Salary by Profession in the UK: Compare Jobs, Regions and Pay LevelsHow Much Do Doctors Earn in the UK? — 2026 Salary Guide
Complete guide to doctor salaries in the UK for 2026. Foundation year pay, registrar salaries, consultant pay, GP earnings, private practice income, and how NHS doctor pay scales work.
Medicine is one of the highest-paying professions in the UK, though the path is long. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of what doctors earn at every stage of their career.
For a broader comparison against other high-paying careers, public-sector roles and regional salary benchmarks, see our Salary by Profession hub.
NHS Doctor Pay Scales (2025/26)
Junior Doctor Pay
| Grade | Basic Salary |
|---|
| Foundation Year 1 (FY1) | £36,616 |
| Foundation Year 2 (FY2) | £42,008 |
| Specialty Trainee Year 1-2 (ST1-2) | £43,923 |
| Specialty Trainee Year 3 (ST3) | £49,339 |
| Specialty Trainee Year 4-5 (ST4-5) | £53,432 |
| Specialty Trainee Year 6-7 (ST6-7) | £58,398 |
| Specialty Trainee Year 8+ (ST8) | £63,152 |
Basic salary before any enhancements for unsocial hours
Pay Enhancements for Junior Doctors
| Enhancement | Details |
|---|
| Weekend frequency supplement | 3-12% of basic pay based on rota |
| Night shift allowance | Enhanced rates for nights |
| On-call availability | Additional supplement based on frequency |
| Flexible pay premium | 2-8% for flexible rostering patterns |
| Typical total with enhancements | +15-40% above basic salary |
Actual Take-Home for Junior Doctors (with enhancements)
| Grade | Basic | Typical Total (with enhancements) |
|---|
| FY1 | £36,616 | £40,000-£50,000 |
| FY2 | £42,008 | £48,000-£58,000 |
| ST1-2 | £43,923 | £50,000-£62,000 |
| ST3-5 | £49,339-£53,432 | £56,000-£72,000 |
| ST6-8 | £58,398-£63,152 | £66,000-£85,000 |
Consultant Pay Scale
NHS consultants are on a separate pay scale with longer progression.
Basic Pay Scale
| Pay Threshold | Salary |
|---|
| Threshold 1 (new consultant) | £105,504 |
| Threshold 2 | £109,804 |
| Threshold 3 | £114,003 |
| Threshold 4 | £118,203 |
| Threshold 5 | £126,281 |
| Maximum | £139,882 |
Clinical Excellence Awards (CEAs)
Top-performing consultants can receive additional awards.
| Level | Annual Value |
|---|
| Local CEA Level 1 | £3,497 |
| Local CEA Level 2 | £6,997 |
| Local CEA Level 3 | £10,497 |
| Local CEA Level 4 | £13,997 |
| National CEA Bronze | £36,192 |
| National CEA Silver | £47,582 |
| National CEA Gold | £58,972 |
| National CEA Platinum | £77,299 |
National awards are highly competitive and awarded to a small number of consultants
Total Consultant Earnings
| Component | Range |
|---|
| Basic salary | £105,504-£139,882 |
| Clinical excellence awards | £0-£77,299 |
| On-call payments | £5,000-£20,000 |
| Waiting list initiatives (extra sessions) | £5,000-£30,000+ |
| Private practice | £0-£200,000+ |
| Typical total | £120,000-£250,000+ |
GP Earnings
GPs can work as salaried doctors or as partners who share in practice profits.
Salaried GP
| Level | Salary |
|---|
| Newly qualified salaried GP | £70,000-£85,000 |
| Experienced salaried GP | £80,000-£100,000 |
| Part-time salaried GP (4 sessions) | £36,000-£50,000 |
GP Partner
| Factor | Details |
|---|
| Average partner income | £100,000-£150,000 |
| Range | £80,000-£200,000+ |
| Business costs deducted | Premises, staff, equipment |
| NHS pension | Based on earnings |
| Risk | Bear financial responsibility for practice |
Locum GP
| Duration | Rate |
|---|
| Per session (half day) | £350-£600 |
| Per day | £600-£1,000+ |
| Annual (full-time equivalent) | £120,000-£200,000+ |
Locum rates have risen sharply due to GP shortages
Salary by Speciality (Consultant Level)
Some specialities offer higher earnings through private practice opportunities.
