Doctors Salary UK 2026/27: Gross Pay vs Take-Home After Tax, NI and Pension

Understanding Doctors Salary UK: Gross vs Net

Doctors' pay in the UK is often discussed in terms of basic salary, but what actually lands in your bank account depends on several deductions. This guide covers the latest doctors salary UK figures for 2026/27, focusing on the difference between gross pay and take-home pay after Income Tax, National Insurance and the NHS Pension Scheme.

The 2026/27 Pay Award

The NHS Employers Pay and Conditions Circular (M&D) 1/2026 R2 confirms a 3.5% increase to basic pay for most NHS doctors in England, effective from 1 April 2026. This applies to consultants, specialty doctors, and doctors in training. The salaried GP pay range also rose by 3.5%, now sitting between £78,699 and £118,759. For doctors in training, the nodal point system was restructured from five to ten points, better aligned with training stages.

Gross Salary by Grade

Basic annual salaries (England, 2026/27) for key grades are:

• Foundation Year 1 (FY1): £41,226
• Foundation Year 2 (FY2): £47,610
• Core/ST1–ST2: £55,355
• Specialty registrar ST3–ST5: £67,325
• Specialty registrar ST6+: £76,582
• Consultant (entry threshold): £113,565
• Consultant (top, 14+ years): £150,569
• Salaried GP (range floor): £78,699
• Salaried GP (range ceiling): £118,759

These figures come from the NHS Employers circular and salarytax.uk, which compiled the new ten-point scale. Remember that basic salary is only part of the picture – most resident doctors earn 15–40% extra through enhancements for nights, weekends and on-call work.

Take-Home Pay: What Gets Deducted?

Three main deductions reduce gross pay:

1. Income Tax – Charged on earnings above the Personal Allowance (£12,570 in 2026/27). Rates are 20% (basic rate), 40% (higher rate) and 45% (additional rate). Scotland uses different bands, so take-home there will differ.

2. National Insurance – Employee NI is 12% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, then 2% above that (2026/27 thresholds).

3. NHS Pension – Contributions are tiered based on pensionable pay. For 2026/27, the bands range from 9.8% (for pay up to £52,778) up to 12.5% (for pay above £67,668). The pension is a net pay arrangement – it reduces your taxable income, but NI is still charged on the full gross amount.

Example Take-Home Figures

Take-home pay varies depending on whether you include the pension deduction. Here are two views:

After tax, NI and pension (from salarytax.uk and doctorstakehome.co.uk):

• FY1: £29,970/year (£2,498/month)
• Salaried GP (min): £50,300/year (£4,192/month)
• Consultant (entry): £67,908/year (£5,659/month)
• Consultant (top): £81,237/year (£6,770/month)

After tax and NI only (excluding pension, from uktakhomepay.co.uk):

• FY1: £32,456/year (£2,705/month)
• Consultant (entry): £73,712/year (£6,143/month)

If you also have a student loan (Plan 2 or Plan 5), an additional 9% deduction applies on earnings above the repayment threshold, further reducing take-home.

Using Our Tools

To calculate your own take-home pay, try our take-home calculator which allows you to enter your gross salary, pension contributions and student loan status. You can also explore salary data for other professions to compare.

Key Caveats

• All figures above are for England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate pay scales and tax rules.
• Basic salary excludes London weighting, clinical excellence awards, and any private practice income.
• The NHS Pension contribution rates are correct for 2026/27 but may change in future years.
• Always check your payslip and official GOV.UK guidance for your personal tax code and deductions.

Conclusion

Understanding doctors salary UK means looking beyond the headline gross figure. After Income Tax, National Insurance and the NHS pension, a foundation doctor takes home about 73% of their basic salary, while a consultant at the top of the scale keeps around 54%. Enhancements for antisocial hours can significantly boost total earnings, but the core take-home is heavily shaped by the tiered pension system. For the most accurate picture, use a detailed calculator that accounts for all deductions.

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Disclaimer: Figures are based on public statistics and calculator estimates for a single person with the standard Personal Allowance, no student loan and no pension contributions unless stated. Actual take-home pay varies by tax code, pension, Scottish rates, benefits in kind and other deductions. Always check your payslip and official GOV.UK guidance.