Guidance

NHS Pension Scheme member contributions

An overview of the contribution rates payable by members in the NHS Pension Scheme including annual changes.

2 March 2026

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Members of the NHS Pension Scheme pay a proportion of their pensionable pay towards the cost of their pension. Our guidance supports you to help staff understand their contribution rate and how it may change annually.

 

This page is designed to give employers an overview of member contribution rates and annual changes. If you are an employee or member of the scheme, you can find out more on the NHS Pensions website.

The employer contribution rate is 23.7 per cent of members’ pensionable pay. Find out more on our employer contribution web page. 

Member contribution rates from 1 April 2026

The table below shows the member contribution rates from 1 April 2026. These take into account the CPI indexation rate of 3.8 per cent (September 2025).

Because the 2026/27 Agenda for Change pay award (3.3 per cent) is lower than the CPI from September 2025 (3.8 per cent), there will be no further amendment to the member contribution pensionable pay thresholds in 2026/27.

(Member contribution rates for 2025/26 are further down the page).

NHS Pension Scheme member contribution rates for 2026/27

A table that shows the member contribution rates for 2026/27 increased in line with CPI indexation rate of 3.8 per cent.

Click on the icon at the top right corner of the table to download as a poster. 

  •  

    Pensionable pay range from 1 April 2025 (with AfC pay award)  Pensionable pay range from 1 April 2026 (with CPI indexation of 3.8% from Sept 2025) Contribution rates from 1 April 2026, based on actual annual pensionable pay
    Up to £13,259 Up to £13,259 5.2%
    £13,260 to £27,797 £13,260 to £28,854 6.5%
    £27,798 to £33,868 £28,855 to £35,155 8.3%
    £33,869 to £50,845 £35,156 to £52,778 9.8%
    £50,846 to £65,190 £52,779 to £67,668 10.7%
    £65,191 and above £67,669 and above 12.5%

  • A two-step process to determine member contribution rates was introduced in 2025/26.

    STEP 1: Annual Indexation of pensionable pay ranges

    From 1 April every year, pensionable pay ranges will increase by the rate of CPI from the previous September. This will automatically be updated on ESR from 1 April each year.

    CPI measures the rate of inflation of consumer goods and services.

    There will be no change to the lowest tier or entry to the second tier. This is because those earning in the lowest tier will not benefit from tax relief on their pension contributions. 

    STEP 2: Agenda for change pay award for England

    If the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay award for England is announced later in the year and is higher than the CPI rate used for indexation on 1 April, there will be another adjustment to pensionable pay ranges, which is backdated to 1 April in the same way as the pay award. This two-stage approach was designed to reduce the instances of members moving into higher pension contribution tier and receiving a reduction in take home pay because of a pay award.

    If the second change (step 2) is required, a period of consultation and amendments to regulations are also required, which could take 2 months. Changes would also be required to the electronic staff record (ESR) payroll system.

  • Take home pay

    The two-step approach reduces the likelihood of moving into a higher contribution tier as a direct result of a national pay award and experiencing an overall reduction in take home pay.

    Scheme benefits

    Members should be aware that there is no detrimental impact to scheme benefits they will receive in retirement. 

    Certainty 

    This two-step approach gives certainty about when member contributions will change.

    Employer contribution rate 

    The employer contribution rate is 23.7 per cent of members’ pensionable pay. This is a key benefit that helps make the NHS Pension scheme one of one of the most comprehensive and generous schemes in the UK and an important part of the overall reward offer for NHS staff. 

    Communicating the benefits of the scheme

    Talking to staff regularly about the benefits of the pension scheme helps them to understand and appreciate the value of the scheme. We have resources to help you promote the benefits of the NHS Pension Scheme to staff:

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