Doctor Salary UK 2026/27: What You Actually Take Home After Tax and NI

Doctor Salary UK 2026/27: What You Actually Take Home

If you're negotiating a new role or comparing job offers in the NHS or private sector, understanding the full picture of a doctor salary is essential. Gross pay is only part of the story – what you actually take home depends on Income Tax, National Insurance, pension contributions, and possibly student loan repayments. This guide breaks down the latest UK doctor pay scales and gives you realistic take-home figures for each grade.

NHS Doctor Pay Scales 2026/27 (England)

The NHS Employers Pay & Conditions Circular (M&D) 1/2026 R2 sets the basic full-time salaries for doctors and dentists. These are the starting points before any additional payments for antisocial hours, on-call, or private work.

Grade	Gross Salary	Monthly Take-Home (after tax & NI, no pension)
FY1 (Foundation Year 1)	£40,190	£2,705
FY2 (Foundation Year 2)	£45,994	£3,053
Registrar NP3 (ST1–ST2)	£54,499	£3,514
Registrar NP5 (ST6–ST8)	£76,582	£4,581
Salaried GP (range floor)	£78,699	£4,684
Consultant (entry, threshold 1)	£113,565	£6,143
Consultant (top, 14+ yrs)	£150,569	£7,632

Take-home figures are for a single person with standard tax code 1257L, rest-of-UK Income Tax bands, and 2026/27 employee National Insurance. They exclude NHS pension deductions, student loan repayments, and any additional-hours pay.

What About GPs?

Salaried GPs in England earn between £78,699 and £118,759 on the basic scale. However, many GPs work as contractors (self-employed) and their income is higher. According to NHS Digital's GP Earnings and Expenses Estimates for 2024/25, contractor GPs in England had an average income before tax of £164,200. That figure is after deducting allowable business expenses but before Income Tax and National Insurance. In Scotland, contractor GPs averaged £140,000; in Wales £134,900; and in Northern Ireland £121,000.

Junior Doctor Salaries: ONS Data

The Office for National Statistics Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2024 for SOC code 2211 (junior doctors) shows a median full-time gross salary of £43,900. The 25th percentile is £36,600 and the 75th percentile is £55,300. On the median, with a 5% net-pay pension contribution, monthly take-home is about £2,802 (PayslipIQ calculation).

The Impact of Pension and Student Loans

Most NHS doctors are enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme. Employee contributions are tiered: the highest earners pay 12.5% of pensionable pay, deducted before tax. This reduces your take-home but lowers your tax bill. For example, a consultant on £113,565 contributing 12.5% would see their net monthly pay drop by roughly £1,183 (before tax relief).

Student loan repayments also bite. For Plan 2 loans (pre-2023), you repay 9% of earnings above £27,295. On a £54,499 registrar salary, that's about £204 per month. Plan 5 loans (from 2023) have a threshold of £25,000.

Additional Earnings: The Real Picture

Basic salary is rarely the whole story. Resident doctors typically earn 15–40% more from enhanced rates for nights, weekends, and on-call. Consultants can add private practice income. The Medscape UK Doctors Pay Report 2026 found a mean total earnings of £114,397 across all physician types – but this is an unweighted sample and not projectable to the wider population.

Scotland: Different Tax Bands

If you work in Scotland, Income Tax bands differ from the rest of the UK. The starter rate is 19%, basic rate 20%, intermediate rate 21%, higher rate 42%, and top rate 47% (2026/27). This means your take-home on the same gross salary will be lower than in England. Always check the Scottish rates when comparing offers.

Negotiating Your Offer

When comparing job offers, look beyond the basic doctor salary. Ask about:

• Expected additional hours and banding supplements
• On-call commitments and how they are paid
• Private practice opportunities (especially for consultants)
• Pension contribution rates (NHS vs. other schemes)
• Relocation packages and study leave

Use our take-home calculator to model your net pay with your specific deductions. You can also browse salary data for other healthcare roles.

Summary

A doctor's take-home pay in the UK varies enormously by grade, location, and extra duties. On basic NHS scales, an FY1 keeps about £2,705 per month, while a top consultant takes home around £7,632. But with additional hours, private work, and pension contributions, the real numbers are different. Always factor in all deductions before making a decision.

For more context, read our salary articles on NHS pay negotiations and tax planning.