The Doctor Salary and Pay Guide

Updated 3rd March 2026

With such differing levels of seniority and specialism, finding a broad outline of what doctors earn in the UK is quite challenging.

But essentially, we can say that doctors earn anywhere between around £40,000 a year at entry level to well beyond £100,000 a year at consultant level - with a great many pay points in between, based on many different factors.

Average Doctor Salaries in the UK

The average Doctor salary in the UK, based on the best available data, is somewhere between £60,000 and £80,000. However, this takes into account the average amount of experience, and cuts across different specialisms which have an enormous influence on pay.

For example, pay can vary depending on whether you become a specialist or a GP, and whether you work in the NHS or move into the private sector.

Your working hours and location can also impact your potential earnings.

Here is how doctor pay might vary by seniority:

NHS Doctor Salary by Band

Doctors working within the NHS in the UK operate within a completely different pay band system to other NHS professionals like Nurses.

This pay scale starts with Foundation YearS (FY1 and FY2), then moves into Specialty Core Training (CT1 to CT2) and Specialty Registrars with higher training (ST3 to ST8).

Beyond this, there are Specialist Grade Doctors and Consultants.

As for London weighting, the so-called High Cost Area Supplement means Doctors in Inner London receive 20% of their basic salary in addition, while those in Outer London receive 15% extra.

Private Sector Doctor Salaries

Pay in the private sector for UK Doctors varies widely, according to experience and specialism.

But broadly, Doctors tend to pursue private roles as they become more experienced - especially at the consultant level. At this point of seniority, commanding very high rates of pay is common.

It’s not uncommon for private hospital doctors, specialising in certain areas, to earn far beyond £150,000 a year - and frankly even double that amount in some cases.

Bank, Overtime and Enhancements

Bank work for Doctors is common and popular, often for its flexibility. It can also offer higher rates of pay.

This varies of course, from just over £25 an hour for Foundation Doctors, to more than £110 an hour for Consultants.

Overtime and enhancements apply in a number of complex ways for Doctors at different levels.

This ranges from a 47% uplift for Foundation Doctors working night shifts and a 94% uplift for sundays and bank holidays, to an equivalent 30% and 60% for the most senior Doctors.

Overtime costs for Doctors make up a huge part of annual spend for the NHS, and so enhancement rates are very much in focus currently.

Doctor Roles and Higher Pay

Higher pay as a Doctor relies on becoming more specialised and gaining more experience.

Examples of roles include:

• GP - £76,038+
• Oncologist - £80,000+
• Entry-level Consultant Doctor - £109,725
• Senior Consultant (specialist area) - - £140,000+

Agency / Locum Doctor Pay Rates

Agency Doctor pay in the UK can vary from £30 and hour to £160 an hour depending on specialism, experience, location and demand.

Broadly, agency rates in high demand areas tend to be higher than NHS bank rates.

Demand is a big factor, which explains why, for example, A&E Doctors working through agencies can obtain exceptionally high pay rates.

A locum doctor is essentially a freelancer – a Doctor who takes shifts on their terms, working whenever and wherever they choose to.

They typically find roles through agencies or NHS Trust banks, and will often have lots of experience in permanent positions which helps to ensure they’re always in demand – and can command the best rates.

As with any other Doctor, they have to take the same lengthy qualification route which involves five years of medical school, two years of rotation as a Junior Doctor, and in many cases several subsequent years in specialist areas.

For many Locum Doctors, the choice is driven not just by flexibility but by earning potential.

But the reality of what you earn as a Locum Doctor is quite complex as it depends on the level at which you're working - the majority of locums are working at consultant level but not all.

Foundation level Doctor rates (essentially, recently qualified Doctors) are normally set between £30 and £75 an hour, while Doctors at specialty trainee level can expect to earn between £45 and £85 an hour.

Anecdotally, Locum Doctors often earn £120 to £150 an hour, especially in overstretched wards.

Now and again the media will run with a story about a Locum Doctor said to earn more than £500,000 a year or similar.

However, these stories distort the reality of Locum Doctor salaries and the value they offer to NHS Trusts.

Firstly, these examples are incredibly rare, and normally occur when an especially experienced Consultant is continuously employed by an NHS Trust through an agency for an extended period of time.

There have also been examples of agencies securing exceptionally high rates for Locum Doctors in instances where a hospital has been facing a staffing crisis.

But overall, this has been happening less and less in recent years because of the so-called agency cap that was introduced back in 2015.

This was a policy that restricted the amount that Locums could be paid for any given shift, in reaction to record agency spend in the NHS.

Locum spending in the NHS reduced by 42% between 2015 and 2019, so the sky-high Locum rates that were making headlines are now considered a thing of the past.

Factors That Affect What Doctors Earn

Various things affect how much you earn as a Doctor, including:

• Experience. Doctor pay scales are clearly structured, and each year of service leads to a higher pay point.
  
  
• Qualifications: to progress into a more specialised role, specialist training is required - often supplemented with specific qualifications depending on the route your career takes
  
  
• Geography: London weighting typically adds around 20% to your pay packet, for example
  
  
• Employer type: Roles are common within both the NHS and the private sector, and as you become more senior and specialised, private roles can become especially lucrative

Salary Progression and Future Earnings

In terms of career progression as a Doctor, there are many different options.

Simply becoming more experienced and moving through the ranks of a Junior Doctor, Senior House Officer and beyond will naturally progress your career.

But along the way, there will be big decisions to make.

You could consider becoming a GP, where you may have the opportunity not only to earn a salary but become a partner and earn profits from the practice itself.

You could also choose to become highly specialised, perhaps a surgeon within a particular specialism.

Furthermore, you may choose to work privately and deliver in-demand services to the growing number of people insured privately or opting to pay for treatment outside of the NHS.

International Applicants: What to Expect

As a Doctor outside of the UK wishing to make the move, the goal is to obtain General Medical Council registration, prove English language proficiency and gain a Health and Care Worker visa.

If you have suitable and transferable qualifications, many health providers and recruitment agencies will help manage many aspects of this.

But your first port of call should be to check the suitability of your qualifications and to prove language proficiency through the IELTS system or similar.

Once this is completed, you can apply for a visa and start looking for roles - of which, in all likelihood, there will be many. International doctors continue to be in high demand.

FAQs About Doctor Pay

What is the starting salary for a UK doctor?

Doctors in the NHS typically start at the so-called FY1 level, which currently pays just under £39,000 a year.

What’s the highest paid role as a Doctor?

The highest paid role as a Doctor is difficult to pinpoint, as pay for the most specialised consultants can be very high and be supplemented with private work and enhancements. But it’s not uncommon for some to earn in excess of £300,000 a year.

Do Doctors earn more privately or within the NHS?

Broadly, pay for Doctors is higher in the private sector than the NHS. However, Doctors tend not to work privately until they become more senior - and also tend to always do some work within the NHS, to ensure the continued validity of their professional skills and qualifications.

What is the lowest pay for a Doctor?

The lowest pay for a Doctor is just under £39,000 a year.

Do GPs earn more than Specialist Doctors?

GPs don’t necessarily earn more than specialist Doctors - it all depends on the specific career routes taken.

Some GPs with vast experience might become partners in a practice or even start their own. And assuming those practices are successful, their earnings can be very high.

Meanwhile, a highly specialised consultant surgeon might command a very salary - and even supplement it with well-paid private work.