What does the NHS Consultant pay scale increase in England mean for you?
Doctors play an integral part in delivering high quality patient care in the NHS and as such, they are rewarded with competitive pay rates and benefits.
NHS pay scales can be confusing, particularly for overseas doctors. Here we hope to provide some clarity to help you understand the NHS grades and how they fit on the various NHS pay scales.
Now, let's take a closer look at the updated consultant pay rates. The latest pay circular released by NHS Employers provides detailed information on the revised salary structure.
Remember, use the below as a salary guide for service-level posts in England. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.
Threshold
Years completed as a consultant
Basic Salary (£)
Period of eligibility for next threshold
Pay scale code
1
0
99,532
1 year
YC72 Point 00
2
1
99,532
1 year
YC72 Point 01
3
2
99,532
1 year
YC72 Point 02
4
3
105,390
1 year
YC72 Point 03
5
4
108,390
5 years
YC72 Point 04
5
108,390
4 years
YC72 Point 05
6
108,390
3 years
YC72 Point 06
7
108,390
2 years
YC72 Point 07
8
118,884
1 year
YC72 Point 08
6
9
118,884
5 years
YC72 Point 09
10
118,884
4 years
YC72 Point 10
11
118,884
3 years
YC72 Point 11
12
118,884
2 years
YC72 Point 12
13
118,884
1 year
YC72 Point 13
7
14
131,964
5 years
YC72 Point 14
15
131,964
4 years
YC72 Point 15
16
131,964
3 years
YC72 Point 16
17
131,964
2 years
YC72 Point 17
18
131,964
1 year
YC72 Point 18
8
19
131,964
-
YC72 Point 19
These updated figures reflect an increase across various experience levels, underscoring the NHS's commitment to fair compensation for its dedicated workforce.
These changes are particularly encouraging for overseas doctors considering a career in the UK. The improved pay rates, coupled with the renowned quality of healthcare in the NHS, present an enticing opportunity for medical professionals seeking growth and fulfilment in their careers.
Download the latest NHS pay circular for detailed information
Additional pay, benefits, pensions and terms & conditions
Current national salary scales for medical and dental staff are published in pay and conditions circulars on the NHS Employers website.
You may be eligible for additional pay on top of your basic salary if you work above the standard 10 PAs, work on call & weekends, or take on extra responsibilities. All doctors are eligible for NHS pensions and benefits.
Sources
www.nhsemployers.org/system/files/2024-04/Pay-and-Conditions-Circular-%28MD%29-1-2024_2.pdf
Getting started
NHS Trusts can interpret the NHS consultant pay scales above and an international doctor’s experience in different ways, so use this blog as a guideline for understanding what you may be eligible for when coming to work in the NHS.
Your IMG Consultant is happy to assist with any negotiations related to your job plan to ensure your experience is taken into account.
For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements in the UK, take a look at our IMG Resources library.
IMGs will want to know what an NHS consultant salary could mean as monthly take-home pay in England.
To help overseas doctors plan for life in the UK we put together some examples to give a better idea of what you'll actually keep each month. We hope they are of use!
How much will I take home?
Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.
It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the gross salary for each pay threshold and have assumed that you do not have other sources of income.
The figures can be higher or lower depending on any additional responsibilities or hours worked, other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses.
Take-Home Pay Expectations in England
Threshold
Annual gross salary*
Estimated annual take-home pay**
Estimated monthly take-home pay**
1
£99,532
£68,286
£5,691
2
£99,532
£68,286
£5,691
3
£99,532
£68,286
£5,691
4
£105,390
£70,606
£5,884
5
£108,390
£71,746
£5,979
6
£118,884
£75,733
£6,311
7
£131,964
£81,727
£6,811
8
£131,964
£81,727
£6,811
*Before tax and pension
**Based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions
To explore the pay and salary conditions across all grades in the UK take a look at our series of blogs on career structure and pay for NHS doctors in our IMG Resources library.
IMG Jobs
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IMG Resources
In our IMG Resources library you can read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!
Get in Touch
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As an overseas doctor looking to work in the UK, it is essential to understand the salary that comes along with your NHS job and how this can be different from one country in the UK to another.
Whilst the NHS has guides that are used to fairly and uniformly determine consultant pay, these do differ across the UK.
Basic Pay
Consultants in England and the other home countries each have their own consultant contracts in place. These are based on a full-time work commitment of 10 programmed activities (PAs) per week, each having a time-tabled value of four hours.
The basic pay thresholds in England and their equivalents in the rest of the home countries are shown below:
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
England
Consultants currently earn a basic rate of between £99,532 and £131,964 in England.
Threshold
Years completed as a consultant
Basic Salary
1
0
£99,532
2
1
£99,532
3
2
£99,532
4
3
£105,390
5
4
£108,390
5
6
7
8
6
9
£118,884
10
11
12
13
7
14
£131,964
15
16
17
18
8
19+
£131,964
The most recent full pay circular for England can be found here.
The National Clinical Impact Award (NCIA) scheme aims to reward consultants who contribute most to the delivery of safe and high-quality care and the improvement of NHS services. You can apply for a new award after you have completed a full year in an eligible role.
Scotland
Consultants currently earn a basic rate of between £96,963 and £128,841 in Scotland.
