Doctor Salary UK 2025 | NHS Pay Calculator
Calculate your NHS take-home pay by grade. Updated for 2025/26 tax year with the latest NHS pay uplift. Covers all medical grades from Foundation Year 1 to Consultant.
NHS Doctor Take-Home Pay Calculator 2025
NHS Doctor Pay Scales 2025
The following table shows NHS doctor basic salaries for 2025 following the 2024 pay award. These are basic salary figures before additional payments for out-of-hours work, on-call, and other supplements.
| NHS Grade | Basic Salary 2025 | Monthly Take-Home* | Annual Take-Home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation Year 1 (FY1) | £32,398 | £2,237 | £26,842 |
| Foundation Year 2 (FY2) | £37,303 | £2,513 | £30,153 |
| Core Trainee / ST1 (CT1/ST1) | £43,923 | £2,895 | £34,742 |
| Core Trainee / ST3 (CT3/ST3) | £55,329 | £3,424 | £41,082 |
| Specialty Doctor (min) | £52,530 | £3,291 | £39,490 |
| Specialty Doctor (max) | £82,400 | £4,685 | £56,223 |
| Consultant (min) | £93,666 | £4,991 | £59,897 |
| Consultant (max) | £126,281 | £6,422 | £77,068 |
| GP Partner (average) | ~£110,000 | ~£5,750 | ~£69,003 |
| Salaried GP | £67,000-£98,900 | £3,990-£5,500 | £47,880-£66,000 |
*Take-home estimates based on 2025/26 tax rates. Personal allowance £12,570. No pension or student loan deductions applied. Individual figures will vary.
NHS Doctor Salaries in 2025: The Full Picture
The NHS medical pay structure is one of the most complex employment frameworks in the UK. Doctor salaries are determined by nationally negotiated pay scales that are separate for different employment groups: the 2016 Junior Doctor Contract covers Foundation and training grade doctors, while Consultants are employed under a separate Consultant Contract. GP income is governed yet again by different arrangements under the General Medical Services (GMS) and Personal Medical Services (PMS) contracts.
The landmark 2024 pay settlement ended prolonged industrial action by the British Medical Association (BMA) and resulted in the most significant pay increases for NHS doctors in a generation. Foundation doctors saw their basic pay increase from approximately £26,000 (FY1) to £32,398 — a rise of around 25 per cent. Specialty and Associate Specialist (SAS) doctors and Consultants also received substantial uplifts averaging 18 to 22 per cent.
Junior Doctor Pay: Understanding the 2025 Salary Structure
The term "junior doctor" in the NHS refers to all doctors in training below Consultant level — from Foundation Year 1 doctors who have just graduated from medical school, through to Specialty Registrars in their final years of specialty training. This includes approximately 50,000 doctors across England.
Under the 2016 Junior Doctor Contract, pay is structured around a basic salary with additional enhancements. The most significant additional payments are the pay enhancement for out-of-hours work (weekends and evenings) and the resident on-call supplement for doctors required to stay in hospital overnight. Most junior doctors work rotas that trigger these supplements, meaning their actual total earnings are substantially above the quoted basic salary figures.
A typical FY1 doctor working a standard rota with weekend and evening commitments might receive a 40 to 50 per cent uplift on their basic salary, bringing total earnings to approximately £45,000 to £48,000. An ST4 or ST5 trainee in a demanding specialty such as surgery or intensive care, working frequent nights and weekends, may receive enhancements that take their total compensation to £75,000 to £85,000.
Consultant Pay and Clinical Excellence Awards
NHS Consultants are the most senior hospital doctors. From 2025, Consultant basic salaries range from £93,666 (entry point) to £126,281 at the top of the scale, with progression based on years of service and performance. Consultants may also receive:
- Additional Programmed Activities (PAs): Consultants work a standard 10 PAs per week. Many work additional PAs, each paid at approximately one-tenth of their annual salary.
- Clinical Excellence Awards (CEAs): Awarded at local (Trust) and national (NHSE) level for excellence in clinical practice, research, or management. National CEAs range from £3,082 to £77,064 per year on top of basic salary.
- Waiting list initiative payments: Additional pay for extra sessions to reduce waiting lists.
- Private practice: Many NHS Consultants have a private practice component. High-demand specialties in London can generate £100,000 to £400,000 in private income annually.
NHS Pension Scheme: A Major Part of Doctor Compensation
The NHS Pension Scheme is widely regarded as one of the best occupational pensions in the UK. It is a defined benefit scheme, meaning the pension amount is calculated based on your career average earnings rather than investment performance. The employer contribution rate is 23.7 per cent — meaning for every £100 of salary, the NHS contributes a further £23.70 into the doctor's pension fund.
Employee contribution rates are tiered by pensionable pay. As of April 2023 (in effect through 2025), the rates are:
| Pensionable Pay | Employee Contribution Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £13,246 | 5.2% |
| £13,247 to £26,831 | 6.5% |
| £26,832 to £47,846 | 8.3% |
| £47,847 to £111,380 | 9.8% |
| Above £111,380 | 12.5% |
Pension contributions are deducted from gross salary before income tax is applied, providing tax relief at the doctor's marginal rate. An FY2 doctor contributing 6.5 per cent of their £37,303 salary pays £2,425 per year into their pension. This reduces their taxable income by £2,425 and saves them approximately £485 in income tax.
