Complete guide to NHS doctor salaries: FY1 doctor salary £36,616, junior doctor pay £36,616-£61,825, GP salary £73,113-£114,743, consultant £105,504+. Find all medical doctor starting salaries and pay scales for 2025/26 across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
These are base pay rates. Real earnings vary with on-call pay, shift premiums, overtime, and additional duties.
Based on the latest official going-rate guidance for eligible healthcare occupations.
| Role / Grade | Annual Basic Pay |
|---|---|
| Foundation Year 1 (F1) | £36,616 |
| Foundation Year 2 (F2) | £42,008 |
| Specialty Registrar (StR) — CT/ST1-2-level entry | £49,909 |
| Specialty Registrar (StR) — CT/ST3 and above | £61,825 |
| Specialty doctor (non-training) / equivalent | £59,175 |
| Salaried General Practitioner (GP) / equivalent | £73,113 |
| Specialist doctor / equivalent | £96,990 |
| Consultant / equivalent | £105,504 |
Based on Scottish pay guidance for medical practitioners.
| Role / Grade | Annual Going Rate |
|---|---|
| Foundation Year 1 (F1) | £34,500 |
| Foundation Year 2 (F2) | £42,794 |
| Specialty Registrar (StR) (training) | £45,504 |
| Specialty doctor / equivalent | £47,905 |
| Salaried GP / equivalent | £74,192 |
| Consultant / equivalent | £107,144 |
From Welsh pay-circular data for 2025/26.
| Role / Grade | Annual Pay (Going Rate) |
|---|---|
| Foundation Year 1 (F1) | £33,307 |
| Foundation Year 2 (F2) | £41,073 |
| Specialty Registrar (StR) (ST1–2) | £43,821 |
| Specialty Registrar (StR) (ST3+) | £43,821 |
| Specialty doctor / equivalent | £59,727 |
| Salaried GP / equivalent | £76,079 |
| Consultant / equivalent | £106,000 (37.5-hour week) |
From HSC pay guidance / medical staff pay awards.
| Role / Grade | Annual Pay (Going Rate) |
|---|---|
| Foundation Year 1 (F1) | £29,566 |
| Foundation Year 2 (F2) | £36,371 |
| Specialty Registrar (StR) (ST1–2) | £38,780 |
| Specialty Registrar (StR) (ST3+) | £44,283 |
| Specialty doctor (new 2021 contract) / equivalent | £52,530 |
| Salaried GP / equivalent | £69,974 |
| Specialist (new 2021 contract) / equivalent | £83,945 |
| Consultant / equivalent | £94,127 |
NHS doctor salaries vary by position and experience level. This section covers the different pay scales for resident doctors, specialty doctors, consultants, and general practitioners across England.
Resident doctors receive a basic salary plus additional payments for hours beyond 40 per week. Extra payments include a 37% enhancement for night shifts, weekend work allowances, on-call availability payments, and other supplementary pay elements.
Foundation Training: Basic salary ranges from £38,831 to £44,439 (effective 1 April 2025).
Specialist Training: Doctors beginning specialist training in 2025 earn a basic salary between £52,656 and £73,992.
Specialty Doctors: Basic annual salary ranges from £61,542 to £99,216.
Specialist Grade Doctors: Earn between £100,870 and £111,441 per year (from 1 April 2025).
From 1 April 2025, NHS consultants earn a basic salary between £109,725 and £145,478 annually, determined by years of service and experience. Consultants may apply for Clinical Excellence Awards (local) and Clinical Impact Awards (national) - competitive recognition schemes that reward work beyond standard job requirements.
Additional earnings are available through management responsibilities, educational roles, and private practice work. Private practice opportunities depend on specialty area and time available outside NHS contracted hours.
GPs in England work under two main contractual arrangements:
NHS doctor salaries in 2025/26 vary significantly by grade and experience. FY1 doctor salary starts at £36,616 in England for newly qualified doctors entering their first year of foundation training. Junior doctor pay ranges from £36,616 to £61,825 depending on training level, with FY2 doctors earning £42,008 and specialty registrars (junior dr) earning up to £61,825.