Threshold
Years completed as a consultant
Basic Salary
1
1 (starting salary)
£96,963
2
2
£99,011
3
3
£101,957
4
4
£104,906
5
5
£107,846
6
7
8
9
6
10
£114,846
11
12
13
14
7
15
£121,846
16
17
18
19
8
20+
£128,841
The most recent full pay circular for Scotland can be found here.
All consultants who have reached point five of the pay scale are eligible for consideration for discretionary points, except for distinction award holders. Consultants granted discretionary points are not normally considered again for two years, although this may vary.
Wales
Consultants currently earn a basic rate of between £87,354 and £113,408 in Wales.
Threshold
Years completed as a consultant
Basic Salary
1
0 (starting salary)
£87,354
2
1
£90,137
3
2
£94,789
4
3
£100,191
5
4
£106,363
6
5
£109,882
7
6
£113,408
The most recent full pay circular for Wales can be found here.
Please note that the pay scale above is for substantive or permanent doctors in Wales.
For locum consultants, there is a fixed pay point of £100,381 which will apply regardless of years of consultant experience.
Commitment awards are available to all consultants after three years’ service at the top of the consultant pay scale, who demonstrate their commitment through satisfactory job plan reviews. They are then eligible at three-yearly intervals, until they have achieved eight award levels.
Northern Ireland
Consultants currently earn a basic rate of between £88,799 and £119,723 in Northern Ireland.
Threshold
Years completed as a consultant
Basic Salary
1
1 (starting salary)
£88,799
2
2
£91,581
3
3
£94,362
4
4
£97,141
5
5
£99,913
6
7
8
9
6
10
£106,520
11
12
13
14
7
15
£113,124
8
16+
£119,723
The most recent full pay circular for Northern Ireland can be found here.
Job Planning and Programmed Activities
As part of your contract, your job plan will be created in partnership with your new NHS employer. This is an annual agreement that sets out your duties, responsibilities and objectives for the length of your contract.
There are four basic categories of contractual work which will be included in your job plan: direct clinical care (DCC), supporting professional activities (SPAs), additional responsibilities and external duties.
There are ways that consultants will be able to earn more than the basic rates above and these can include additional rotas and PAs. This will also be discussed in the creation of your job plan.
Getting started
NHS Trusts can interpret the NHS consultant pay scales above and an international doctor’s experience in different ways, so use this blog as a guideline for understanding what you may be eligible for when coming to work in the NHS.
Your IMG Consultant is happy to assist with any negotiations related to your job plan to ensure your experience is taken into account.
For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements in the UK, take a look at our IMG Resources library.
Sources
https://www.nhsemployers.org/sites/default/files/2021-08/Pay-and-Conditions-Circular-MD-3-2021.pdf
https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/pcs/PCS2022(DD)01.pdf
https://www.nhs.wales/files/pc-resources/042023-md-circular/
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-tc8-2-2020.pdf
Understanding your NHS job's salary or pay is essential for overseas doctors new to the UK.
Doctors play an integral part in delivering high quality patient care in the NHS and as such, they are rewarded with competitive pay rates and benefits.
NHS pay scales can be confusing, particularly for overseas doctors. Here we hope to provide some clarity to help you understand the NHS grades and how they fit on the various NHS pay scales.
In this article we will take a look at the following topics:
Typical NHS doctor’s salary in the UK
FY1 & FY2
Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8)
Specialty doctors
Specialist Grade
Consultants
Where do I fit on the pay scale?
Doctors in training pay scale
Specialty Doctor pay scale
Specialist Grade pay scale
Consultant pay scale
Additional pay, benefits, pensions and terms and conditions
Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you're looking for.
Trust doctor jobs and IMGs' pay
It is important to note that the majority of overseas doctors will start their career in the UK in a fixed term trust doctor role (also known as a service post), before taking up a training position. Doctors across all grades can enter a service post which means to say that they are not in training or entering specialty training.
As such, most of our adverts for fixed term or permanent posts will be service level jobs, these are usually SAS doctor, consultant, SHO or Trust doctor posts at the equivalent of FY2, ST1/2, ST3+.These can be attractive due to the improved doctor’s salaries that can be negotiated for fixed term contracts, based on experience and demand.
The salary pay scales that we have included in this article are to be used as a guide or starting point for negotiating your trust doctor role (or service post).
Typical NHS doctor’s salary in the UK
FY1 & FY2
In the most junior hospital trainee post of Foundation Year 1 (FY1) your basic salary is £29,384. In year two this increases to £34,012.
As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premiums.
Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8)
If you are a doctor starting your specialist training in 2019, your basic salary starts at £40,257 and can progress to £58,398.
As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premiums.
Specialty doctors
Specialty doctors currently earn from £51,000 to £80,000 basic pay.
The basic contract is for 40 hours. As a specialty doctor you can be paid for additional duties, extra hours worked, weekend work and on calls.
Specialist Grade
A key element of recent SAS contract reform is the introduction of a new grade, called the Specialist grade, which will provide an opportunity for career progression for highly experienced specialty doctors. Specialist Grade doctors can earn a basic of between £81,500 to £92,500.
Consultants
Consultants currently earn from £99,532 to £131,964 basic pay.
As a consultant you can be paid for additional duties and may be eligible for Clinical Excellence Awards, which reward outstanding performance. The basic contract is for 40 hours per week.
