NHS Band 4 vs Band 6 — Salary, Pay & Roles Compared

Band 6 pays £10,765 more per year at starting salary — that's roughly £515.89 extra per month after deductions.

Salary Difference

+£10,765/yr

Take Home Difference

+£515.89/mo

Band 4Band 6

Pay

Starting salary£27,125£37,890
Top of band£28,930£44,962
Take home (start)£1,803.26£2,319.15
Take home (top)£1,869.02£2,697.27
Hourly rate£13.91£19.43

Deductions & Benefits

Pension rate6.5%9.8%
Pay steps24
Overtime eligibleYesYes

Entry Requirements

Typical training2 years3 years

Typical Roles

Examples
Assistant PractitionerNursing AssociatePharmacy TechnicianSenior Administrator
Senior Staff NurseCommunity Nurse / District NurseSenior PhysiotherapistSpecialist Midwife

What Changes from Band 4 to Band 6?

Moving from Band 4 to Band 6 means a pay increase of £10,765/year at starting salary, which works out to roughly £515.89/month more in your pocket after tax, NI and pension.

Your pension contribution rate increases from 6.5% to 9.8%, which means a slightly higher deduction — but remember, the NHS pension is one of the best in the UK, so the extra contribution builds more retirement income.

Band 6 roles typically require more experience, responsibility, or qualifications than Band 4. Check the roles table above to see what's expected at each level.

Band 4 vs Band 6 FAQ

Band 6 starts at £37,890 compared to £27,125 for Band 4 — a difference of £10,765 per year. After tax, NI and pension, that works out to roughly £515.89 more per month in your pocket.