For aspiring doctors expecting to train and work in the UK, it’s essential to understand what doctor salaries are within the National Health Service (NHS) for different jobs. Pay scales for NHS doctors are nationally determined and organised according to grade. They are subject to regular independent review.
The difference between a foundation doctor’s paycheck and a consultant’s salary might surprise you. Supplements boost a salary significantly, and gaining experience has its financial benefits, too.
Let’s look at the NHS doctor pay bands from foundation training to consultant, including the figures for 2025-26.
Understanding NHS Pay Bands and Doctor Grades
NHS doctors are remunerated under particular contract sets, which form the base of the NHS doctor pay bands system. Under the 2016 Resident Doctor Contract, trainees and senior doctors, including Speciality and Associate Specialist (SAS) doctors and consultants, have different national pay scales.
Progression across the NHS salary bands for doctors in each grade is typically based on the length of service in post and the level of responsibilities.
The salary figures given below are for basic salaries before overtime, payments for working unsociable hours, or other allowances.
Junior Doctor Pay Bands (Foundation & Core Training)
Junior doctors are now legally termed as resident doctors. They are qualified doctors who are in the midst of completing their postgraduate training. Their pay is determined based on the 2016 contract by nodal points, forming the basis of the Junior doctor salary UK structure.
For the 2025-26 financial year:
- Foundation Year 1 (FY1): £38,831
- Foundation Year 2 (FY2): £44,439
- Core Training 1-2/ ST1-2: £52,656
- Core Training 3-2/ST3-5: £65,048
- ST6 – ST8: £73,992
These pay rates represent the minimum pay of junior doctors’ salaries in the UK framework. Many doctors make additional income from banding supplements for nights, weekends, and on-call duties.
This reflects an estimated 5.4% overall increase in the 2025-26 award for resident doctors, comprising 4% uplift plus a consolidated £750 payment.
Further analysis also shows that when banding supplements are factored in, many foundation doctors actually take home more than their basic salary.
Registrar & Speciality Training Doctor Pay Bands
Specialist registrars (ST3-ST8) are specialised doctors within training, in either medicine or surgery. They assume more clinical responsibility and have longer rotations. Their pay falls under the NHS registrar doctor salary structure.
The pay scale for registrars applicable for 2025-26 is:
- ST1-2: £52,656
- ST3-5: £65,048
- ST6 – ST8: £73,992
These rates relate to registrar doctor salary in all years of training. Gross income frequently is higher than base salary for work not only in unsociable hours, but also in performance supplements.
Based on independent analysis, the pay may reach around £80,500 a year for senior registrars when other elements of pay are also considered.
SAS (Speciality and Associate Specialist) Doctor Pay Bands
SAS doctors are fully trained doctors who have not taken up formal training pathways and who are often appointed following core or speciality training overseas or within the UK. They provide consistent care in hospital and community environments. Their pay is categorised under the SAS doctor salary UK pay framework.
As per the 2025 pay circular, SAS pay has been uplifted in line with consultant uplifts (usually approximately 4% on the basic pay scales).
The exact base pay scale for SAS doctors in England tends to follow national scales, which puts them above senior registrars but below consultants. Analysis from pay resources indicates:
For specialists on the 2021 contract, the salary may vary from £100,870 to £111,441 based on experience.
Consultant Pay Bands in the NHS
Consultants are the highest grade of clinical doctors in the NHS. Their basic pay grade defines the upper end of the consultant doctor salary UK structure, which bears leadership responsibility and clinical supervision.
From an analysis of NHS earnings, the starting salary for a consultant is £109,725, while for a consultant with 14+ years of experience, the same grade can be £145,475. Full-time consultants have an average earning of £161,600, including supplements.
For an established doctor in the UK, the basic salary is often augmented with pay for being on-call and working out of hours. This may mean a lot in certain places, particularly those working in emergency sections.
Additional Earnings and Allowances
Basic pay is only one part of an NHS doctor’s remuneration across all NHS salary bands. Other earnings include:
- Overnight, weekend, and holiday working, which are available as unsocial hours payment
- Banding supplements depending on the intensity and antisocial nature of the work rota
- High-cost area supplements for geographical location in high-cost locations such as London
- Flexible pay premia, which is uplifted by 4% in the 2025-26 pay award
- SAS doctors and consultants may also get clinical impact awards (CIAs) for exceptional contributions
How NHS Doctor Pay Has Changed in 2025
Doctors’ pay in the NHS is reviewed each year, following recommendations of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration. In 2025-26, the government accepted the recommendations for an average pay rise of 5.4% for doctors in training, including a consolidated payment.
Consultant and SAS pay scales were also uplifted by approximately 4% from April 2025 to align with the wider NHS pay awards.
Conclusion
For doctors joining the medical workforce in the United Kingdom, NHS doctor pay bands provide clarity on the salaries. Pay increases as training grade and level of responsibilities increase.
In addition to the basic salary, earnings can be substantially boosted by extra pay for working unsociable hours and being on call.
Prospective physicians may also want to look beyond headline salary and consider how allowances and long-term pension benefits contribute to overall remuneration. For those seeking clinical internships or jobs through a healthcare agency in Wolverhampton, knowing these salary ranges helps determine educational and career options.
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References:
- https://shrgroup.uk/blog/nhs-pay-scales-for-doctors/
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-pay-awards-2025-to-2026-resident-doctors/resident-doctors-pay-award-2025-to-2026-investing-in-our-medical-workforce
- https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/exploring-the-earnings-of-nhs-doctors-in-england-2025-update
- https://www.nhsemployers.org/system/files/2025-06/Pay-and-Conditions-Circular-MD-2-2025_0.pdf
- https://www.bma.org.uk/pay-and-contracts/pay/specialist-associate-specialist-and-specialty-doctors-pay-scales/pay-scales-for-sas-doctors-in-england
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