If you take on extra responsibilities (i.e. management or education) you can also expect to be paid additional supplements.
So where do I fit on the pay scale?
There are a few key points when considering where you fit on the pay scale:
Job title
Experience
Hours worked
Trusts can be different
Job title:
The first thing to consider is your job title.
At the Consultant level, it is straight forward, you will be a consultant. However, at the Specialty Doctor level, you could be working as an SAS doctor, a Specialty Doctor or a Trust Grade doctor. As an ST or SHO you could also work across several levels.
Each could command a different pay scale depending on the level of work and experience required.
Take some time to check the job title that you are applying and interviewing for, and subsequently the pay scale that you can expect.
Experience within your chosen field:
Next, consider the number of years of experience you have in your specialty, this is crucial to identifying your position on the pay scale.
This is important as an NHS Trust will calculate your pay for a Specialty Doctor in Medicine by deducting two of your years of experience to compensate for the Core Training years in the UK. Please note, for some specialties this does not apply, check with an IMG Consultant for more information.
Hours you will work:
The second thing to consider is how many hours you will be working. For both Specialty Doctors and Consultants, the hours are usually established using PAs (programmed activities). Each PA is worth 4 hrs of your week, and a standard week is 40 hrs. A standard salary is based on a full working week of 10 PAs (40 hours). If you work above 10 PAs, then you will gain additional salary on top of your basic pay.
NHS trusts can be different:
The last thing to consider before we look at the pay scales, is that some NHS Trusts can interpret the pay scales and a doctor’s experience in different ways. All NHS Trusts should be following the same pay scale structures when recruiting and offering salaries to doctors, but this is not always the case!
This blog is a guideline, and if you are not sure of how to approach this discussion with an HR department, it can be very useful for an IMG Connect consultant to assist with the negotiations to ensure that your experience is always taken into account.
Pay scales:
Doctors in training pay scale
Service level jobs are in high demand at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay. It is also important to remember that once in the UK, you will have the option to apply for training, depending on your entry level.
The below pay scale reflects the pay at each level depending on the entry points to training, which are FY1, ST1/CT1 and ST3/4.
The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.
As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.
Specialty Registrar (StR) (Core Training)
Grade
Stage of training
Grade Code
Nodal Point
Value (£)
Foundation Doctor Year 1
FY1
MF01
1
29,384
Foundation Doctor Year 2
FY2
MF01
2
34,012
Specialty Registrar (StR) (Core Training)
CT1
MC51
3
40,257
CT2
MC52
40,257
CT3
MC53
4
51,017
Specialty Registrar (StR) (Core Training)
ST1 / SpR1
MS01
3
40,257
ST2 / SpR2
MS02
ST3 / SpR3
MS03
4
5
51,017
58,398
ST4 / SpR4
MS04
ST5 / SpR5
MS05
ST6 / SpR6
MS06
ST7 / SpR7
MS07
ST8 / SpR8
MS08
Full details of total salaries for doctors in full-time training is available to download in the pay circular below including:
banding supplements
total salaries for trainees working less than 40 hours a week
less than full-time trainees pay arrangements.
The BMA has also produced pay tables which estimate pay for full-time doctors in training, based on your own working patterns, which you can find here.
Specialty Doctor pay scale:
Service level specialty doctor jobs are in high demand in England at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay.
It is important to note that your pay will reflect your experience within your chosen field.
The pay code on the left-hand side of the table below correlates to the number of years’ experience that you qualify for in your chosen specialty, and the number of years that the HR department are going to attribute to you.
Remember to discount any years that you have worked in an internship. And if you are working in a medicine specialty, deduct any core training years.
In the first threshold, for every year of experience you gain, this entitles you to a pay rise. In the second threshold, you will receive an increase every two years, and in the third, every three years.
The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.
As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in England. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.
Pay Scale Code
Years' Experience
Basic Salary (£)
Period before eligibility for next pay point
MC75-01
0
52,530
3 years
MC75-02
1
52,530
2 years
MC75-03
2
52,530
1 year
MC75-04
3
60,519
2 years
MC75-05
4
60,519
1 year
MC75-06
5
60,519
1 year
MC75-07
6
67,465
3 years
MC75-08
7
67,465
2 years
MC75-09
8
67,465
1 year
Threshold
MC75-10
9
74,675
3 years
MC75-11
10
74,675
2 years
MC75-12
11
74,675
1 year
MC75-13
12
82,400
5 years
MC75-14
13
82,400
4 years
MC75-15
14
82,400
3 years
MC75-16
15
82,400
2 years
MC75-17
16
82,400
1 year
MC75-18
17
82,400
-
Specialist Grade:
The introduction of a new Specialist grade will provide an opportunity for progression for highly experienced specialty doctors. The introduction of the role will help to recruit, motivate and retain senior doctors and contribute to SAS grades being a positive and fulfilling career choice. The new pay structure will enable SAS doctors to access the top of the pay scale more quickly than the current system, increasing the career average earnings.
Pay Scale Code
Years' Experience
Basic Salary (£)
Period before eligibility for next pay point
MC70–01
0
83,945
3 years
MC70-02
1
83,945
2 years
MC70-03
2
83,945
1 year
MC70-04
3
89,610
3 years
MC70-05
MC70-06
4
5
89,610
89,610
2 years
1 year
MC70-07
6
95,275
-
Consultant pay scale:
Service level consultant doctor jobs are in high demand in England at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay.
