posts with England or Scotland, changing hours, or checking a pay rise award against your payslip. Outputs show deduction lines and take-home so Northern Ireland AfC salary decisions rest on clear, current figures rather than England-only tables.
NHSPRB-aligned / Executive confirmation pending. No HCAS in NI. Uses England AfC cash scales.
Estimated net monthly pay (NI)
£0
NHSPRB 3.3% recommended 2026/27 (England-aligned; NI Executive confirmation pending). HSC NI typically mirrors England AfC cash rates. No HCAS in Northern Ireland. Tax/NI use HMRC rUK rules. Estimate only — your HSC payslip is authoritative.
Sixty free tools covering Agenda for Change pay, the NHS Pension Scheme, tax, leave, absence and leaving the NHS — updated for 2026/27. Start from a pillar hub, then drill into the cluster that matches your question.
Health and Social Care (HSC) staff in Northern Ireland are paid under Agenda for Change (AfC) — the same national grading system used across the NHS for nurses, midwives, AHPs, healthcare assistants, ambulance staff, and most non-medical roles. Doctors, dentists and very senior managers sit outside AfC. For 2026/27, the working reference for HSC pay points matches England cash rates after the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) recommended a consolidated 3.3% uplift from 1 April 2026. England and Wales have confirmed and implemented that award. In Northern Ireland, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has publicly committed to proceeding with the same 3.3% headline figure as a first priority, but formal Executive budget confirmation still governs when the uplift lands in HSC payslips. Until your Trust or Shared Services circular confirms implementation, treat England-aligned tables as the best available planning reference — not a guarantee of April payroll timing.
Use the calculator above to estimate monthly and annual take-home after UK Income Tax, Class 1 National Insurance, HSC Pension Scheme contributions and any student loan. Outputs are estimates only. Always reconcile against your Business Services Organisation (BSO) / HSC payroll payslip and any circular issued by your employing organisation.
Primary sources for this guide include the NHSPRB Thirty-Ninth Report 2026, NHS Employers pay scales for 2026/27, the Department of Health NI ministerial statement, and independent HSC pay summaries such as Casomo’s Northern Ireland pay bands guide.
In Northern Ireland you are employed by an HSC organisation, not an English NHS trust. That organisational difference does not change the AfC band numbering, pay-step structure, standard 37.5-hour week, or core handbook terms. Your job is evaluated under the NHS Job Evaluation Scheme; your band and pay point determine basic salary before overtime, unsocial-hours enhancements and other allowances.
Pay awards for AfC staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland sit under the NHSPRB remits. The Review Body recommends; the NI Minister of Health decides whether — and when — to accept and fund the recommendation through the Executive budget process. That is why HSC awards have historically arrived later than England even when the cash percentages eventually match.
The NHSPRB’s 2026/27 recommendation is a consolidated 3.3% increase on all AfC pay points with effect from 1 April 2026. “Consolidated” means the uplift is built into basic pay (and therefore into overtime and many enhancements), not paid as a one-off non-consolidated lump sum. England confirmed acceptance on 12 February 2026 and paid the uplift in April salaries. Wales also accepted the recommendation. Northern Ireland’s Minister has reaffirmed commitment to a 3.3% headline award and to preparatory payroll work, while being explicit that delivery depends on budgetary clarity for the Department of Health.
Read the Review Body report on GOV.UK and England implementation detail via NHS Employers’ PRB award announcement.
HSC colleagues will recognise the lag pattern. The 2025/26 AfC award (3.6% recommended) was confirmed later in Northern Ireland than in England. In practice, the 2025/26 settlement for HSC was announced in November 2025 and paid in February 2026 with backpay to 1 April 2025. That history matters for budgeting: if 2026/27 confirmation arrives after April, staff should expect arrears to the effective date once the circular is issued — but you should not spend anticipated arrears until payroll confirms the amount and tax treatment.
When arrears arrive in a single month, PAYE and National Insurance can look “high” on that payslip because the arrears are taxed in the period paid. Over the tax year the position usually corrects via your tax code or Self Assessment if required. Pension contributions on arrears follow HSC Pension Scheme rules for pensionable pay.
Until a distinct NI circular publishes different cash rates, HSC planning tables use the same England AfC annual figures published by NHS Employers for 2026/27. Band 2 is a single rate of £25,272. Band 5 runs from £32,073 (entry) through £34,592 (intermediate) to £39,043 (top). There is no High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) in Northern Ireland — London Inner / Outer / Fringe percentages do not apply to HSC posts.
| Band | Entry | Intermediate | Top of band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 | — | £25,272 |
| Band 3 | £25,760 | — | £27,476 |
| Band 4 | £28,392 | — | £31,157 |
| Band 5 | £32,073 | £34,592 | £39,043 |
| Band 6 | £39,959 | £42,170 | £48,117 |
| Band 7 | £49,387 | £51,932 | £56,515 |
| Band 8a | £57,528 | £60,417 | £64,750 |
| Band 8b | £66,582 | £70,896 | £77,368 |
| Band 8c | £79,504 | £84,346 | £91,609 |
| Band 8d | £94,356 | £100,140 | £108,814 |
| Band 9 | £112,782 | £119,583 | £129,783 |
Figures: England AfC annual rates from 1 April 2026 as published by NHS Employers, used as the HSC working reference pending NI Executive confirmation. Cross-check summaries at Casomo — NHS Northern Ireland pay.
