UK doctor pay at a glance
Doctors in the UK are paid according to national pay scales that differ by grade and by nation. In England, a newly qualified doctor in the first foundation year earns a basic salary of 41,226 pounds in 2026/27, while a consultant earns between 113,565 and 150,569 pounds. Basic pay is only part of the picture: resident doctors typically receive around 27 to 33 percent of their total earnings from extra pay for night shifts, weekends and additional hours. Pay has also been the subject of a long-running dispute, with resident doctors in England taking 15 rounds of strike action between 2023 and April 2026 before accepting a deal in June 2026. This report sets out pay scales, awards and earnings for every grade. For the size and structure of the profession, see our overview of doctors in the United Kingdom.
Pay is set each year after recommendations from the independent Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration (DDRB), which the UK government and the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can accept, change or reject. As a result, pay scales and the timing of awards now differ noticeably between the four nations. All figures in this report are basic annual salaries for full-time work unless stated otherwise.
Pay scales in England, 2026/27
Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, are paid on the 2016 contract. From April 2026 the pay structure was reformed into ten points as part of the deal accepted in June 2026. A first-year foundation doctor (FY1) earns 41,226 pounds and a second-year foundation doctor (FY2) 47,610 pounds. Doctors in specialty training then progress through points worth 55,355 pounds, 67,325 to 67,998 pounds and 76,582 to 77,348 pounds. Senior doctors are paid on separate contracts: specialty doctors earn 63,696 to 102,689 pounds, specialists 104,401 to 115,341 pounds and consultants 113,565 to 150,569 pounds.
From 41,000 to 150,000 pounds: A consultant at the top of the scale earns more than three and a half times an FY1 doctor.
| Grade (England) | 2025/26 | 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation year 1 | £38,831 | £41,226 |
| Foundation year 2 | £44,439 | £47,610 |
| Specialty training, point 3 | £52,656 | £55,355 |
| Specialty training, point 4 | £65,048 | £67,325 to £67,998 |
| Specialty training, point 5 | £73,992 | £76,582 to £77,348 |
| Specialty doctor | £61,542 to £99,216 | £63,696 to £102,689 |
| Consultant | £109,725 to £145,478 | £113,565 to £150,569 |
| Salaried GP range | £76,038 to £114,743 | £78,699 to £118,759 |
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Resident doctor pay and the 2026 deal
The June 2026 agreement combined the DDRB award of 3.5 percent with a reform of the pay structure. Compared with 2025/26, an FY1 doctor gains 2,395 pounds, or 6.2 percent, and an FY2 doctor 3,171 pounds, or 7.1 percent. According to the BMA, increases delivered by April 2027 average 6.6 percent across resident grades, ranging from 3.5 percent to 9.8 percent depending on the stage of training. The deal was accepted by 53 percent of members voting, on a turnout of 57 percent.
Rises of 2,000 to 3,200 pounds: Every resident grade gained, with the largest cash rise for FY2 doctors.
Basic pay understates what resident doctors actually earn. Extra payments for unsocial hours, weekends, on-call and additional rostered hours typically make up 27 to 33 percent of their total earnings, according to analyses of NHS England earnings data. The government put average full-time basic pay for resident doctors at about 54,300 pounds in 2025/26 and said their pay had risen by 28.9 percent on average over three years. For comparison, the average basic pay of all NHS staff in England was 44,744 pounds per full-time equivalent in the year to July 2026. Inflation over the same period is tracked in our report on inflation in the UK.
Pay awards since 2023
Pay awards have been unusually large since 2023, after years of below-inflation rises. In 2023/24, resident doctors in England received 6 percent plus 1,250 pounds, later supplemented by an extra 4.05 percent on average, while consultants, salaried GPs and SAS doctors received 6 percent. In 2024/25 all groups received 6 percent, with residents also getting 1,000 pounds. In 2025/26 the award was 4 percent for all groups, plus 750 pounds for residents. For 2026/27 the DDRB recommended 3.5 percent for residents, consultants, SAS doctors, locally employed doctors and GPs, which the government accepted in March 2026.
