Doctor Salary UK 2026: NHS Pay Guide by Grade and Specialty

By WealthVieu · Updated
Data updated April 9, 2026

NHS doctors earn £32,398-£131,964 base salary, with total earnings often exceeding £150,000-£200,000+ with private practice.

NHS Doctor Pay Scales 2024/25

Foundation Years

Grade Base Salary With Supplements
F1 (Foundation Year 1) £32,398 £36,000-£42,000
F2 (Foundation Year 2) £37,303 £42,000-£50,000

Specialty Training

Grade Base Salary With Supplements
ST1 £43,923 £52,000-£60,000
ST2 £43,923 £52,000-£62,000
ST3 £51,017 £58,000-£68,000
ST4 £51,017 £60,000-£72,000
ST5 £58,398 £65,000-£80,000
ST6 £58,398 £68,000-£85,000
ST7 £63,152 £72,000-£90,000
ST8 £63,152 £75,000-£95,000

Specialty Doctor (SAS)

Grade Start Top of Scale
Specialty Doctor £59,175 £95,400
Specialist £96,990 £107,155

Consultant

Threshold Salary
Entry £99,532
Year 3 £103,540
Year 5 £107,796
Year 9 £111,683
Year 11 £115,817
Year 14 £119,951
Year 19+ £131,964

Total Consultant Earnings

Consultants often earn above base salary:

Component Typical Range
Base salary £100,000-£132,000
On-call supplement £5,000-£15,000
Clinical Excellence Awards £0-£40,000
Private practice £20,000-£200,000+
Total potential £120,000-£350,000+

Doctor Salary by Specialty

Specialty Consultant Salary Private Earnings
Cosmetic Surgery £130,000 £100,000-£500,000+
Cardiology £130,000 £50,000-£200,000
Radiology £130,000 £30,000-£100,000
Anaesthetics £130,000 £30,000-£80,000
General Surgery £130,000 £30,000-£150,000
Psychiatry £130,000 £20,000-£60,000
GP Partner £100,000-£150,000 —
Paediatrics £130,000 £10,000-£30,000
Emergency Medicine £130,000 Limited

Doctor Salary After Tax

Salary Monthly Take Home
£40,000 (F2) £2,606
£60,000 (ST5) £3,696
£80,000 (ST7 + supps) £4,656
£105,000 (Consultant) £5,886
£130,000 (Senior Consultant) £6,956
£180,000 (with private) £8,881

Career Timeline

Year Stage Salary Range
1-2 Foundation £32,000-£50,000
3-4 Core Training £44,000-£65,000
5-8 Specialty Training £51,000-£90,000
9+ Consultant £100,000-£130,000
15+ Senior Consultant £120,000-£200,000+

Total training: 10-15 years post-graduation.

GP Salary

GP Role Typical Earnings
Salaried GP £65,000-£90,000
GP Partner (share of profits) £100,000-£150,000
Locum GP £80-£120/hour

NHS Pension

NHS pension is exceptionally valuable:

  • Employer contributes 20.6%
  • Career average scheme
  • Worth £25,000-£50,000/year extra
  • Retire from age 55-60
  • Lifetime pension payments

How to Increase Doctor Salary

  1. Locum shifts — £70-£150/hour
  2. Private practice — Consultants only
  3. Clinical Excellence Awards — Performance-based
  4. Academic roles — Professor titles
  5. Medical leadership — Medical Director roles
  6. Move to London — Higher supplements
  7. Less competitive specialties — Faster progression

Private Practice Earnings

For consultants, private work can significantly increase income:

Specialty Hourly Rate Annual Potential
Cosmetic Surgery £500-£1,500 £200,000-£500,000
Orthopaedics £250-£500 £50,000-£200,000
Cardiology £200-£400 £40,000-£150,000
Dermatology £150-£300 £30,000-£100,000
General Surgery £200-£400 £40,000-£150,000

Is Medicine Worth It?

Pros:

  • Job security (always in demand)
  • Respected profession
  • Meaningful work
  • NHS pension (best in UK)
  • High lifetime earnings

Cons:

  • 5-6 years medical school
  • 10-15 years training
  • Long hours, shift work
  • High stress, burnout risk
  • Student debt (£70,000-£100,000)

Sources

WealthVieu
Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

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