AfC hourly rates divide annual salary by the standard NHS week of 37.5 hours across the year. Illustrative England hourly rates for 2026/27 include Band 2 at £12.92, Band 5 entry at £16.40 rising to £19.97 at top of band, and Band 7 from £25.26 to £28.90. Part-time staff are paid pro rata on contracted hours. Unsocial-hours payments, overtime and on-call follow the AfC handbook methodology used by HSC employers; allowance tables for on-call and sleeping-in are normally uplifted in line with the main award once the NI circular is issued.
High Cost Area Supplement is an England-only mechanism for Inner London (20%), Outer London (15%) and Fringe (5%), each with minimum and maximum cash caps. HSC staff in Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, Craigavon, Antrim, Enniskillen and elsewhere receive basic AfC rates without an area weighting. When colleagues compare “NHS pay in London vs Belfast”, remember that London net pay includes HCAS on top of the same band table — Northern Ireland does not.
Take-home (net) pay is what remains after Income Tax under PAYE, employee Class 1 National Insurance, HSC Pension Scheme contributions, and any student loan or salary-sacrifice deductions. Northern Ireland uses the same Income Tax rates and bands as England and Wales (the “rest of UK” system). Scottish Income Tax bands do not apply to HSC staff living and working as Northern Ireland taxpayers.
For a standard Personal Allowance of £12,570 (tax code 1257L for many full-time staff without adjustments), non-savings income is taxed at 20% basic rate, 40% higher rate and 45% additional rate using UK thresholds. The Personal Allowance tapers by £1 for every £2 of adjusted net income above £100,000 and is fully withdrawn by £125,140. Employee National Insurance remains a UK reserved matter: Class 1 primary contributions are charged on earnings between the Primary Threshold and Upper Earnings Limit at the main rate, then at the additional rate above the UEL. Exact weekly/monthly thresholds for 2026/27 are set in HMRC tables — the calculator applies the current year rates when you select Northern Ireland / UK tax.
Official UK tax guidance is maintained on GOV.UK Income Tax rates and bands. National Insurance overview sits at GOV.UK National Insurance rates.
HSC staff in Northern Ireland belong to the HSC Pension Scheme, administered through the Business Services Organisation. For most AfC staff the modern CARE arrangements mirror the wider NHS Pension Scheme design: tiered employee contribution rates linked to pensionable pay, employer contributions set separately, and tax relief via a net-pay arrangement (contributions reduce taxable pay). Contribution tiers can change each April; always check the rate printed on your payslip and any BSO / HSC Pension circular for 2026/27.
Pensionable pay typically includes basic salary and many enhancements. Unsocial-hours payments are usually pensionable; some allowances are not. If you are unsure whether a payment is pensionable, ask payroll — not a colleague’s payslip from a different Trust. Opting out reduces take-home in the short term only if you misunderstand net-pay tax relief; in practice opting out increases taxable pay and permanently reduces future pension. Seek independent advice before leaving the scheme.
A newly qualified nurse or AHP on Band 5 entry at £32,073 gross (England-aligned reference) will see deductions for pension at the applicable tier for that pensionable pay, Income Tax on taxable pay after Personal Allowance and net-pay pension relief, and Class 1 NICs on earnings above the Primary Threshold. Moving to Band 5 top (£39,043) increases all three deductions, but net pay still rises. Adding regular unsocial-hours enhancements increases gross, pensionable pay and tax/NI in the same month. The calculator above is designed for this scenario modelling; your February arrears month (if any) will not look like a normal month.
Most AfC colleagues work for one of the five geographical HSC Trusts or the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Corporate and regional employers also use AfC for eligible posts. Knowing your employer matters for payroll queries, incremental progression dates, and local enhancement policies — not for the national band cash rates.
Organisation directories and news are available via the Department of Health (Northern Ireland) and individual Trust websites under the HSCNI family. Payroll-specific circulars are usually issued internally; ask your line manager or payroll inbox when award confirmation is published.