Smaller awards since 2024: Headline rises fell from 6 percent to 3.5 percent in 2026/27.
| Year | Resident doctors | Consultants | SAS doctors | GPs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 6% + 1,250 £ (plus 4.05% average later) | 6% | 6% (2021 contract 3%) | 6% (salaried) |
| 2024/25 | 6% + 1,000 | 6% | 6% | 6% |
| 2025/26 | 4% + 750 | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| 2026/27 | 3.5% plus pay structure reform | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% |
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Pay across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Pay now differs noticeably between the four nations. For consultants in 2026/27, the starting salary is 113,565 pounds in England, 115,331 pounds in Scotland and 114,099 pounds in Wales. The top of the scale is highest in Wales at 166,585 pounds, because the Welsh consultant scale has more points, compared with 153,247 pounds in Scotland and 150,569 pounds in England. Northern Ireland had not published a 2026/27 award at the time of writing; its 2025/26 consultant scale runs from 110,681 to 145,517 pounds, and consultants there took strike action in June 2026 after rejecting a 3.5 percent offer.
Wales pays most at the top: The highest consultant point reaches 166,585 pounds in Wales.
Starting pay for new doctors also differs. In 2026/27 an FY1 doctor earns 41,226 pounds in England and 41,400 pounds in Wales. In Scotland, where resident doctors received a 3.75 percent rise for 2026/27, FY1 pay ranges from 37,316 to 41,977 pounds depending on the point. In Northern Ireland the 2025/26 FY1 scale runs from 35,704 to 39,758 pounds.
| Grade | England 2026/27 | Scotland 2026/27 | Wales 2026/27 | Northern Ireland 2025/26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation year 1 | £41,226 | £37,316 to £41,977 | £41,400 | £35,704 to £39,758 |
| Specialty doctor | £63,696 to £102,689 | £66,404 to £103,475 | £64,292 to £102,689 | £61,542 to £99,216 |
| Specialist | £104,401 to £115,341 | £104,401 to £115,342 | £104,401 to £115,343 | £100,870 to £111,442 |
| Consultant | £113,565 to £150,569 | £115,331 to £153,247 | £114,099 to £166,585 | £110,681 to £145,517 |
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What GPs earn
GPs are paid differently from hospital doctors. Salaried GPs are employed by practices and paid within a recommended range, which is 78,699 to 118,759 pounds in England in 2026/27. GP partners, also called contractor GPs, are self-employed and share the profits of their practice. According to NHS England Digital, the average income before tax of contractor GPs in England was 164,200 pounds in 2024/25, compared with 74,800 pounds for salaried GPs. Partners in Scotland earned 140,000 pounds on average, in Wales 134,900 pounds and in Northern Ireland 121,000 pounds. Our report on the GP workforce covers GP numbers and earnings in more detail.
Partners earn about twice as much: Contractor GPs in England averaged 164,200 pounds against 74,800 pounds for salaried GPs.
Strikes and the real-terms pay debate
The pay dispute began in early 2023, when the BMA argued that resident doctor pay had fallen sharply in real terms since 2008. Resident doctors in England took 15 rounds of industrial action between 2023 and April 2026, including 15 days of strikes in 2025 according to the DDRB and a six-day strike from 7 to 13 April 2026. A planned strike in June 2026 was called off after the government offer, which members accepted on 29 June 2026. The size of the real-terms fall is disputed. The BMA said resident doctors remain nearly a fifth behind 2008 pay levels, measured using the retail prices index. Full Fact, working with the Royal Statistical Society, estimated a smaller fall of about 6 to 7 percent using other measures, and the DDRB noted that 2008 was an historic peak. How the dispute affected morale is covered in our report on burnout among UK doctors, and how pay influences decisions to emigrate in our report on doctors leaving the UK.