At the consultant grade, HR departments will look at your years of experience within your specialty, as a consultant.
On the table below, you can see that all you need to do is count up the total number of complete years of experience (12 months each) as a consultant, and then count down the rows to establish your salary position.
Like the above, the salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.
Remember, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in England. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.
Years completed as a consultant:
Threshold
Years complete as a consultant
Basic Salary (£)
Period of eligibility for next threshold
Pay scale code
1
0
99,532
1 year
YC72 Point 00
2
1
99,532
1 year
YC72 Point 01
3
2
99,532
1 year
YC72 Point 02
4
3
105,390
1 year
YC72 Point 03
5
4
108,390
5 years
YC72 Point 04
5
108,390
4 years
YC72 Point 05
6
108,390
3 years
YC72 Point 06
7
108,390
2 years
YC72 Point 07
8
118,884
1 year
YC72 Point 08
6
9
118,884
5 years
YC72 Point 09
10
118,884
4 years
YC72 Point 10
11
118,884
3 years
YC72 Point 11
12
118,884
2 years
YC72 Point 12
13
118,884
1 year
YC72 Point 13
7
14
131,964
5 years
YC72 Point 14
15
131,964
4 years
YC72 Point 15
16
131,964
3 years
YC72 Point 16
17
131,964
2 years
YC72 Point 17
18
131,964
1 year
YC72 Point 18
8
19
131,964
-
YC72 Point 19
Additional pay, benefits, pensions and terms & conditions
Current national salary scales for medical and dental staff are published in pay and conditions circulars on the NHS Employers website.
You may be eligible for additional pay on top of your basic salary if you work above the standard 10 PAs, work on call & weekends, or take on extra responsibilities. All doctors are eligible for NHS pensions and benefits.
Sources
https://www.nhsemployers.org/system/files/2023-02/Pay%20and%20Conditions%20Circular%20%28MD%29%202-2023.pdf
Getting started
NHS Trusts can interpret the NHS consultant pay scales above and an international doctor’s experience in different ways, so use this blog as a guideline for understanding what you may be eligible for when coming to work in the NHS.
Your IMG Consultant is happy to assist with any negotiations related to your job plan to ensure your experience is taken into account.
For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements in the UK, take a look at our IMG Resources library.
Navigating maternity pay can be a complex process, especially within the NHS. It's crucial to understand the eligibility criteria and the benefits you're entitled to under the NHS maternity pay scheme. Here's a comprehensive breakdown to help you navigate through this important aspect of maternity leave.
Eligibility Criteria:
To qualify for NHS maternity pay, you need to meet the following criteria:
1. Continuous Employment: You must have completed 12 months of continuous employment with the NHS. This period doesn't necessarily have to be with the same employer but should have no breaks exceeding three months.
2. Timing: By the time you reach 11 weeks before your expected week of childbirth, you should meet the continuous employment requirement and comply with the NHS notice requirements.
Understanding NHS Maternity Pay Structure:
Once you meet the eligibility criteria, you become entitled to a structured maternity pay scheme. Here's how it works:
1. Full Pay (8 Weeks): You'll receive eight weeks of full pay, which is subject to deduction for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Maternity Allowances.
2. Half-Pay (18 Weeks): Following the full pay period, you'll receive 18 weeks of half-pay, in addition to SMP and Maternity Allowances.
3. SMP or Maternity Allowance (13 Weeks): The final phase of maternity pay involves 13 weeks of receiving either SMP or Maternity Allowance. Maternity Allowance is paid at a fixed rate, which was £156.66 per week (April 2022 – April 2023) or 90% of your average earnings if lower.
Notification Requirements:
It's essential to adhere to the notification requirements set by the NHS. You must notify your employer at least 15 weeks before your due date. However, as a good practice, most individuals tend to inform their employers sooner, especially considering visible signs of pregnancy by that stage.
Final Thoughts:
Understanding the intricacies of NHS maternity pay is vital for expecting parents working within the NHS. By meeting the eligibility criteria and adhering to the notification requirements, you can ensure a smooth transition into maternity leave while availing of the benefits provided under the NHS maternity pay scheme.
In conclusion, navigating maternity pay within the NHS involves understanding eligibility criteria, the structure of maternity pay, and notification requirements. By being informed, expectant parents can make the most out of the benefits provided by their employer, ensuring a seamless transition into parenthood.
Reference - https://www.rcn.org.uk/Get-Help/RCN-advice/having-a-family#:~:text=It%20is%20likely%20you%20are,13%20weeks%20SMP
IMG Jobs
Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK
IMG Resources
Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!
Get in Touch
Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor's salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.
For regular news and updates, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below:
One of the most important questions to consider when searching for an NHS job as a doctor is, 'What salaries do doctors receive in the UK?
The NHS is one of the most developed health systems in the world and international doctors form an integral part of delivering high quality patient care, as such they are rewarded with competitive pay rates and benefits.
In this short article we provide an overview of doctor's pay in the UK by grade, salary estimates are based on the NHS Doctor Salary pay scale.
It is important to note that the below rates of pay are a guide based on current NHS pay scales, and it is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the pay opportunities before you start applying for posts in the UK.
It is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on your experience and demand.
For overseas doctors, posts will include competitive rates of pay, additional pay for extra hours worked, benefits and pensions.
