NHS pay · Band 8b · 2026/27
NHS Band 8b pay, take-home & hourly rate
How much does NHS Band 8b take home?
NHS Band 8b pays between £64,455 and £74,896 in 2025/26 (England, full-time). At the entry point that's a take-home of about £3,662 a month after tax, National Insurance and the 10.7% NHS pension — roughly £33.05/hour before any night or weekend enhancements. Typical roles: consultant practitioners, heads of service, senior managers.
Verified 12 August 2026
Band 8b take-home, broken down
Here's exactly where the money goes at the entry point of £64,455, using the correct NHS pension tier and 2025/26 income tax and National Insurance for England:
On top of this, your employer contributes £15,276 (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 8b
Band 8b 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 £33, that means:
- A weekday night hour (8pm–6am) is worth £43 instead of £33.
- A Sunday or bank-holiday hour is worth £53.
- A single 12-hour Sunday shift earns about £635.
Use the full NHS calculator to add up your own rota and see the exact monthly boost.
Band 8b roles
Band 8b typically covers: consultant practitioners, heads of service, senior managers.
2026/27 pay (confirmed +3.3%)
From 1 April 2026, a confirmed 3.3% uplift takes Band 8b entry pay to about £66,582, and the top of band to £77,368. Because the pension and enhancements are percentages of basic pay, they rise too.