Key Takeaways: Junior Doctor Pay at a Glance

Here’s a quick summary of NHS doctor salaries in England for 2025-26:

• Foundation Year 1 (FY1): £38,831 (Basic)
• Foundation Year 2 (FY2): £44,439 (Basic)
• Specialty Training (ST1-ST2): £52,656 (Basic)
• Specialty Training (ST3-ST5): £65,048 (Basic)
• Specialty Training (ST6-ST8): £73,992 (Basic)
• Consultant: £109,725 to £145,478 (Basic)
• GP Salaried: £76,038 to £114,743
• Supplements: Weekend and on-call payments typically add £5,000 to £15,000+ per year
• Take-home impact: Plan 2 student loans take 9% of everything you earn above £27,295

Understanding Junior Doctor Contracts

Before diving into the numbers, it’s important to know which contract applies to you. This depends on where in the UK you work.

The 2016 Junior Doctor Contract (England)

If you work in England, you are likely on the 2016 Junior Doctor Contract. This system uses “nodal points” instead of annual increments.

• Nodal points: Your pay increases only when you move up a grade (e.g., from FY1 to FY2, or ST2 to ST3). You don’t get an automatic pay rise just for completing another year if you stay at the same grade level.
• Supplements: Payments for weekends, nights, and on-call availability are itemised separately. This makes pay calculations more complex but often fairer for intense rotas.

The 2002 Contract (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland still use the 2002 contract.

• Banding system: Instead of itemised supplements, your total salary gets a “banding” uplift (e.g., Band 1A adds 50% to your basic pay).
• Annual increments: You typically get a pay rise every year, regardless of grade progression.
• Base salary: Generally lower than in England, but the banding supplements can make total earnings higher for intense rotas.

For more on how pay works in Scotland, see our detailed Nurse Salary Scotland guide, which explains the differences in NHS systems.

Complete Junior Doctor Salary Table (England 2025-26)

Here are the confirmed basic salary figures for junior doctors in England for the 2025-26 financial year.

Note: Hourly rates are based on a standard 40-hour week. Most junior doctors work an average of 48 hours per week, with the extra 8 hours paid as additional rostered hours.

These figures are before tax. To see exactly what lands in your bank account, calculate your exact take-home pay with our NHS Salary Calculator.

Foundation Doctor Salary (FY1 & FY2) Explained

The first two years after medical school are known as the Foundation Programme.

FY1 Salary Breakdown

• Basic Salary: £38,831
• Typical Rota: Most FY1s work a full shift rota, including nights and weekends.
• Estimated Total Package: With supplements, an FY1 typically earns between £45,000 and £50,000 gross.

FY1 Take-Home Pay Example (The Reality)

Let’s look at a realistic scenario. You’re an FY1 working in London on a standard 48-hour rota with weekend and night shifts. You have a Plan 2 student loan.

Key Insight: Despite a “salary” of £48,000, your actual spending money is often around £2,600 per month. Student loan repayments alone take nearly £2,000 a year from your net income.

Want to verify your own numbers? See how tax affects your pay with our NHS Tax Calculator.

Speciality Training Salary (ST1-ST8)

After Foundation Year 2, doctors enter speciality training or core training.

Core & Specialty Training (ST1-ST2)

• Basic Salary: £52,656
• Step up from FY2: +£8,217

This grade covers doctors in their first two years of speciality training (e.g., GP trainees, core surgical trainees, internal medicine trainees). Historically, this was known as the “Senior House Officer” (SHO) level.

Registrar Salary (ST3-ST8)

Once you reach ST3 (Specialty Training Year 3), you are typically referred to as a Registrar.

• Junior Registrar (ST3-ST5): £65,048
• Senior Registrar (ST6-ST8): £73,992

There is a significant pay jump when moving from ST2 to ST3—over £12,000 in basic pay alone. This reflects the increased responsibility of the registrar role.

Moving up a grade soon? Check your new take-home pay with our NHS Pay Rise Calculator.

How Junior Doctor Supplements Work (2016 Contract)

Most junior doctors earn considerably more than their basic salary. Under the 2016 contract in England, these “extras” are calculated precisely based on your work pattern.

Weekend Allowance

You receive this allowance if you are rostered to work at least 1 in 8 weekends.

On-Call Availability Allowance

If you are required to be available on-call (non-resident), you receive a flat cash allowance based on your grade.

• FY1: £3,107 per year
• FY2: £3,556 per year
• ST1-ST2: £4,213 per year
• ST3+: £5,204+ per year

Enhanced Hours (Nights)

Work done during “unsocial hours” (typically 21:00 to 07:00) attracts a 37% enhancement on top of your basic hourly rate.

