Doctor Pay 2026/27 — Foundation Year to Consultant, After Tax
NHS medical pay scales in England from 1 April 2026, with the after-tax figure at every grade.
NHS doctors in England are paid on national scales updated from 1 April 2026. Basic pay is only the start — resident doctors add roughly 20–40% through additional-hours pay, a 37% night enhancement, weekend allowances and on-call availability payments. Consultants and senior GPs sit deep in the £100k tax trap, making pension planning essential.
| Grade | Basic salary | Take-home / year | Take-home / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation Year 1 (FY1) | £40,190 | £32,456 | £2,705 |
| Foundation Year 2 (FY2) | £45,994 | £36,635 | £3,053 |
| Registrar (ST3+) — entry | £54,499 | £42,167 | £3,514 |
| Registrar — top | £76,582 | £54,975 | £4,581 |
| Specialty doctor — top | £102,689 | £69,579 | £5,798 |
| Salaried GP — mid range | £98,000 | £67,397 | £5,616 |
| Consultant — entry | £113,565 | £73,712 | £6,143 |
| Consultant — top | £150,569 | £90,959 | £7,580 |
Take-home figures use 2026/27 England/Wales/NI rates (Income Tax + employee NI only, standard tax code, no pension or student loan). Model your exact situation with our Take-Home Pay Calculator.
Why consultants keep less than you'd think
Between £100,000 and £125,140 the personal allowance taper pushes marginal tax to 62% — a consultant's pay band sits almost entirely inside or above it. NHS pension contributions (up to 12.5% tiers) get full relief and are the main lever for managing this, though annual allowance charges can bite at consultant level — check with our Annual Allowance Calculator.
Check your own numbers
Frequently asked questions
£40,190 basic from April 2026 — around £2,596/month after tax and NI before pension, plus significant enhancements for nights, weekends and extra hours.
A top-scale consultant on £150,569 takes home roughly £89,067 a year (£7,422/month) after tax and NI — the personal allowance is fully withdrawn at this level.
Salaried GPs earn £78,699–£118,759; GP partners share practice profits and can exceed consultant pay, but carry business risk and often self-employed tax obligations.