NHS Pay Check

NHS Pension Contribution Calculator 2026/27

Pick your country, band and pay point to see your NHS pension contribution, its real cost after tax relief, your employer's contribution and the pension you build up each year in the 2015 scheme.

Country tier ratesReal cost after tax reliefEmployer contributionYearly build-up

Your details

Your NHS pension

You pay a month (8.3%)

£221.84

which costs you £177.47 after tax relief

Your employer pays (23.7%)£633.44/mo
Pension built up each year£593.94
After 25 years at this pay£14,848.61 a year

The projection uses the 2015 scheme's 1/54th build-up on today's pay and leaves out the yearly revaluation, so it's in today's money and on the cautious side.

What a Band 6 actually puts in, and gets

At the bottom of Band 6 in England, the payslip shows £326.33 a month for the pension at 9.8%. Because it comes off before tax, take home is only £261.07 lower than it would be without it. On top, the employer pays 23.7% of pensionable pay, about £789.19 a month. And each year at that pay builds up about £740 of yearly pension (1/54th of pensionable pay), which is then increased every April until you retire.

Contribution rates depend on your country

England and Wales share one scheme with six tiers from 5.2% to 12.5%. Scotland's scheme, run by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency, has nine tiers, and Northern Ireland's HSC scheme uses England's thresholds with higher rates. Employers pay 23.7% in England and Wales, 22.5% in Scotland and 23.2% in Northern Ireland. The full tables are on the NHS pension page.

The tier doesn't change what you build up

In the 2015 scheme everyone builds up 1/54th of their pensionable pay each year, whichever tier they're in. Higher earners pay a higher rate for the same build-up rate; that's how the scheme shares the cost.

Leaving the scheme

Opting out raises your take home by the real cost above, not by the full deduction, and you lose the employer contribution and the pension you'd have built up. Read opting out of the NHS pension before you decide.

How This Calculator Works

The contribution uses your country's 2026/27 tiers on your full-time pay point. The real cost is the difference between take home with and without the pension, using the same tax and NI engine as the main calculator. The yearly build-up is 1/54th of pensionable pay (NHSBSA 2015 Members Guide); the projection multiplies it by your years at today's pay and leaves out revaluation.

Checked 18 October 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

In England and Wales, 5.2% to 12.5% of pensionable pay depending on your tier. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rates.

Sources (checked 18 October 2026)

Related Guides

NHS pension contribution tiers

All three schemes

Early retirement calculator

Taking it before pension age

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