• Example: An FY1 basic hourly rate is £18.67.
• Night Rate: £18.67 + £6.91 = £25.58 per hour.

Do you work extra locum shifts? Calculate your earnings with our NHS Overtime Pay Calculator.

Consultant Salary UK: The Senior Level

Upon completing speciality training (CCT), doctors can apply for Consultant posts. This is the most senior grade in hospital medicine.

Consultant Pay Scale 2025-26

Consultant pay is based on years of experience in the role.

Consultant Additions

Consultants can boost their earnings further through:

• Clinical Impact Awards (NCIAs): Formerly Clinical Excellence Awards, these merit-based awards range from £20,000 to £40,000 per year.
• Additional Programmed Activities (PAs): Taking on extra sessions beyond the standard 10 PAs per week. Each extra PA is paid at 10% of basic salary.
• Private Practice: Earnings vary wildly by specialty but can add significant income.

GP Salary UK: Salaried vs Partner

General Practitioners (GPs) have a different pay structure entirely.

Salaried GP

Most new GPs start as salaried employees.

• Salary Range: £76,038 to £114,743 per year
• Terms: Employed by the practice, fixed hours, NHS pension, sick pay.

GP Partner

Partners are self-employed business owners who run the practice.

• Average Earnings: £118,000+ (highly variable)
• Structure: Income depends on practice profits. There is no fixed upper limit, but partners also carry the business risk and liability.

Junior Doctor Salary: Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland

While England uses the 2016 contract, the devolved nations still use the 2002 contract. This creates an interesting comparison.

Salary Comparison Table (2025-26)

Key Insight: At first glance, England pays significantly higher basic salaries. However, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland use “banding” supplements (e.g., 40% or 50% uplift) rather than itemised supplements.

For a doctor on a heavy rota (Band 1A – 50% supplement), total earnings in Scotland or Wales can sometimes exceed total earnings in England, despite the lower basic pay.

If you are considering working in Scotland, it’s worth noting that nurse salaries operate differently there too. See our Agenda for Change Scotland guide for comparison.

Additional Allowances: London Weighting & Premia

London Weighting

If you work in London, you receive an additional allowance. For most junior doctors (non-resident staff), this is currently £2,162 per year. It is pensionable and added to your basic pay.

Flexible Pay Premia (Hard-to-Fill Specialities)

To encourage doctors into certain specialities, the NHS pays an annual cash bonus called a Flexible Pay Premium.

• General Practice (GP) Training: £10,691 (paid during practice placements)
• Emergency Medicine (ST4+): £8,693
• Psychiatry (Core Training): £4,347
• Psychiatry (Higher Training): £3,260
• Histopathology: £5,216

Junior Doctor Take-Home Pay Calculator

Calculating your exact pay is difficult because of the complex mix of basic pay, nodal points, weekend allowances, and on-call supplements.

Plus, you need to deduct:

• Income Tax & National Insurance
• NHS Pension (tiered rates)
• Student Loan (Plan 2 is 9% of everything above £27,295)
• GMC Fees & Indemnity Insurance

Our calculator does all this for you.

Calculate My Junior Doctor Take-Home Pay →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the starting salary for a junior doctor?

In England (2025-26), a newly qualified Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctor starts on a basic salary of £38,831. With average supplements for weekends and nights, total gross earnings are typically £45,000–£50,000.

How much do junior doctors earn per hour?

An FY1 doctor earns £18.67 per hour basic pay. During enhanced hours (nights), this rises to £25.58 per hour. An ST8 registrar earns £35.57 per hour basic.

Do doctors get paid for overtime?

Yes. Under the 2016 contract in England, any scheduled hours over 40 per week are paid as “additional rostered hours” at the basic hourly rate. Unsocial hours (nights and weekends) attract enhancement rates. Locum shifts—voluntary extra shifts—are paid at significantly higher market rates, often £40 to £80+ per hour.

How much tax do junior doctors pay?

Doctors pay standard UK Income Tax and National Insurance. However, Student Loan repayments significantly reduce take-home pay. An FY2 earning £50,000 pays roughly £2,000 per year in student loan repayments alone, effectively acting as an extra 9% tax on earnings above the threshold.

Is NHS doctor pay rising in 2025?

Yes. Junior doctors in England received a significant pay rise averaging around 22% over two years (2023-25) to settle industrial disputes. The 2025-26 pay scales reflect these increases, restoring some of the pay erosion from previous years.