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NHS Doctor Pay Explained
How NHS doctor pay works across resident doctor, SAS, consultant, and salaried GP contracts, and what to check before applying.
Doctor pay is not Agenda for Change
Most NHS doctor roles sit outside Agenda for Change. Resident doctors, consultants, specialty doctors, specialist doctors, associate specialists, salaried GPs, and dentists have separate national medical and dental terms and conditions.
That means a doctor advert should be read differently from a Band 5, Band 6, or Band 7 advert. The grade, contract, rota, programmed activities, supplements, and location can matter as much as the headline salary range.
Current national pay circular
NHS Employers published the 2026 medical and dental pay circular on 11 May 2026. It sets out pay arrangements from 1 April 2026 for medical and dental staff on national terms and conditions in England.
The 2026 circular applies a 3.5 per cent increase to pay for resident doctors and dentists, SAS doctors and dentists, consultants, and salaried GPs. Salaried dentists in community dental services receive a 3.75 per cent increase.
What to check in a doctor advert
For resident, trust-grade, junior clinical fellow, and specialty roles, check whether the advert names the grade clearly, whether the rota is included, and whether pay is basic salary only or includes rota-related enhancements.
For consultant roles, check the programmed activity structure, on-call frequency, supporting professional activities, private practice rules, and whether the role is substantive, fixed-term, honorary, or locum.
Application angle
Do not let pay scale language distract from the person specification. Doctor applications still shortlist on specialty fit, clinical governance, communication, audit or QIP, teaching, leadership, and evidence that you can work safely at the advertised level.