NHS Overtime Calculator UK
Work out your weekday overtime, Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday NHS pay against the 2026/27 Agenda for Change bands — instantly, without spreadsheets.
Open the calculator
Enter your pay scale point. We do the time-and-a-third maths plus tax estimate.
Open the NHS overtime calculator →How NHS overtime is paid in 2026/27
NHS overtime under Agenda for Change in England is governed by the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook (Section 3). For staff on Bands 1-7 working full-time hours over 37.5 per week, the rates are simple in principle: time and a third (1.33x) for weekday overtime, time and a half (1.5x) for Saturday work, and double time (2x) for Sunday and bank holiday work.
Bands 8a and above don't receive overtime payments — they get time off in lieu (TOIL) instead. The rates apply to your basic hourly pay calculated from your annual band point divided by 1,950 hours (37.5 hours/week × 52 weeks).
Here is the quick reference. Use it alongside the NHS overtime calculator to work the numbers exactly.
| When you work overtime | Multiplier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday-Friday, 6am-8pm | 1.33x | Time and a third (basic weekday overtime) |
| Saturday, any time | 1.5x | Time and a half |
| Sunday, any time | 2.0x | Double time |
| Bank holiday, any time | 2.0x | Double time |
| Unsocial hours (Mon-Fri 8pm-6am) | +30% on basic | Section 2 unsocial-hours payment, separate from overtime |
| On-call (Bands 1-7) | Flat rate + callout | Per local agreement; check your contract |
How to calculate NHS overtime in 60 seconds
- Find your annual pay. Look up your AfC band and step on the 2026/27 pay scale. A Band 5 step 2 nurse in England earns £30,810/year.
- Get your hourly rate. Annual pay ÷ 1,950 (37.5 hr/wk × 52 wk) = hourly rate. £30,810 ÷ 1,950 = £15.80/hr.
- Pick your multiplier. Weekday overtime = 1.33x. Saturday = 1.5x. Sunday/bank holiday = 2x.
- Multiply. £15.80 × 1.33 = £21.01/hr weekday overtime. A 4-hour Saturday shift = £15.80 × 1.5 × 4 = £94.80 gross.
- Estimate take-home. Subtract income tax (20% basic, 40% higher), NI, and pension. The overtime calculator does steps 2-5 automatically and includes the latest 2025/26 tax thresholds.
NHS Agenda for Change 2026/27 pay scales — key points
The 2026/27 NHS pay award (England) applied from April 2026. Quick reference for the most common bands:
- Band 2 (HCA, ward clerk): £24,169 starting → £25,674 top of scale
- Band 5 (newly-qualified nurse): £30,279 starting → £37,338 top (after 4 years)
- Band 6 (specialist nurse, AHP): £38,682 starting → £46,580 top (after 5 years)
- Band 7 (advanced practitioner, ward sister): £47,810 starting → £54,710 top (after 5 years)
- Band 8a (matron, advanced clinical): £55,690 starting (no overtime — TOIL only)
For the full 2026/27 NHS pay scale and the broader pay rise context see UK Police & NHS Pay Scales 2026. For the unsocial-hours guide see NHS AfC Unsocial Hours Pay Guide.
Frequently asked questions
What's the NHS overtime rate for Saturdays?
Time and a half (1.5x your basic hourly rate) for any hours worked on a Saturday under Agenda for Change Section 2. This applies to all bands eligible for overtime (Bands 1-7).
What's the NHS overtime rate for Sundays and bank holidays?
Double time (2x). The same multiplier applies to all bank holidays in England, including Easter Monday, May Day, Spring and August bank holidays, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day.
Do Bands 8a and above get NHS overtime?
No — Bands 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d and 9 receive time off in lieu (TOIL) at the same multiplier rates instead of paid overtime, under Section 3 of the NHS Terms and Conditions Handbook.
Are unsocial hours payments the same as overtime?
No. Unsocial hours are a separate Section 2 enhancement that applies to your basic rostered hours worked between 8pm-6am Monday-Friday or anytime Saturday/Sunday. Overtime is for hours worked above your contracted weekly hours. You can earn both: basic + unsocial hours uplift, then overtime multiplier on hours above your contract.
Does the calculator deduct tax, NI, and pension?
Yes. It estimates 20% income tax plus NHS-specific NI and 9.8% NHS pension contributions (Tier 4 default — adjustable) against UK 2025/26 thresholds. Higher-rate earners can adjust manually.
Can I track my NHS overtime alongside the calculator?
Yes — the Overtime Live app tracks your live shift earnings on your iPhone or Android lock screen, supports NHS Saturday/Sunday/bank-holiday multipliers out of the box, and gives you a running total without opening the app. Free on the App Store and Google Play.
Related
Track your shifts on Overtime Live
The calculator above is great for one-off questions. For tracking every weekday/Saturday/Sunday/bank holiday shift through the rota with the right multiplier applied automatically, download the free Overtime Live app: