NHS Band 5 versus Teacher M1 take-home pay comparison
An NHS Band 5 entrant earns £32,073 gross and takes home approximately £2,040 monthly (£24,483 annually), whereas a Teacher on Main 1 earns £30,000 gross and takes home £1,859 monthly (£22,312 annually). NHS Band 5 delivers £181 more monthly net pay due to higher gross pay and a lower initial pension contribution.
Starting salaries for graduate entrants in the NHS (such as newly qualified nurses, physiotherapists, and radiographers) and state schools (newly qualified classroom teachers outside London) follow national pay agreements. The figures below show the complete breakdown from gross salary to net pay.
| Pay element | NHS Band 5 (Entry) | Teacher M1 (Entry) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross annual salary | £32,073 | £30,000 | +£2,073 (NHS higher) |
| Employee pension contribution | £2,662 (8.3%) | £3,510 (11.7%) | -£848 (Teacher pays more) |
| Taxable pay after pension | £29,411 | £26,490 | +£2,921 |
| PAYE income tax | £3,368 | £2,784 | +£584 |
| National Insurance (Class 1) | £1,560 | £1,394 | +£166 |
| Total statutory deductions | £7,590 | £7,688 | -£98 |
| Annual take-home pay | £24,483 | £22,312 | +£2,171 (NHS higher) |
| Monthly take-home pay | £2,040 | £1,859 | +£181 / month |
| Weekly take-home pay | £471 | £429 | +£42 / week |
Key differences between NHS and teacher pension schemes
Pension schemes account for the largest single divergence in net take-home pay between these two public sector professions:
- NHS Pension Scheme: Operates a tiered employee contribution schedule. For pensionable earnings of £32,073, the member contribution rate is 8.3%, costing £2,662 per year.
- Teachers' Pension Scheme: Classroom teachers pay a flat 11.7% member contribution rate on basic earnings up to £46,525, which totals £3,510 on an M1 starting salary.
- Tax Relief Mechanism: Both schemes operate as net pay arrangements. Pension contributions are deducted from gross pay prior to PAYE income tax assessment, granting tax relief automatically at your marginal rate.
Career progression: NHS Band 5 versus Teacher Upper Pay Range
While an NHS Band 5 position starts with higher initial net pay, the longer-term salary trajectory differs substantially across the two careers:
- NHS Band 5 progression: Band 5 consists of three pay points in England, advancing from £32,073 to £34,592 after two years, and reaching £39,043 after four years. Promotion to Band 6 (Senior Nurse, Specialist) starts at £39,959 and reaches £48,117. Detailed point breakdowns are available on the NHS Band 5 pay page.
- Classroom teacher progression: Teachers advance annually across the Main Pay Range from M1 (£30,000) through M6 (£41,333). Experienced teachers can then apply to move onto the Upper Pay Range (UPR1 at £43,266 to UPR3 at £46,525). Individual pay points can be viewed on the Teacher M1 pay page.