FY1 & FY2
In the most junior hospital trainee post of Foundation Year 1 (FY1), your basic salary is £32,398.
As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premia.
Specialty Training (ST1 – ST8)
If you are a doctor starting your specialist training, your basic salary starts at £43,923 and can progress to £63,152.
As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premia.
Specialty doctors
Specialty doctors currently earn from £52,530 to £82,400 basic pay.
The basic contract is for 40 hours.
Consultants
Consultants currently earn from £93,666 to £126,281 basic pay.
As a consultant you can be paid for additional duties and may be eligible for Clinical Excellence Awards, which reward outstanding performance. The basic contract is for 40 hours per week.
If you take on extra responsibilities (i.e. management or education) you can also expect to be paid additional supplements.
Pay and terms and conditions
Current national salary scales for medical and dental staff are published in pay and conditions circulars on the NHS Employers website.
Why not browse our live doctor jobs and check your doctor's salary in the UK.
You can find more overviews on doctor salary and pay conditions here.
IMG Jobs
Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK
IMG Resources
Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!
Get in Touch
Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss NHS opportunities for overseas, including a typical doctor's salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.
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In a landmark decision, the government agreed to an increase to the pay of NHS junior and senior doctors in England, based on the recommendation of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB).
This pay rise will equate to an increase of 6% for senior doctors i.e., consultants and SAS doctors, and for junior doctors, an agreed average pay increase of 6% with a one-off uplift of £1,250.
This pay increase is not only a testament to the power of the industrial action by NHS doctors over the past several months.
Whilst an acknowledgement of the efforts and hard work of NHS doctors, this pay increase fails to fully consider the rationale behind these strikes and the BMA’s calls for the UK government to fully restore pay to 2008-09 levels.
In contrast, strike action was suspended in Scotland, following a 12.4% pay offer from the Scottish government.
Whilst the Scottish pay offer is a move in the right direction, IMG Connect remains fully in support of doctors taking part in industrial action. The decision to go on strike is not taken lightly, but is a fundamental right of doctors who want to protect the NHS and its ability to provide quality care to patients and our communities, whilst also ensuring their work and wellbeing are properly valued and compensated.
Sources
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-staff-receive-pay-rise
https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p1624
For more information on working in the NHS or how this pay increase will affect you as an NHS doctor or IMG, contact us at info@imgconnect.co.uk.
IMGs will want to know what an NHS consultant salary could mean as monthly take-home pay in Wales.
To help overseas doctors plan for life in the UK we put together some examples to give a better idea of what you'll actually keep each month. We hope they are of use!
How much will I take home?
Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.
It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the gross salary for each pay threshold and have assumed that you do not have other sources of income.
The figures can be higher or lower depending on any additional responsibilities or hours worked, other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses.
Take-Home Pay Expectations in Wales
Threshold
Annual gross salary*
Estimated annual take-home pay**
Estimated monthly take-home pay**
1
£87,354
£59,715
£4,967
2
£90,137
£61,329
£5,111
3
£94,789
£64,027
£5,336
4
£100,191
£67,122
£5,594
5
£106,363
£69,468
£5,789
6
£109,882
£70,805
£5,900
7
£113,408
£72,145
£6,012
*before tax and pension
**based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions
To explore the pay and salary conditions across all grades in the UK take a look at our series of blogs on career structure and pay for NHS doctors in our IMG Resources library.
IMG Jobs
Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK
IMG Resources
In our IMG Resources library you can read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!
Get in Touch
Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.
Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on NHS Jobs, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:
Understanding your NHS job's salary is essential for overseas doctors new to the UK and Northern Ireland in particular.
Doctors are a fundamental part of delivering high quality patient care within HSC Northern Ireland and as such, they are rewarded with competitive pay rates and benefits.
NHS pay scales can be confusing, particularly for overseas doctors. Here we hope to provide some clarity to help you understand the NHS grades and how they fit on the various NHS pay scales in Northern Ireland.
In this article we will take a look at the following topics:
Typical NHS doctor’s salary in Northern Ireland
FY1 & FY2
Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8)
Specialty Doctor
Associate Specialist
Consultants
Where do I fit on the pay scale?
Doctors in training pay scale
Specialty Doctor Pay Scale
Specialist Grade Pay Scale
Consultant Pay Pcale
Additional pay, benefits, pensions and terms & conditions
Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you're looking for.
Trust doctor jobs and IMGs' pay
It is important to note that the majority of overseas doctors will start their career in the UK in a fixed-term Trust doctor role (also known as a service post), before taking up a training position. Doctors across all grades can enter a service post, which is to say that they are not in training or entering specialty training.
As such, most of our adverts for fixed term or permanent posts will be service jobs, these are usually SAS doctor, consultant, SHO or Trust doctor posts at the equivalent of FY2, ST1/2, ST3+. These can be attractive due to the improved salaries that can be negotiated for fixed term contracts, based on experience and demand.
The pay scales that we have included in this article are to be used as a guide or starting point for negotiating your Trust doctor role (or service post).
Typical NHS doctor’s salary in Northern Ireland
FY1 & FY2
In the most junior hospital trainee post of Foundation Year 1 (FY1) your basic salary is £26,713. In year two this increases to £33,133.
As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premiums.
Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8)
If you are a doctor starting your specialist training, your basic salary starts at £35,405 and can progress to £46,842.