Student Loan Repayments for Doctors
Most UK medical graduates who trained after 2012 have student loan debt under Plan 2. Medical degrees typically incur 5 years of tuition fees (£9,250 per year) plus maintenance loans, meaning many graduates have total student debt of £70,000 to £100,000 by the time they qualify. Plan 2 repayments are 9 per cent of earnings above £27,295. An FY2 doctor earning £37,303 would repay approximately £905 per year (£75 per month) in student loan repayments. These repayments are wiped after 30 years if not fully repaid, and income does not affect this write-off date.
GP Partner vs Salaried GP: Earnings Compared
General Practitioners can work as salaried employees of a GP practice or as GP partners who co-own the business. Salaried GPs receive a fixed salary and have no financial risk — their pay ranges from approximately £67,000 for less experienced GPs to £98,900 for the most experienced, as defined by the BMA salaried GP model contract.
GP partners, by contrast, earn their share of the practice's net income after all NHS contract income is received and all practice expenses (staff, premises, equipment) are paid. Average GP partner earnings in England were approximately £105,000 to £130,000 in 2024/25. However, there is wide variation: a partner in a well-run, urban practice with a large list size may earn £150,000 to £180,000. A partner in a struggling rural practice, facing recruitment difficulties and an ageing patient list with high demand, may earn considerably less.
Regional Variations in Doctor Pay
NHS pay scales are nationally determined and apply equally across England, with additional supplements for London to reflect the higher cost of living. London weighting adds approximately £2,162 to £3,000 per year for NHS staff, depending on location within London. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each have their own separate pay scales negotiated with their devolved health services, though they are broadly comparable to England's scales.
The most significant regional variation comes from private practice income, which is concentrated in London and South East England. A London Consultant with a substantial private practice can earn two to four times more than a counterpart of equal NHS seniority in a northern English city where private healthcare demand is lower.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the take-home pay for an NHS Foundation Year 1 doctor in 2025?
An NHS Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctor earns a basic salary of £32,398 in 2025. After income tax of approximately £3,966 and National Insurance of £1,590, the annual take-home pay is approximately £26,842, equating to £2,237 per month. Most FY1 doctors also receive additional pay for out-of-hours and on-call duties, which can add 20 to 50 per cent to basic salary and significantly increase actual take-home pay.
How much does a Consultant doctor earn after tax in the UK?
NHS Consultant basic salaries range from £93,666 to £126,281 in 2025. A Consultant earning £93,666 takes home approximately £59,897 per year after income tax and National Insurance, giving a monthly take-home of about £4,991. A Consultant at the top of the scale earning £126,281 takes home approximately £77,068 per year, or £6,422 per month. Additional Clinical Excellence Awards and private practice income can substantially increase total earnings.
What was the 2024 NHS pay uplift for doctors?
Following industrial action, NHS England agreed a landmark pay settlement in 2024. Junior doctors received an average 22 per cent pay increase, with FY1 basic salary rising from around £26,000 to £32,398. Consultants received an 18 to 19 per cent uplift. The increases were the most significant for NHS doctors in over a decade and were backdated to April 2023 in part. SAS doctors also received a substantial uplift. The deal resolved extended industrial action by the BMA.
Do NHS doctors pay into a pension scheme?
Yes. NHS doctors are members of the NHS Pension Scheme, a defined benefit scheme with an employer contribution of 23.7 per cent. Employee contributions are tiered from 5.2 per cent to 12.5 per cent of pensionable pay. Contributions are made before tax, reducing taxable income. An FY2 doctor contributing 6.5 per cent on a £37,303 salary saves approximately £485 per year in income tax through this tax relief.
What is the difference between NHS and private practice doctor earnings?
NHS salaries provide guaranteed income and a defined-benefit pension worth approximately 23.7 per cent of salary in employer contributions. In private practice, a Consultant in high-demand specialties in London may earn £200,000 to £500,000+ per year. Most NHS Consultants combine both. GP partners in private healthcare services can also earn substantially above NHS rates. Private practitioners must fund their own MDU/MPS indemnity insurance, which can cost £10,000 to £40,000 per year depending on specialty and earnings.
How does GP partner salary compare to salaried GP?
An NHS salaried GP typically earns £67,000 to £98,900 in 2025. A GP partner earns their share of practice profits, with average earnings of approximately £110,000 to £130,000. Well-run practices in high-income areas can return £150,000+ to partners. However, GP partnership carries business risk, management responsibility, and liability for practice debts, making it unsuitable for all GPs.
What is a Specialty Doctor salary in the NHS?
NHS Specialty Doctors earn between £52,530 and £82,400 per year in 2025, depending on experience. After tax and National Insurance, a Specialty Doctor earning £65,000 takes home approximately £44,938 per year, or £3,745 per month. They may also earn additional pay for out-of-hours work. The grade offers a stable career for doctors outside formal training programmes.