Highest-Earning Specialities
| Speciality | NHS Basic | Typical Total (with private) |
|---|
| Orthopaedic Surgery | £105,504-£139,882 | £200,000-£400,000+ |
| Plastic Surgery | £105,504-£139,882 | £180,000-£350,000+ |
| Cardiology | £105,504-£139,882 | £180,000-£350,000+ |
| Dermatology | £105,504-£139,882 | £160,000-£300,000+ |
| Ophthalmology | £105,504-£139,882 | £160,000-£300,000+ |
| Radiology | £105,504-£139,882 | £150,000-£280,000+ |
| Gastroenterology | £105,504-£139,882 | £150,000-£250,000+ |
Mid-Range Specialities
| Speciality | NHS Basic | Typical Total |
|---|
| General Surgery | £105,504-£139,882 | £140,000-£220,000 |
| Anaesthetics | £105,504-£139,882 | £130,000-£200,000 |
| Obstetrics & Gynaecology | £105,504-£139,882 | £130,000-£200,000 |
| Paediatrics | £105,504-£139,882 | £120,000-£180,000 |
| Psychiatry | £105,504-£139,882 | £120,000-£180,000 |
Lower Private Practice Potential
| Speciality | NHS Basic | Typical Total |
|---|
| Emergency Medicine | £105,504-£139,882 | £120,000-£170,000 |
| Geriatrics | £105,504-£139,882 | £110,000-£160,000 |
| Palliative Medicine | £105,504-£139,882 | £110,000-£150,000 |
| Public Health | £105,504-£139,882 | £110,000-£150,000 |
NHS basic pay is the same regardless of speciality — differences come from private practice
Academic Doctors
Doctors combining clinical work with university positions.
| Role | Salary |
|---|
| Clinical Lecturer | £43,000-£63,000 (+ clinical pay) |
| Senior Clinical Lecturer | £63,000-£93,000 (+ clinical pay) |
| Clinical Professor | £85,000-£130,000 (+ clinical pay) |
Often earn less overall than purely clinical counterparts
Regional Differences
| Region | Impact on Pay |
|---|
| London (Inner) | +20% supplement on basic pay |
| London (Outer) | +15% supplement |
| Fringe areas | +5% supplement |
| Scotland | Separate pay scale — broadly similar |
| Wales | NHS Wales — broadly similar |
| Northern Ireland | Broadly similar |
| Rural / hard to recruit | Recruitment premiums sometimes offered |
Private Practice Earnings
Many consultants supplement NHS income with private work.
| Setting | Typical Earnings |
|---|
| Private hospitals (Nuffield, Spire, HCA) | £50,000-£250,000+ |
| Medicolegal reports | £500-£3,000 per report |
| Private clinics | £200-£500 per hour |
| Telemedicine | £100-£300 per hour |
How Private Practice Works
| Factor | Details |
|---|
| Eligibility | Consultants can do private work outside NHS hours |
| Typical split | 2-3 NHS sessions reduced, replaced with private |
| Insurance companies | Need to be on insurer panels (BUPA, AXA, etc.) |
| Self-pay | Growing market for direct patient payments |
| Tax | Self-employed income — separate tax return |
Career Timeline and Earnings
| Stage | Duration | Age (typical) | Earnings |
|---|
| Medical school | 5-6 years | 18-23/24 | Student (debt) |
| Foundation training | 2 years | 23-25 | £36,616-£42,008 |
| Core/Specialty training | 3-8 years | 25-33 | £43,923-£63,152 |
| GP (from ST3) | From year 10 | 28+ | £70,000-£150,000+ |
| Consultant | From year 12-16 | 30-37 | £105,504-£250,000+ |
NHS Pension for Doctors
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| Type | Defined benefit (guaranteed pension) |
| Employer contribution | ~23% |
| Employee contribution | 5.2%-12.5% (based on salary) |
| Accrual rate | 1/54th of pensionable salary per year |
| Tax issues | Annual and lifetime allowance can affect high earners |
| Flexibilities | Can reduce pension growth to reduce tax charge |
Annual Allowance Tax Trap
| Factor | Details |
|---|
| Annual allowance | £60,000 (2025/26) |
| Tapered for high earners | Reduces to £10,000 for income over £260,000 |
| Impact | Senior doctors can face unexpected tax bills |
| Scheme pays | Can ask NHS to pay the charge from future pension |
| Retirement flexibility | Options to reduce contributions or opt for 50/50 section |
Summary
| Level | Typical Earnings |
|---|
| Foundation Year 1 | £36,616 (+enhancements) |
| Foundation Year 2 | £42,008 (+enhancements) |
| Specialty Registrar | £43,923-£63,152 (+enhancements) |
| GP (salaried) | £70,000-£100,000 |
| GP (partner) | £100,000-£150,000+ |
| Consultant (NHS only) | £105,504-£139,882 |
| Consultant (with private) | £150,000-£300,000+ |