Four-nation pay is easy to misread on social media. Use this comparison when checking offers or relocation packages.
| Topic | Northern Ireland (HSC) | England | Wales | Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AfC framework | Yes — HSC employers | Yes — NHS trusts / ICBs | Yes — NHS Wales | Yes — NHS Scotland (separate negotiations) |
| 2026/27 headline | 3.3% NHSPRB recommended; Ministerial commitment; Executive confirmation for payroll timing | 3.3% confirmed; paid April 2026 | 3.3% accepted; RLW interaction for lowest paid | Separate Scottish AfC deal / tables (often higher cash rates) |
| Band cash rates | England-aligned working reference (e.g. Band 5 £32,073–£39,043) | Published NHS Employers tables | Closely aligned; check Welsh circulars | Scotland-specific pay points |
| HCAS / London weighting | None | Inner / Outer / Fringe | Limited fringe arrangements where applicable | No HCAS equivalent |
| Income Tax | UK (England & Wales) rates | UK rates | UK rates | Scottish Income Tax (six bands) |
| Pension administration | HSC Pension Scheme (BSO) | NHS Pension Scheme (NHSBSA) | NHS Pension (Wales arrangements) | SPPA (Scottish Public Pensions Agency) |
Scotland’s take-home difference is driven heavily by tax bands even when gross AfC pay is comparable; Northern Ireland staff comparing with Glasgow colleagues must model Scottish Income Tax separately. England colleagues in London may show higher gross solely because of HCAS. Wales has accepted the 3.3% recommendation and has additional Real Living Wage commitments for the lowest-paid staff — see the Welsh Government written statement.
Basic band pay is only part of many clinical rotas. Night, Saturday and Sunday enhancements under the AfC handbook increase gross earnings and usually increase pensionable pay. Overtime rates apply above contracted hours according to handbook rules. On-call and sleeping-in allowances are expected to rise with the main award percentage once NI tables are published; until then, use existing local rates and treat any 3.3% uplift as provisional.
Pay progression between entry, intermediate and top points depends on time in post and satisfactory appraisal against Knowledge and Skills Framework (or local equivalent) standards. Band 5 typically reaches intermediate after two years and top after a further two years. Bands 6–9 generally take two years to intermediate and three further years to top. Promotion normally resets you to the minimum of the new band and resets your pay-step date.
When the 2026/27 award is implemented — whether in April or later with arrears — check these lines on your first uplifted payslip:
Keep PDFs of payslips covering the arrears month and the following normal month. They are essential if you need payroll to correct underpayments or if you complete a tax return with employment income from multiple sources.
Cash AfC pay points for HSC Northern Ireland are ordinarily aligned with England. For 2026/27 the working reference is the England table after the 3.3% NHSPRB recommendation (Band 2 £25,272; Band 5 £32,073–£39,043, and so on). The organisational employer is an HSC body, not an English trust, and there is no HCAS. Formal 2026/27 confirmation and payment timing remain subject to the NI Executive budget process even though the Minister has committed to the 3.3% headline.
The NHSPRB recommended 3.3%. England and Wales have confirmed. In Northern Ireland, the Health Minister has reaffirmed commitment to a 3.3% award as a departmental priority and asked officials to prepare implementation, while stating that delivery depends on budgetary clarity. Watch for a Department of Health / HSC payroll circular before treating April payslips as guaranteed.
The 2025/26 award followed the familiar delayed pattern: announcement later than England, with payment in February 2026 including backpay to April 2025. That precedent is why many HSC staff budget cautiously around April and expect a possible arrears payment if confirmation is late.
No. HCAS zones exist only in England (and limited fringe arrangements in parts of the English system). HSC staff receive basic AfC rates without Inner London, Outer London or Fringe supplements.
Northern Ireland taxpayers use the same Income Tax rates as England and Wales. You do not use Scottish Income Tax bands. National Insurance is UK-wide. Pension membership is through the HSC Pension Scheme administered via BSO.
Using the England-aligned working reference: Band 5 is £32,073 / £34,592 / £39,043; Band 6 is £39,959 / £42,170 / £48,117. Confirm against the NI circular once published and against NHS Employers’ 2026/27 scales.
Your employer is an HSC organisation (Trust, NIAS, BSO or other HSC body). Colloquially people say “NHS pay” because AfC is the UK health service pay system, but your contract and payroll identity are HSC Northern Ireland.
If the Executive confirms an award effective from 1 April 2026 but payroll implements later, arrears to the effective date are the normal approach — as with February 2026 payment of the 2025/26 award. Exact timing and tax treatment appear on the implementing circular and payslip.
Enter your band, pay point, hours, pension membership and student loan plan in the calculator above. Then compare the estimate with a recent payslip. Adjust for regular enhancements if you work nights or weekends. For official rates, rely on NHS Employers tables and HSC circulars; for NI-specific commentary see Casomo and Department of Health NI news pages.
This guide is for information only and is not financial, tax or employment advice. HSC payroll, BSO pensions and HMRC remain the authoritative sources for your personal position.