Resident Doctor Salaries Explained

Understanding resident doctor salaries is essential for managing your finances effectively. Your total compensation consists of basic salary plus various allowances and supplements that can significantly increase your earnings.

This guide explains how resident doctor pay is calculated, including basic pay scales, additional hours, and various allowances.

Latest update: Resident doctors were formerly known as junior doctors, a title that changed in September 2024. Basic pay scales rose by 3.5% from April 2026 following the independent pay review body recommendation. The 2025-26 pay dispute was settled when resident doctors voted to accept the government's offer in June 2026, so the strikes have ended.

Resident Doctor Salary Scales (2026-27)

Basic pay is set by nodal point, and each point covers one or more training grades. These are the full-time rates for a standard 40-hour week from 1 April 2026, before any additional payments:

Nodal point Grade Annual Salary Monthly (Gross)
1 FY1 £40,190 £3,349
2 FY2 £45,994 £3,833
3 CT1-2 / ST1-2 £54,499 £4,542
4 CT3-4 / ST3-5 £67,325 £5,610
5 ST6-8 £76,582 £6,382

Remember: These are basic rates only. Your actual salary will be higher due to additional payments for extra hours, unsocial hours, and weekend work.

Coming next: The June 2026 pay deal also agreed to split these five nodal points into ten, with grade-specific increases phasing in through to April 2027. The five-point scale above is what current payslips use until the reformed scale is published.

Salary Components Explained

1. Additional Hours Pay

Paid at your basic hourly rate for any hours worked beyond the standard 40 hours per week.

2. Enhanced Rate Hours (37% Premium)

A 37% increase on your basic rate applies to "unsocial hours":

  • Night hours: Between 21:00-07:00
  • Late starts: Shifts starting 20:00-23:59
  • Early finishes: Shifts finishing at 10:00 or earlier (if 8+ hours long)

3. Weekend Allowance

A percentage of basic salary based on how often you work weekends: 15% for 1 in 2, down to 3% for 1 in 8. No allowance applies if you work weekends less often than 1 in 8.

4. Other Supplements

  • On-call availability allowance: Paid if you are on an on-call rota, ranging from £3,216 at nodal point 1 to £6,127 at nodal point 5
  • London allowance: A fixed cash sum, not the percentage-based supplement paid to other NHS staff. Check your latest pay circular for the current amount
  • Flexible pay premia: For hard-to-fill specialties
  • Less-than-full-time (LTFT) allowance: £1,000 annually

Real-World Salary Example

FY1 Doctor Example

Working Pattern:

  • 48 hours per week average (8 hours above the 40-hour base)
  • Around 7 unsocial hours per week at the enhanced rate
  • Weekend working: 1 in 4 weekends

Salary Breakdown:

  • Basic pay: £40,190
  • Additional hours (8 hrs/week): ~£8,000
  • Enhanced rate for unsocial hours (37%): ~£2,600
  • Weekend allowance (1 in 4, 7.5%): ~£3,000
  • Total annual salary: ~£53,800
  • Monthly gross: ~£4,490

Illustrative only. Your actual pay depends on your rota, and take-home pay is lower after tax, National Insurance, pension, and any student loan.

Important Notes

  • Maximum working hours: 48 hours per week average over a reference period
  • Annual pay awards: Basic pay is reviewed each April on the recommendation of the independent pay review body
  • Variations by specialty: Actual earnings vary significantly based on rota patterns and specialty
  • Deductions: Remember to account for income tax, National Insurance, NHS pension, and student loan repayments

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