GP salary for salaried general practitioners ranges from £73,113 to £114,743 annually. General practitioner starting salary begins at £73,113, with experienced GPs earning significantly more. Many GPs work as independent contractors, which can substantially increase earnings beyond the standard salaried GP wages.
Consultant doctor salary represents the highest tier of NHS medical doctor pay, with consultants earning between £105,504 and £139,882. Medical doctor starting pay for FY1 positions has increased following the 2025/26 pay award, ensuring competitive junior doctor wages across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Common questions about NHS doctor salaries and pay
NHS doctor pay varies by grade and experience. Foundation Year 1 doctors earn £36,616 (England, 2025/26), while consultants earn £105,504+. Specialty registrars earn £49,909 to £61,825 depending on training level. Pay increases with experience and additional duties like on-call work, with regional variations across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Salaried NHS GPs in England earn between £73,113 and £114,743 per year (2025/26). Scotland offers £74,192 to £115,167, Wales £76,079 to £119,394, and Northern Ireland £69,974 to £111,928. Many GPs work as independent contractors running their own practices, which can significantly increase earnings through private income and business profits.
Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctors are the lowest paid NHS grade, earning £36,616 in England (2025/26). FY1 is the first year after medical school graduation. Scotland pays £34,500, Wales £33,307, and Northern Ireland £29,566. Despite being the entry level, FY1 doctors are fully qualified medical professionals working under supervision.
NHS consultant doctors earn £105,504 to £139,882 in England (2025/26 basic scale). Scotland offers £107,144+, Wales £106,000+, and Northern Ireland £94,127+. Consultants are the most senior hospital doctors with significant additional earning potential through private practice, clinical excellence awards, and additional NHS sessions, often exceeding £150,000 total annual income.
NHS specialty doctors in England earn £59,175 to £95,400 annually (2025/26). These are non-training career-grade doctors who work independently without consultant status. Scotland pays £47,905+, Wales £59,727+, and Northern Ireland £52,530 to £83,945. Specialty doctors bridge the gap between training grades and consultant positions.
Foundation Year doctors in England earn £36,616 (FY1) and £42,008 (FY2) for 2025/26. Foundation training is a two-year program following medical school. Regional variations apply: Scotland offers £34,500 (FY1) and £42,794 (FY2), while Northern Ireland pays £29,566 (FY1) and £36,371 (FY2). These are basic salaries before enhancements.
NHS specialty registrars (doctors in specialist training) earn £49,909 at CT/ST1-2 level and £61,825 at CT/ST3+ level in England (2025/26). Scotland pays £45,504, Wales £43,821, and Northern Ireland £38,780 to £44,283. Training typically lasts 5-8 years depending on specialty. These rates exclude additional pay for on-call duties and antisocial hours.
Yes, Scotland generally offers higher NHS doctor pay rates than other UK nations. For example, consultants in Scotland earn £107,144 compared to £105,504 in England. However, Foundation Year 1 doctors in England (£36,616) earn more than Scotland (£34,500). Regional cost of living and working patterns should be considered when comparing salaries.
NHS doctors receive significant additional payments beyond basic salary including: banding supplements for antisocial hours (up to 50% extra), on-call availability payments, shift premiums for nights and weekends, clinical excellence awards for consultants (£4,000-£75,000+), management responsibility payments, and private practice income. These can substantially increase total earnings.
NHS consultant rates are competitive but private practice can significantly boost earnings. NHS consultants earn £105,504+ basic salary but can double or triple income through private work. However, NHS employment offers pension benefits (employer contributions ~20%), job security, paid annual leave, sick pay, and professional development opportunities not always available in private practice.
Last Updated: 7th December 2025 - All salary figures reflect the official 2025/26 NHS pay scales effective from April 1st, 2025