In short
On Agenda for Change, part-time staff get the same pay and conditions as full-time staff, pro rata to their hours. Your salary is your band's full-time rate multiplied by your hours over 37.5 (36 in Scotland). But your take home is a bigger share than your hours, because tax, NI and pension don't scale down in the same way.
Part-time take home, Band 5 England (2026/27)
| Hours a week | Pay | Pension rate | Take home a month | Share of full-time take home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37.5 hours (100%) | £32,073 | 8.3% | £2,040 | 100% |
| 30 hours (80%) | £25,658 | 6.5% | £1,722 | 84% |
| 22.5 hours (60%) | £19,244 | 6.5% | £1,365 | 67% |
| 15 hours (40%) | £12,829 | 5.2% | £1,012 | 50% |
At 22.5 hours you earn 60% of full-time pay but keep 67% of full-time take home. Two reasons: your personal allowance and NI threshold aren't pro rata, so a bigger share of your pay is untaxed, and your NHS pension rate is set on what you actually earn, which can put you in a lower tier (6.5% instead of 8.3% here). Your hourly rate is the same as a full-timer's: £16.40 at the bottom of Band 5.
London weighting
High Cost Area Supplement is pro rata too, and so are its minimum and maximum. A Band 5 on 22.5 hours in inner London gets £3,849 a year, 60% of the full-time amount. See the London weighting guide.
Extra hours: plain time first
If you work more than your contracted hours, the extra hours are paid at your normal hourly rate until you've worked 37.5 hours that week. Only hours beyond the full-time week are overtime at time and a half (double time on public holidays). Unsocial hours enhancements still apply to any hours worked at night, at weekends or on public holidays. See the overtime calculator.
Annual leave and public holidays in hours
Part-time leave is worked out in hours, so it's fair whatever length your shifts are. On 22.5 hours a week with less than five years' service you get 121.5 hours of annual leave (27 days pro rata) plus public holiday entitlement of 37.5 hours: the 8 public holidays pro rata, rounded up to the nearest half day. The public holiday hours are added to your leave, and you use them for any public holidays you'd normally work. See the annual leave calculator.
Pension
You build up pension at the same rate as everyone, 1/54th of your actual pensionable pay each year, so part-time years build up less in pounds. Your contribution rate is set on your actual pay, not the full-time equivalent.
Sick pay and maternity pay
These are pro rata to your pay, with the same entitlement periods as full-time staff.
Student loan
Repayments are worked out on each month's pay, so a month with extra shifts can trigger a repayment even if your yearly pay is under the threshold. You can claim it back after the tax year ends. See the student loan guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is NHS part-time pay worked out?
Do part-time NHS staff get overtime?
Why is my part-time take home more than my share of hours?
How much annual leave do part-time NHS staff get?
Do part-time staff get London weighting?
Sources (checked 18 October 2026)
- NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook (version 63) (NHS Employers)
- Pay scales for 2026/27 (NHS Employers)
- NHS Pension Scheme member contributions (NHS Employers)
- NHS Pension Scheme 2015 Members Guide (version 13, May 2024) (NHS Business Services Authority)
- Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027 (HM Revenue & Customs)
- Repaying your student loan: getting a refund (GOV.UK)
- NHS terms and conditions: Agenda for Change (Royal College of Nursing)
See your own payslip, with your band and shifts.
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