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

NHS Band 5 in London

Registered Nurse / Allied Health Professional. Gross salary £36,441 (inc. £5,392 HCAS). Net take-home after pension: £2,182/month. Rent takes 94% of take-home after pension. Shared accommodation strongly recommended.

Gross
£36,441
annual AfC salary
Net after pension
£2,182
per month
Pension input
£298
employee / month
After rent
£132
per month
Unaffordable solo — rent takes 94% of take-home after pension. Consider a shared house or outer-area flat.

Monthly Budget Breakdown — NHS Band 5 in London

Item Amount
AfC Base Salary £31,049/yr
HCAS Supplement +£5,392/yr
Total Gross £36,441/yr
Income Tax −£398/mo
National Insurance −£159/mo
NHS Pension (9.8%) −£298/mo
Net take-home £2,182/mo
Rent (1-bed median) −£2,050/mo
Council tax −£165/mo
Transport −£185/mo
Remaining −£218/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%) £298/mo
Employer contribution (23.7%) £720/mo
Total pension input £1,018/mo
30-Year Projection (CARE Scheme)
Annual contributions (combined) £12,216/yr
Total contributions over 30 years £366,480
Est. annual pension at retirement £20,245/yr
Should I opt out of the NHS pension?

Opting out increases take-home by £298/month, but you permanently lose the NHS employer contribution of £720/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.

High Cost Area Supplement — London

The NHS HCAS compensates staff for higher living costs in and around London. It is paid on top of the AfC base salary and varies by zone.

Inner London
£5,392
per year supplement
Outer London
£3,839
per year supplement
Fringe Zone
£1,136
per year (SE England)

HCAS rates are set annually by NHS Employers under the AfC pay circular. The supplement is non-pensionable for some scheme members — check your individual contract.

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 London on £35,000? Software Engineer salary in London

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the take-home pay for an NHS Band 5 in London? +
An NHS Band 5 in London earns £36,441 gross (including £5,392 HCAS supplement). Net take-home before pension deduction: £2,480/month. After the 9.8% pension contribution of £298/month, take-home is £2,182/month.
What does the NHS pension contribute on a Band 5 salary? +
On an NHS Band 5 salary of £36,441, the employee pays £298/month (9.8%) and the NHS employer adds £720/month (23.7%) into the 2015 Career Average (CARE) scheme. Combined annual pension input: £12,216/year. After 30 years the CARE scheme projects an estimated annual pension of approximately £20,245/year at retirement.
Can an NHS Band 5 afford to live alone in London? +
On £2,182/month net after pension, an NHS Band 5 in London has £132/month remaining after average 1-bed rent of £2,050/month. Rent-to-income ratio: 94%. Rent takes 94% of take-home after pension. Shared accommodation strongly recommended.
What is the HCAS for NHS Band 5 in London? +
NHS Band 5 staff in London receive a High Cost Area Supplement of £5,392/year, bringing total gross to £36,441. Zone rates: Inner London £5,392, Outer London £3,839, Fringe £1,136.