NHS pay · Band 4 · 2026/27
NHS Band 4 pay, take-home & hourly rate
How much does NHS Band 4 take home?
NHS Band 4 pays between £27,485 and £30,162 in 2025/26 (England, full-time). At the entry point that's a take-home of about £1,835 a month after tax, National Insurance and the 6.5% NHS pension — roughly £14.09/hour before any night or weekend enhancements. Typical roles: assistant practitioners, pharmacy technicians, dental nurses.
Verified 12 August 2026
Band 4 take-home, broken down
Here's exactly where the money goes at the entry point of £27,485, using the correct NHS pension tier and 2025/26 income tax and National Insurance for England:
On top of this, your employer contributes £6,514 (23.7%) into your NHS pension — that's deferred pay you don't see on your payslip but genuinely own.
What nights & weekends add at Band 4
Band 4 unsocial-hours enhancements (Section 2) are +30% for weekday nights and Saturdays, and +60% for Sundays and bank holidays. At the entry hourly rate of £14, that means:
- A weekday night hour (8pm–6am) is worth £18 instead of £14.
- A Sunday or bank-holiday hour is worth £23.
- A single 12-hour Sunday shift earns about £271.
Use the full NHS calculator to add up your own rota and see the exact monthly boost.
Band 4 roles
Band 4 typically covers: assistant practitioners, pharmacy technicians, dental nurses.
2026/27 pay (confirmed +3.3%)
From 1 April 2026, a confirmed 3.3% uplift takes Band 4 entry pay to about £28,392, and the top of band to £31,157. Because the pension and enhancements are percentages of basic pay, they rise too.