NHS Band 5 · Exeter · Agenda for Change 2025/26

NHS Band 5 in Exeter

Registered Nurse / Allied Health Professional. Gross salary £31,049. Net take-home after pension: £1,902/month. Solo 1-bed living is stressed — rent takes 53% of take-home.

Gross
£31,049
annual AfC salary
Net after pension
£1,902
per month
Pension input
£254
employee / month
After rent
£902
per month
Stressed — rent takes 53% of take-home after pension. Consider a shared house or outer-area flat.

Monthly Budget Breakdown — NHS Band 5 in Exeter

Item Amount
AfC Base Salary £31,049/yr
Income Tax −£308/mo
National Insurance −£123/mo
NHS Pension (9.8%) −£254/mo
Net take-home £1,902/mo
Rent (1-bed median) −£1,000/mo
Council tax −£125/mo
Transport −£68/mo
Remaining £709/mo

Tax computed using HMRC 2025/26 rates. Rent = Rightmove Q4 2025 median. All figures rounded to nearest £1.

NHS Pension Breakdown

Monthly Contributions
Employee contribution (9.8%) £254/mo
Employer contribution (23.7%) £613/mo
Total pension input £867/mo
30-Year Projection (CARE Scheme)
Annual contributions (combined) £10,404/yr
Total contributions over 30 years £312,120
Est. annual pension at retirement £17,249/yr
Should I opt out of the NHS pension?

Opting out increases take-home by £254/month, but you permanently lose the NHS employer contribution of £613/month and the security of a defined-benefit guarantee. The 2015 CARE scheme provides an inflation-linked pension for life with no investment risk. For most NHS staff, staying enrolled is strongly recommended. If short-term cash flow is the concern, explore salary sacrifice for other costs (e.g. cycle-to-work, car leasing) before opting out.

NHS Band 5 in Other Cities

Manchester Birmingham Bristol Edinburgh Glasgow

Career Progression

↓ Band 4 — £27,822/yr ↑ Band 6 — £40,701/yr

Affordability & Comparisons

NHS Band 5 — all cities All NHS pay bands Can I afford Exeter on £30,000? Software Engineer salary in Exeter

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the take-home pay for an NHS Band 5 in Exeter? +
An NHS Band 5 in Exeter earns £31,049 gross. Net take-home before pension deduction: £2,156/month. After the 9.8% pension contribution of £254/month, take-home is £1,902/month.
What does the NHS pension contribute on a Band 5 salary? +
On an NHS Band 5 salary of £31,049, the employee pays £254/month (9.8%) and the NHS employer adds £613/month (23.7%) into the 2015 Career Average (CARE) scheme. Combined annual pension input: £10,404/year. After 30 years the CARE scheme projects an estimated annual pension of approximately £17,249/year at retirement.
Can an NHS Band 5 afford to live alone in Exeter? +
On £1,902/month net after pension, an NHS Band 5 in Exeter has £902/month remaining after average 1-bed rent of £1,000/month. Rent-to-income ratio: 53%. Solo 1-bed living is stressed — rent takes 53% of take-home.
What is the HCAS for NHS Band 5 in Exeter? +
Exeter does not qualify for the NHS High Cost Area Supplement. The NHS Band 5 salary here is the standard Agenda for Change rate of £31,049. HCAS is only payable in Inner London, Outer London, and designated fringe areas of South East England.