NHS Band 6 Take Home Pay Calculator 2026/27

Band 6 covers senior clinical staff including senior nurses, specialist practitioners and team leaders. Starting salary is £39,959 for 2026/27.

Starting Salary

£39,959

Top of Band

£48,117

Starting Take Home

£2,429.77/mo

Top Take Home

£2,865.96/mo

Band 6 Take Home Pay Table 2026/27

StepGross SalaryMonthly Take Home
Step 1£39,959£2,429.77
Step 2£42,170£2,547.99
Step 3£48,117£2,865.96

Based on standard 37.5-hour week, Rest of UK (no HCAS), with NHS pension, no student loan. Use calculator below for exact figures.

Calculate Your Exact Band 6 Take Home Pay

England 2026/27

Monthly Take Home Pay

Net Monthly Pay

£2,429.77

£560.72/week · £29,157.29/year

Income

Basic Pay£3,329.92
Gross Pay£3,329.92

Deductions

Income Tax-£391.22
National Insurance (8%)-£182.59
NHS Pension (9.8%)-£326.33
Standard Hourly Rate£20.49
Effective Tax Rate13.0%

Band 6 Jobs — Roles & Qualifications

Here are the typical roles you'll find at Band 6, what qualifications you need, and how long it takes to get there.

Senior Staff Nurse

Takes charge of shifts and supervises junior nurses, managing complex patient caseloads and acting as a clinical role model within the ward or department.

BSc (Hons) Nursing degreeMinimum 2 years post-registration experienceNMC registration

Training

3 years

Registration

NMC

Setting

Hospital

Community Nurse / District Nurse

Delivers nursing care to patients in their own homes, managing long-term conditions, administering treatments, and coordinating with GPs and social services to keep people well in the community.

BSc (Hons) Nursing degreeSpecialist Practitioner Qualification in District NursingNMC registration

Training

3 years

Registration

NMC

Setting

Community

Senior Physiotherapist

Manages a specialist clinical caseload, mentors junior physiotherapists, and contributes to service development and audit within a specific area such as musculoskeletal or respiratory care.

BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy degreeMinimum 2 years post-registration experienceHCPC registration

Training

3 years

Registration

HCPC

Setting

Hospital & Community

Specialist Midwife

Provides expert midwifery care in a specialist area such as perinatal mental health, bereavement, or substance misuse, supporting women with complex needs throughout their pregnancy journey.

BSc (Hons) Midwifery degreeSpecialist experience and trainingNMC registration

Training

3 years

Registration

NMC

Setting

Hospital

Senior Radiographer

Leads on imaging protocols within a modality such as CT or MRI, supervises junior radiographers, and ensures quality assurance standards are maintained across the imaging department.

BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography degreeMinimum 2 years post-registration experienceHCPC registration

Training

3 years

Registration

HCPC

Setting

Hospital

Team Leader / Ward Sister

Manages the day-to-day running of a ward or clinical team, overseeing staffing rotas, patient flow, and clinical standards while providing hands-on nursing care during busy periods.

BSc (Hons) Nursing degreeManagement and leadership experienceNMC registration

Training

3 years

Registration

NMC

Setting

Hospital

Senior Occupational Therapist

Holds a specialist caseload in an area such as hand therapy, neurology, or mental health, supervises junior staff, and leads on service improvement within the occupational therapy team.

BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy degreeMinimum 2 years post-registration experienceHCPC registration

Training

3 years

Registration

HCPC

Setting

Hospital & Community

Specialist Nurse

Delivers expert nursing care in a defined clinical speciality such as diabetes, tissue viability, or infection control, providing advice and education to patients and colleagues.

BSc (Hons) Nursing degreePost-registration specialist qualificationNMC registration

Training

3-4 years

Registration

NMC

Setting

Hospital & Community

Theatre Nurse

Provides specialist perioperative nursing care in operating theatres, working as a scrub, anaesthetic, or recovery nurse to ensure patient safety throughout surgical procedures.

BSc (Hons) Nursing degreeTheatre experienceNMC registration

Training

3 years

Registration

NMC

Setting

Hospital

Mental Health Nurse (Specialist)

Provides specialist mental health nursing interventions for complex cases such as forensic psychiatry, eating disorders, or crisis resolution, often leading a defined caseload.

BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing degreeSpecialist experienceNMC registration

Training

3-4 years

Registration

NMC

Setting

Hospital & Community

Practice Manager

Manages the day-to-day operations of a GP practice or clinical service, overseeing staffing, finances, compliance, and patient experience to ensure efficient service delivery.

Degree-level qualification or equivalent experienceManagement experience in healthcare

Training

3 years

Setting

GP Practice

Advanced Practitioner

Practises at an enhanced level within their profession, undertaking advanced clinical assessments, managing complex caseloads, and contributing to service development and staff education.

BSc (Hons) in relevant health professionPostgraduate qualification or working towards MScNMC or HCPC registration

Training

4-5 years

Registration

NMC

Setting

Hospital & Community

Clinical Educator

Develops and delivers training programmes for clinical staff, supports learners on placement, and ensures education standards align with regulatory and professional requirements.

BSc (Hons) Nursing or AHP degreeTeaching or mentorship qualificationNMC or HCPC registration

Training

3-4 years

Registration

NMC

Setting

Hospital

Frequently Asked Questions — Band 6

NHS Band 6 salary starts at £39,959 and rises to £48,117 at the top of the band for 2026/27. Band 6 has 3 pay points.

Thinking about moving bands?

Compare Band 6against other bands — see the salary difference, take-home impact, and what qualifications you'll need.

Compare Band 6 vs Band 7