All NHS Pension Scheme members pay a percentage of their pensionable pay to the scheme each month. This is called a contribution rate.
The amount you pay into your pension changes on 1 April 2026. On this page you can find more information on your current contribution rate.
Your contributions from 1 April 2026
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed that salary ranges will be automatically reviewed each year on 1 April. These reviews will be based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), except for the lowest tier.
The lowest tier already accounts for members who may not earn enough to benefit from tax relief on their pension contributions.
The confirmed Agenda for Change pay award for England is lower than the CPI increase so contribution tiers have been updated to reflect CPI.
The DHSC has updated:
- the pensionable pay ranges used to decide how much you contribute to your pension
- the percentage of your earnings you’ll pay to be a member of the Scheme
The changes help to reduce the gap between the different tiers of contribution rates.
| Pensionable pay range from 1 April 2026 | Contribution rates from 1 April 2026, based on actual annual pensionable pay |
|---|---|
| Up to £13,259 | 5.2% |
| £13,260 to £28,854 | 6.5% |
| £28,855 to £35,155 | 8.3% |
| £35,156 to £52,778 | 9.8% |
| £52,779 to £67,668 | 10.7% |
| £67,669 and above | 12.5% |
Pension contribution changes from 1 April 2026
Your pension contributions are based on your actual annual pensionable pay.
The Agenda for Change pay award for England comes into effect on 1 April 2026. Because of this some members may:
- move to a lower contribution rate
- move to a higher contribution rate if the pay increase takes them into the next pay range
Previous rates of contribution
Contribution rates from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026:
| Pensionable pay range from 1 April 2025 | Contribution rates from 1 April 2025, based on actual annual pensionable pay |
|---|---|
| Up to £13,259 | 5.2% |
| £13,260 to £27,797 | 6.5% |
| £27,798 to £33,868 | 8.3% |
| £33,869 to £50,845 | 9.8% |
| £50,846 to £65,190 | 10.7% |
| £65,191 and above | 12.5% |
Contribution rates from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 were:
| Pensionable pay range from 1 April 2024 | Contribution rates from 1 April 2024, based on actual annual pensionable pay |
|---|---|
| Up to £13,259 | 5.2% |
| £13,260 to £26,831 | 6.5% |
| £26,832 to £32,691 | 8.3% |
| £32,692 to £49,078 | 9.8% |
| £49,079 to £62,924 | 10.7% |
| £62,925 and above | 12.5% |
If you're a practitioner or non-GP provider
Practitioners
If you’re a practitioner, you already pay contributions based on your total annual practitioner pensionable pay. This has not changed. However, now that all members are contributing towards the 2015 Scheme, your practitioner pay may be annualised and the updated salary ranges will apply to you.
If you also work in an officer post, for example as a salaried hospital doctor, your contribution rates are calculated separately. This means your officer and practitioner pensionable pay may have different contribution rates.
Non-GP providers
If you're a non-GP provider, you already pay contributions on your profits from one contract. This has not changed. However, as a member of the 2015 Scheme, your profits may be annualised, and the updated salary ranges will apply to you.
You can find out more about annualising pay on our information for practitioners and non-GP providers page.
Understanding what the changes mean for you
The NHS Pension Scheme remains one of the best ways to save towards retirement. You can find more information about your benefits on our understanding your benefits in the 2015 Scheme webpage.
Pensionable additional hours for part-time NHS staff
On 1 April 2025, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) changed the 2015 NHS Pension Scheme rules. The changes make it clear for employers that any additional hours up to your whole time equivalent (WTE), are automatically pensionable for part-time NHS staff.
You may be affected if you are an NHS Pension Scheme member and you:
- have worked part time since 1 April 2015
- have worked additional hours between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2024
- did not pay pension contributions for those additional hours
If you are affected, your employer will have written to you. If they have not and you think you are affected, contact your employer directly.
Most NHS employers have already been treating additional hours for part-time staff as pensionable pay. If your employer has, you don’t need to do anything. You’ve paid the right amount in contributions, and your additional hours will be reflected in your final pension.
Find out more about the NHS Pension Scheme regulations and member contributions on GOV.UK.