- 15 rounds of resident doctor strikes in England between 2023 and April 2026 (BMA).
- 15 strike days in 2025 alone (DDRB).
- June 2026 deal accepted by 53 percent of voting members on a 57 percent turnout.
- Northern Ireland consultants struck on 25 June 2026 after rejecting a 3.5 percent award.
- Real-terms change since 2008 disputed: nearly a fifth (BMA, RPI) versus about 6 to 7 percent (Full Fact with RSS).
Outlook
With the resident doctor deal in place, attention is turning to how pay supports retention and training. The DDRB will report on 2027/28 pay in 2027. In Northern Ireland, the 2026/27 award was still unresolved in autumn 2026. Pay is one factor among many: in GMC surveys, doctors who plan to move abroad cite better treatment and quality of life alongside higher pay. Our related reports cover international doctors, specialty training and the demographics of UK doctors.
UK doctor pay in numbers
- An FY1 doctor in England earns 41,226 pounds basic in 2026/27, up from 38,831 pounds in 2025/26.
- Consultants in England earn 113,565 to 150,569 pounds; in Wales the top point is 166,585 pounds.
- The DDRB award for 2026/27 is 3.5 percent for most groups; Scottish resident doctors received 3.75 percent.
- Extra earnings typically add 27 to 33 percent to resident doctor basic pay.
- Contractor GPs in England averaged 164,200 pounds before tax in 2024/25; salaried GPs 74,800 pounds.
- Resident doctors in England held 15 rounds of strikes before accepting a deal in June 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
In England, a first-year foundation doctor (FY1) earns a basic salary of 41,226 pounds in 2026/27 and an FY2 doctor 47,610 pounds. Extra pay for nights, weekends and extra hours typically adds 27 to 33 percent.
Consultants in England earn a basic 113,565 to 150,569 pounds in 2026/27. In Scotland the range is 115,331 to 153,247 pounds and in Wales 114,099 to 166,585 pounds.
The DDRB recommended 3.5 percent for most doctors, which the government accepted. Resident doctors in England also gained from a reform of the pay structure, averaging 6.6 percent by April 2027 according to the BMA.
Contractor GPs in England earned an average 164,200 pounds before tax in 2024/25, and salaried GPs 74,800 pounds. The salaried GP pay range in England is 78,699 to 118,759 pounds in 2026/27.
It depends on the grade. Consultants start higher in Scotland (115,331 pounds) than England (113,565 pounds), but FY1 pay starts lower in Scotland at 37,316 pounds against 41,226 pounds in England.
The BMA argued that pay had fallen sharply in real terms since 2008. Resident doctors in England took 15 rounds of strike action between 2023 and April 2026 before accepting a deal in June 2026.
The figure is disputed. The BMA says resident doctors are nearly a fifth behind 2008 levels using RPI, while Full Fact with the Royal Statistical Society estimated a fall of about 6 to 7 percent.
The Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration is an independent body that recommends annual pay rises for doctors and dentists to the UK and devolved governments.
NHS Employers - Pay and Conditions Circular (M&D) 1/2026R.
NHS Employers - Pay and Conditions Circular (M&D) 2/2025.
BMA - Pay scales for resident doctors in England 2026/27.
Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration - 54th Report 2026.
NHS Employers - Doctors and dentists pay award announcement 2026.
Department of Health and Social Care - Resident doctors pay award 2025 to 2026.
NHS Scotland - PCS(DD)2026/02 pay circular.
NHS Scotland - PCS(DD)2026/01 pay circular.
NHS Wales - M&D(W) 01/2026 pay award.
Department of Health Northern Ireland - HSC (TC8) 05/2025 pay circular.
NHS England Digital - GP earnings and expenses estimates 2024/25.
NHS England Digital - NHS staff earnings estimates, July 2026.
BMA - Resident doctors accept government offer, June 2026.