As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premiums.
Specialty Doctor
Specialty doctors currently earn from £51,000 to £80,000 basic pay.
The basic contract is for 40 hours. As a specialty doctor you can be paid for additional duties, extra hours worked, weekend work and on calls.
Specialist Grade
A key element of recent SAS contract reform is the introduction of a new grade, called the Specialist grade oo Associate Specialist, which will provide an opportunity for career progression for highly experienced specialty doctors. Associate Specialists doctors can earn a basic of between £81,500 to £92,500.
Consultant
Consultants currently earn from £88,799 to £119,723 basic pay.
As a consultant you can be paid for additional duties and may be eligible for Clinical Excellence Awards, which reward outstanding performance. The basic contract is for 40 hours per week.
If you take on extra responsibilities (i.e. management or education) you can also expect to be paid additional supplements.
So where do I fit on the pay scale?
There are a few key points when considering where you fit on the pay scale:
Job title
Experience
Hours worked
Trusts can be different
Job title
The first thing to consider is your job title.
At the Consultant level, it is straight forward, you will be a consultant. However, at the Specialty Doctor level, you could be working as an SAS doctor, a Specialty Doctor or a Trust Grade doctor. As an ST or SHO you could also work across several levels.
Each could command a different pay scale depending on the level of work and experience required.
Take some time to check the job title that you are applying and interviewing for, and subsequently the pay scale that you can expect.
Experience within your chosen field
Next, consider the number of years of experience you have in your specialty, this is crucial to identifying your position on the pay scale.
This is important as an NHS Trust will calculate your pay for a Specialty Doctor in Medicine by deducting two of your years of experience to compensate for the Core Training years in the UK. Please note, for some specialties this does not apply, check with an IMG Consultant for more information.
Hours you will work
The second thing to consider is how many hours you will be working. For both SAS Doctors and Consultants, the hours are usually established using PAs (programmed activities). Each PA is worth 4 hrs of your week, and a standard week is 40 hrs. A standard salary is based on a full working week of 10 PAs (40 hours). If you work above 10 PAs, then you will gain additional salary on top of your basic pay.
NHS trusts can be different
The last thing to consider before we look at the pay scales, is that some NHS Trusts can interpret the pay scales and a doctor’s experience in different ways. All NHS Trusts should be following the same pay scale structures when recruiting and offering salaries to doctors, but this is not always the case!
This blog is a guideline, and if you are not sure of how to approach this discussion with an HR department, it can be very useful for an IMG Connect consultant to assist with the negotiations to ensure that your experience is always taken into account.
NHS Pay Scales in Northern Ireland
Doctors in Training
Service level jobs are in high demand at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay. It is also important to remember that once in the UK, you will have the option to apply for training, depending on your entry level.
The below pay scale reflects the pay at each level depending on the entry points to training, which are FY1/ F1, ST1/ CT1 and ST3/ 4.
The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.
As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.
Foundation Doctors & Specialty Registrars
Scale
Foundation Doctor 1
M220
Foundation Doctor 2
M230
Specialty Registrar (fixed term)
M240
Specialty Registrar (core training)
MN39
Specialty Registrar (full)
MN37
Min
£26,713
£33,133
£35,405
£35,405
£35,405
1
£28,381
£35,298
£37,573
£37,573
£37,573
2
£30,046
£37,466
£40,597
£40,597
£40,597
3
£42,428
£42,428
£42,428
4
£44,634
£44,634
£44,634
5
£46,842
£46,842
£46,842
6
£49,050
7
£51,256
8
£53,463
9
£55,670
SAS Doctor Pay Scale
SAS stands for Staff Grade, Associate Specialist and Specialty Doctor. They will have at least four years of full-time postgraduate training, two of which have been in the relevant specialty. Specialist Grades and Specialty Doctors in Scotland have their own contracts in place for senior doctors these contracts are based in full-time work commitment of 10 programmed activities per week it has been timetabled value of four hours. The new pay structure will enable SAS doctors to access the top of the pay scale more quickly than the current system, increasing the career average earnings.
It is important to note that your pay will reflect your experience within your chosen field.
The pay code on the left-hand side of the table below correlates to the number of years’ experience that you qualify for in your chosen specialty, and the number of years that the HR department are going to attribute to you.
Remember to discount any years that you have worked in an internship. And if you are working in a medicine specialty, deduct any core training years.
In the first threshold, for every year of experience you gain, this entitles you to a pay rise. In the second threshold, you will receive an increase every two years, and in the third, every three years.
The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.
As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in England. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.
Specialty Doctor
Years' Experience
Basic Salary
Pay Point
0
£51,000
1
1
2
3
£58,756
2
4
5
6
£65,500
3
7
8
9
£72,500
4
10
11
12
£80,000
5 - top
13
14
15
16
17
Specialist Grade
Years' Experience
Basic Salary
Pay Point
1
£81,500
1
2
3
4
£87,000
2
5
6
7
£92,500
3 (top)
Consultant Pay Scale
Service level consultant doctor jobs are in high demand in Scotland at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay.
At the consultant grade, HR departments will look at your years of experience within your specialty, as a consultant.
On the table below, you can see that all you need to do is count up the total number of complete years of experience (12 months each) as a consultant, and then count down the rows to establish your salary position.
