Junior Doctors Salary 2026/27: Regional Differences and Take-Home Pay by Grade

Junior Doctors Salary 2026/27: What You Take Home Across the UK

Understanding the junior doctors salary in the UK goes beyond the headline gross figure. Deductions for Income Tax, National Insurance, and the NHS Pension scheme vary by grade, region, and personal circumstances. This article breaks down the latest pay scales for 2026/27 and shows how much you can expect to take home, with a focus on regional and seniority differences.

Pay Scales for Junior Doctors in England (2016 Contract)

The Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration (DDRB) recommended uplifts that took effect from 1 April 2026. The new nodal points for England are:

• FY1 (nodal point 1): £41,226 (+6.2%)
• FY2 (nodal point 2): £47,610 (+7.1%)
• ST1/CT1 (nodal point 3a): £55,355 (+5.1%)
• ST3/CT3 (nodal point 4a): £67,325 (+3.5%)
• ST6 (nodal point 5a): £76,582 (+3.5%)
• ST8 (nodal point 5c): £77,348 (+4.5%)

These are basic pay rates. Actual earnings are usually higher due to unsocial hours, on-call allowances, and additional responsibilities.

Take-Home Pay After Deductions

For a single person with the standard Personal Allowance (£12,570) and no student loan, take-home pay in England for 2026/27 is estimated as follows (using NHS Pension tiered contributions):

Grade	Gross	Pension	Income Tax	NI	Annual Take-Home	Monthly Take-Home
FY1	£41,226	£4,040 (9.8%)	£4,923	£2,292	£29,970	£2,498
FY2	£47,610	£4,666 (9.8%)	£6,075	£2,803	£34,066	£2,839
ST1/CT1	£55,355	£5,923 (10.7%)	£7,372	£3,118	£38,942	£3,245
ST3/CT3	£67,325	£7,204 (10.7%)	£11,480	£3,357	£45,284	£3,774
ST6	£76,582	£9,573 (12.5%)	£14,236	£3,542	£49,231	£4,103
ST8	£77,348	£9,669 (12.5%)	£14,504	£3,558	£49,618	£4,135

These figures assume the NHS Pension net pay arrangement (pension deducted before Income Tax but not before National Insurance). If you have a student loan, your take-home will be lower.

Regional Differences: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Scotland sets its own Income Tax bands, which significantly affect take-home pay. For 2026/27, the Scottish rates are: starter 19% (£12,571–£14,876), intermediate 21% (£14,877–£29,526), higher 42% (£29,527–£43,662), and advanced 45% (above £75,000). Using the same gross salary of £67,325 (ST3 level) and the same pension contribution, take-home in Scotland is £43,531 – about £1,752 less than in England.

Wales and Northern Ireland use the same Income Tax rates as England, so take-home is identical for the same gross pay. However, pay scales themselves differ between nations; the figures above are for England only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own contracts and pay scales, so always check the relevant NHS employer.

Pension Contributions and How They Affect Net Pay

The NHS Pension is a valuable defined benefit scheme, but contributions reduce your take-home pay. The 2026/27 member contribution tiers are:

• Up to £13,259: 5.2%
• £13,260–£28,854: 6.5%
• £28,855–£35,155: 8.3%
• £35,156–£52,778: 9.8%
• £52,779–£67,668: 10.7%
• £67,669 and above: 12.5%

Because contributions are taken under a net pay arrangement, they reduce your taxable income for Income Tax but not for National Insurance. This is why NI is charged on the full gross salary.

What the Data Shows: ONS ASHE Median

The Office for National Statistics’ Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2024 for SOC code 2211 (junior doctors) reports a median full-time gross annual salary of approximately £43,900. The 25th percentile is £36,600 and the 75th percentile is £55,300. This aligns closely with the FY2 to ST1 range on the nodal scale.

Using Our Tools

For a personalised estimate, try our take-home calculator which lets you enter your exact grade, pension rate, and student loan status. You can also browse salary data for other NHS roles and UK professions.

Summary

The junior doctors salary in 2026/27 ranges from £41,226 for FY1 to £77,348 for ST8 in England. After deductions, monthly take-home is between £2,498 and £4,135. Scotland’s different Income Tax bands reduce net pay by around £1,500–£2,000 per year at mid-grade levels. Always consider your personal deductions – especially pension tier, student loan, and tax code – when planning your finances.

For more articles on UK salaries and take-home pay, visit our salary articles section.