NHS Pension Calculator 2026/27
See what you build each year in the 2015 scheme, which contribution tier you fall into, and what that contribution actually costs once tax relief is applied.
33 years to normal pension age (68).
Estimated pension at 68
£26,275a year
£2,190 a month, before any lump sum
- Contribution this year (9.8%)
- £3,659
- Income tax relief
- −£732
- Real cost to you
- £2,927
- Pension earned this year (1/54th)
- £691
A simplified estimate. It assumes your pay keeps pace with the scheme's revaluation rate and ignores any benefits held in the 1995 or 2008 sections. Your annual benefit statement on the NHSBSA portal is the authoritative figure.
NHS pension contribution tiers 2026/27
Tiers are set on pensionable pay, not total earnings.
| Pensionable pay | Contribution |
|---|---|
| £0 – £13,259 | 5.2% |
| £13,260 – £26,831 | 6.5% |
| £26,832 – £32,691 | 8.3% |
| £32,692 – £49,078 | 9.8% |
| £49,079 – £62,924 | 10.7% |
| £62,925 and above | 12.5% |
Common questions
- How much do I pay into the NHS pension?
- Between 5.2% and 12.5% of pensionable pay, tiered by earnings. Because contributions come out before income tax, a 9.8% contribution costs a basic-rate taxpayer about 7.8% of pay in real terms.
- How is the 2015 scheme pension worked out?
- It is a career average scheme. Each year you build 1/54th of that year's pensionable pay as annual pension, and each year's block is revalued until you retire. Thirty years on £40,000 builds roughly £22,200 a year.
- Can I take my NHS pension early?
- Yes, from age 55, but benefits are actuarially reduced for every year taken before normal pension age, which is linked to your State Pension age. The reduction is permanent.
- Does overtime count towards my pension?
- No. Additional hours above whole-time and non-contractual overtime are not pensionable in the 2015 scheme. Unsocial hours enhancements paid under Section 2 are.