Like the above, the salary is based on a standard working week of 10 PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.
Remember, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in England. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.
Threshold
Years completed as a consultant
Basic Salary
1
1 (starting salary)
£88,799
2
2
£91,581
3
3
£94,362
4
4
£97,141
5
5
£99,913
6
7
8
9
6
10
£106,520
11
12
13
14
7
15
£113,124
16
17
18
19
8
20+
£119,723
The most recent full pay circular for Northern Ireland can be found here.
Additional pay, benefits, pensions and terms & conditions
Current national salary scales for medical and dental staff are published in pay and conditions circulars on the NHS Employers website.
You may be eligible for additional pay on top of your basic salary if you work above the standard 10 PAs, work on call & weekends, or take on extra responsibilities. All doctors are eligible for NHS pensions and benefits.
Sources
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-hsc-tc8-03-2022.PDF
Getting started
NHS Trusts can interpret the NHS consultant pay scales above and an international doctor’s experience in different ways, so use this blog as a guideline for understanding what you may be eligible for when coming to work in the NHS.
Your IMG Consultant is happy to assist with any negotiations related to your job plan to ensure your experience is taken into account.
For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements in the UK, take a look at our IMG Resources library.
What does an NHS specialty doctor take home as their monthly salary?
Overseas doctors frequently ask us what their monthly take-home pay would be when working as an NHS specialty doctor. So, to help IMGs plan for life in the UK we put together some examples to give a better idea of what you'll actually keep each month. We hope they are of use!
How much will I take home?
Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.
It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the gross salary for each pay threshold and have assumed that you do not have other sources of income.
The figures can be higher or lower depending on any additional responsibilities or hours worked, other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses.
Specialty Doctor Take-home Pay Expectations
Pay threshold
Annual gross salary*
Estimated annual take-home pay**
Estimated monthly take-home pay**
Min
£52,530
£39,517
£3,293
1
£60,519
£44,150
£3,679
2
£67,465
£48,179
£4,015
3
£74,675
£52,361
£4,363
4
£80,400
£55,681
£4,640
*before tax and pension
**based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions
Specialist Grade Take-home Pay Expectations
Pay threshold
Annual gross salary*
Estimated annual take-home pay**
Estimated monthly take-home pay**
Min
£81,500
£57,738
£4,811
1
£89,610
£61,023
£5,085
2
£95,275
£64,309
£5,359
*before tax and pension
**based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions
To explore the pay & salary conditions across all doctor grades in the UK take a closer look here.
IMG Jobs
Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK
IMG Resources
Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!
Get in Touch
Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.
Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on the Royal Colleges, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:
IMGs will want to know what an NHS consultant salary could mean as monthly take-home pay in Northern Ireland.
To help overseas doctors plan for life in the UK we put together some examples to give a better idea of what you'll actually keep each month. We hope they are of use!
How much will I take home?
Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.
It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the gross salary for each pay threshold and have assumed that you do not have other sources of income.
The figures can be higher or lower depending on any additional responsibilities or hours worked, other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses.
Take-Home Pay Expectations in Northern Ireland
Threshold
Annual gross salary*
Estimated annual take-home pay**
Estimated monthly take-home pay**
1
£88,799
£60,533
£5,046
2
£91,581
£62,166
£5,181
3
£94,362
£63,779
£5,315
4
£97,141
£65,391
£5,449
5
£99,913
£66,999
£5,583
6
£106,520
£69,527
£5,794
7
£113,124
£72,037
£6,003
8
£119,723
£74,544
£6,212
*before tax and pension
**based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions
To explore the pay and salary conditions across all grades in the UK take a look at our series of blogs on career structure and pay for NHS doctors in our IMG Resources library.
IMG Jobs
Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK
IMG Resources
In our IMG Resources library you can read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!
Get in Touch
Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.
Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on NHS Jobs, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:
Getting to grips with the different titles given to doctors in the UK can be difficult, not least because they may differ from those used in other countries and there may be several titles to describe a certain role.
It is important for overseas doctors to have a working knowledge of the different doctor titles in the UK in order to understand how their experience may translate to the UK in terms of seniority of roles as well as the pay they may be entitled to.
In this blog we will be breaking down all the different names given to UK doctors (both in and out of training), clarifying the meaning of these terms to paint a clearer picture of designations in the NHS.
We will cover these titles within the following groups:
Doctors in Training
Doctors in non-Training Jobs
Broad Terms for UK Doctors
Doctors in Training
Doctors in GMC-approved training programmes have designations according to the period and specific year of their training – generally the abbreviation of the training, followed by a number.
Foundation Training
Other Titles / Designations: F1, F2, FY1, FY2, F3+, SHO, Junior Doctor, Trainee
These are doctors in a Foundation Programme, having graduated from medical school. In the UK, this is a 2-year programme equivalent to an internship.
During Year 1 of Foundation Training, doctors are referred to as F1/ FY1 and during Year 2, they are F2/ FY2.
Although Foundation Training lasts two years, doctors who may be unsure of which specialty to pursue may work in non-training jobs before applying to a training post. The naming structure for these roles is the same, depending on the years in their role.
Core Training
Other Titles / Designations: CT1, CT2, CT3, ST1, ST2, ST3, SHO, Junior Doctor, Trainee
These are doctors in Core Training who are at the initial stage of an ‘uncoupled’ training programme. An uncoupled training programme is one in which there is a break in training where doctors are required to apply to higher specialty training upon completion of core training. Core training usually lasts from two to three years.
