Resident (Junior) Doctor Salary UK: FY1 to Consultant Pay Explained
What resident doctors in England earn in 2025/26, from about £38,800 basic pay as an FY1 to consultant level, and why total pay is usually higher than basic pay.
By Tony Musso on
A junior doctor in England, now called a resident doctor, earns about £38,800 basic pay in their first foundation year (FY1) on the 2025/26 national pay scale. Basic pay rises to about £44,400 in FY2, about £52,700 in early specialty training, and up to about £77,700 for senior registrars. Consultants earn about £109,700 to £145,500 basic.
Most resident doctors take home more than these figures suggest, because the basic salary covers a standard working week only. Extra pay for additional rostered hours, night shifts and weekends is added on top. The figures below are for England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own pay scales, so the numbers there are different.
Junior doctor or resident doctor?
"Junior doctor" was the long-standing name for any doctor below consultant or GP level, including registrars with ten or more years of experience. In England this group is now called resident doctors. Nothing about the job or the pay structure changed with the name. You will still see "junior doctor" in job adverts, older guidance and most Google searches, so both terms point to the same people: foundation doctors, core trainees and specialty registrars.
Resident doctor salary in England, 2025/26
These are basic pay figures from the national pay scale for England, rounded to the nearest £100. In England, resident doctors in training are paid by "nodal point", which is tied to your stage of training rather than your years of service.
| Stage | Nodal point | Typical grades | Basic pay (2025/26) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation year 1 | 1 | FY1 | about £38,800 |
| Foundation year 2 | 2 | FY2 | about £44,400 |
| Early specialty training | 3 | CT1-2, ST1-2 | about £52,700 |
| Middle registrar | 4 | ST3-5 | about £66,400 |
| Senior registrar | 5 | ST6-8 | about £77,700 |
| Consultant | - | Consultant | about £109,700 to £145,500 |
Two things to check when you read these numbers:
- They are 2025/26 figures. Pay awards are usually announced once a year. If a newer award has been published, the national pay circular from NHS Employers will have the up-to-date scale.
- They are basic pay only. Your actual salary depends on your rota.
Why total pay is usually higher than basic pay
Your basic salary covers a standard full-time week. Most hospital rotas ask for more than that, and the contract pays for it in several ways:
- Additional rostered hours. If your rota averages more than the standard week, you are paid extra for those hours.
- Unsocial hours. Night shifts carry an enhanced rate.
- Weekend work. Rotas with regular weekend shifts attract an extra allowance, which rises with how often you work weekends.
- On-call availability. Being on call from home can add a further allowance.
- Location. Doctors working in London receive London weighting on top of basic pay.
Your work schedule, which your employer must send before you start each post, sets out the hours and the pay elements for that rotation. That document, not the headline scale, tells you what you will actually earn. Two FY1 doctors on the same basic pay can earn noticeably different amounts if one does far more nights and weekends.
For pay across every grade on one page, including monthly figures, consultants, GPs and the 2026/27 award, see our doctor salary UK guide.
How pay rises through training
Pay in England jumps at each stage of training, so the best way to understand your future salary is to understand the training ladder.
Medical school
A standard medical degree takes five years. Graduate-entry programmes usually take four. Some students take an extra intercalated year. You earn nothing during this time, and the length of the course is a real cost to plan for.
Foundation programme (FY1 and FY2)
After graduating you join the two-year UK Foundation Programme. FY1 is your first paid year, and you need to complete it to gain full registration with the GMC. FY2 brings the second nodal point, a pay rise of roughly £5,600 in basic pay, and more responsibility on the ward.
Core and early specialty training
After foundation, most doctors either enter core training (for example in medicine, surgery or psychiatry) or a run-through specialty programme. Basic pay moves to nodal point 3, about £52,700. Some doctors take a year or more out of training at this point, working in non-training posts, travelling or doing research, so not everyone moves straight up the ladder.
Higher specialty training (registrar)
Registrars are where pay rises most. ST3 to ST5 sits at nodal point 4, about £66,400 basic, and ST6 to ST8 at nodal point 5, about £77,700. Registrars often carry heavy out-of-hours rotas, so their total earnings can sit well above basic pay.
Consultant
When you finish specialty training you receive your Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) and can join the GMC Specialist Register, which lets you apply for consultant posts. Consultant basic pay in England runs from about £109,700 to about £145,500, with progression through the scale over a number of years. Consultants may also do extra paid sessions, and some take on private work outside their NHS contract.
The full path from FY1 to consultant usually takes many years, and length varies a lot between specialties. Shorter programmes reach consultant level sooner, while many surgical and medical specialties take longer. Our surgeon career guide covers one of the longer routes.
GP training and pay
General practice is the other main route. After foundation, GP specialty training in England usually lasts three years, split between hospital posts and placements in GP surgeries. GP trainees are paid on the same specialty registrar pay scale as other trainees, with extra pay elements depending on placement and rota.
Once qualified, a GP's income depends heavily on whether they are salaried, a partner or a locum, and pay varies more than at consultant level. For the detail, see how much GP trainees earn and GP salary in the UK. Our doctor career guide sets out the route into general practice step by step.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Doctors in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are paid under their own arrangements. The grade names are similar and the training structure is broadly the same, but pay points, pay awards and some contract terms differ. If you are comparing offers across the UK, check the current pay scale published for that nation rather than using the England figures above.
Is the pay worth it?
A resident doctor's pay looks modest in FY1 compared with the cost and length of a medical degree, but it rises steadily and consultant pay puts you among the higher earners in the UK. Things to weigh up:
| Factor | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Training length | Many years of study and training before senior pay |
| Rota | Nights and weekends lift pay but affect sleep and life outside work |
| Specialty | Training length and out-of-hours work vary a lot |
| Location | London weighting helps, but living costs are higher |
| Job security | Medicine is in steady demand across the UK |
If you are still deciding whether medicine is right for you, compare it with other options in our UK salaries by career hub, or try Career Compass to see which careers suit your interests.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an FY1 doctor earn in the UK?
In England, an FY1 doctor earns about £38,800 basic pay on the 2025/26 national pay scale. Most FY1 doctors earn more than this in total, because extra rostered hours, night shifts and weekend work are paid on top. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own scales.
Are junior doctors and resident doctors the same thing?
Yes. In England, doctors below consultant or GP level who used to be called junior doctors are now called resident doctors. The name changed, but the grades, training and pay structure did not. Job adverts and older guidance may still use either term.
How much does a registrar earn in England?
On the 2025/26 scale, registrars at ST3 to ST5 earn about £66,400 basic pay, and senior registrars at ST6 to ST8 earn about £77,700. Total pay is usually higher once additional hours, nights, weekends and any London weighting are added.
What is the salary of a consultant doctor in the UK?
In England, consultant basic pay for 2025/26 runs from about £109,700 to about £145,500, rising through the scale with years in post. Extra sessions and private work can add more. Consultants in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are paid on their own national scales.
Why is my actual pay higher than the pay scale says?
The pay scale shows basic pay for a standard working week. Your work schedule adds pay for extra rostered hours, unsocial hours at night, weekend shifts and on-call availability, plus London weighting if you work in London. Check your work schedule for the exact breakdown.
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