For ‘run-through’ training programmes, doctors at ST1 would have come from Foundation Training and have automatic entry into higher specialty training through their initial application to ST1.
Specialty Training
Other Titles / Designations: ST3+, StR, SHO, Junior Doctor, Trainee
Higher specialty training generally begins at ST3/ ST4 and can go up to ST9 depending on the specialty.
The curriculum for each specialty will provide the typical training period, however this is indicative (doctors may take longer than this to complete their specialty training for any number of reasons).
SHO
The term SHO stands for Senior House Officer, less commonly known as a House Officer. This is an older term for a very junior doctor, typically equivalent to an F1/ F2, although the term can be used to describe doctors up to CT2 (up to higher specialty training).
Trainee
The term trainee can refer to any doctor in a training programme (generally from CT1 to ST9). These doctors may be referred to as residents in other countries. This can but does not generally include doctors in Foundation Training.
Doctors in non-Training Jobs
Doctors in non-training positions are often given titles which align with their training counterparts, so it’s easier to understand at what level they are practising, but there are no hard and fast rules.
SHO
Other Titles / Designations: Junior Clinical Fellow, Junior Doctor, Middle Grade
As with doctors in training, a non-training SHO would typically be equivalent to an F1/ F2, but it may be more common for a doctor not in training to have this title since an equivalent doctor in training would most likely be referred to as an F1/ F2.
Senior Clinical Fellow
Other Titles / Designations: Junior Doctor
This is a slightly confusing term which is usually for doctors at ST3+ level and generally have not completed a UK training programme. The role of these doctors often includes a combination of research and specialist clinical work.
SAS Doctor
Other Titles / Designations: Senior Doctor, Specialist
SAS stands for Staff grade, Associate Specialist, and Specialty Doctor. These doctors will have at least four years of full-time postgraduate training, two of which have been in their relevant specialty.
They are experienced and senior doctors in fixed term or permanent posts (outside a UK training programme) and can work across primary, community and inpatient care.
Many SAS doctors have made a positive choice to step into a SAS position from a traditional consultant training pathway. This could be for reasons such as geographical stability or wanting to familiarise themselves with the NHS system before working up to a consultant position.
Broader Terms
There are also several terms which may more broadly be used to describe a doctor's level.
Junior Doctor
This term can be used to describe anyone from F1 up to ST9These are qualified doctors in clinical training.
Registrar
Other Titles / Designations: SpR, Junior Doctor, Middle Grade
This is another slightly older term. Registrar or SpR (Specialty Registrars) refers to the main training grade where doctors are undertaking higher specialty training (this is the earliest you can specialise).
It can refer to both trainees and non-trainees and is generally equivalent to ST3 and above (doctors who have completed their foundation training but are still in training in a specialty area of medicine). This term is therefore commonly used to describe more senior trainees and generally aligns with its use overseas.
Senior Doctor
Other Titles / Designations: Specialist Grade, Specialty Doctor, Associate Specialist, GP, Consultant
As ‘junior doctor’ and ‘senior doctor’ are indicative of whether or not a doctor is in training, senior doctors are those able to practise independently – those working as a consultant, SAS doctor or GP.
Consultant
Other Titles / Designations: Senior Doctor
Consultants are senior doctors that have completed full medical training in a specialised area of medicine. They usually work in hospitals or community settings. They have clinical responsibilities and administrative responsibilities in managing SAS and junior doctors.
There are two types of consultants:
Substantive - These are consultant who have been appointed to the Specialist Register for their area of medicine by the GMC. These doctors will either have completed a GMC-approved training programme (CCT) or completed an application for CESR or CESR-CP. You can learn more about Specialist Registration for overseas doctors here.
Locum - These are consultants who are appointed into an equivalent consultant post but are not required to be on the Specialist Register. Locum consultants are unable to take up a permanent position (only fixed term). A locum consultant’s work tends to be more clinical, however there may also be teaching and management responsibilities involved. It is also important to distinguish between two types of locums here: Trust Locums and Agency Locums. As the name suggests, agency locums work with a private agency and will generally receive an hourly wage. Trust locums on the other hand are appointed by the NHS Trust themselves and will be on a fixed-term contract which can be renewed.
GP
GP stands for General Practitioner, and these are doctors who are responsible for the primary care of patients, covering illnesses and ailments across many specialist areas.
GPs are fully trained and are allowed to practice independently without supervision and all qualified GPs are listed on the GMC’s GP Register.
Unlike is often the case in overseas healthcare systems, general practitioners are not synonymous with doctors specialising in general medicine, so a general practitioner overseas may not necessarily have the same title in the UK.
Locum Doctor
These are doctors who are covering a role within a healthcare setting.
All doctors (aside from F1 doctors) can work as locums. Like all practising physicians, locum doctors are fully registered with, and regulated by, the GMC.
Sources
https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/international-doctors/life-and-work-in-the-uk/toolkit-for-doctors-new-to-the-uk/doctors-titles-explained
Hopefully, this article goes some way to demystify these terms and titles for international doctors interested in working in the UK. For more information including working in the NHS, doctors' benefits and salaries and how to register with the GMC, take a look through our IMG Resources library.