How Much Do Doctors Earn Per Month in the UK?

Latest Update 

In 2025, doctors in the UK will see a rise in pay as part of new government pay reforms. NHS doctors will be rewarded with an increase of 5.4% for 2025-26 and a one-off payment of £750 (INR 79,500) after a pay increase of 22% from 2023.  

Currently, NHS doctor salaries in the UK per month range from £2,700 (INR 2.86 lakh) to £12,000 (₹12.72 lakh), depending on role, years of practice, specialty, claims for extra shifts, and geographical region. Generally, NHS doctors earn the most in senior positions in high-cost regions.  

A summary of what different doctors earn:  

• Entry-level junior doctors (FY1-FY2): £32,398 to £42,008 per year (INR 34.34 - 44.52 lakh) 
• Senior specialty doctors: £59,175 to £100,870 per year (INR 62.33 lakhs - 1.07 crore) 
• Consultants: £105,504 to £145,478 per year (INR 1.12 - 1.54 crore) 

This guide will help you understand pay between NHS vs private work, pay inside a specialty, regional variations throughout the UK, and compare UK and Indian junior and senior doctor salaries. 

Also Read: Cost of Living in the UK  

What is the average monthly salary of doctors in the UK? 

In 2025, the average doctor salary in UK ranges between £65,000 and £100,000 per year, which is approximately INR 69 lakh to INR 1.07 crore. This is based on full-time roles across the UK, primarily within the National Health Service (NHS). 

Doctors in UK on an average earn: 

• £2,700 to £8,300 per month before tax (around INR 2.9 – 8.8 lakh), depending on their level and whether they take on extra shifts. 
• The majority work under fixed NHS pays bands, but some also practice privately, which can boost earnings significantly. 

 This average includes junior doctors, mid-level specialty doctors, and consultants. Factors like location (London vs rural areas), overtime, night shifts, and years of experience play a huge role in the final take-home pay. 

Want to practice or study medicine in the UK? Explore upGrad’s UK medical programs to get started.   

To get a clear picture of how doctor salaries work in the UK. Let’s discuss this further.  

Want a career in the UK’s healthcare sector? Explore Medical Service courses in the UK . 

NHS Doctor Salary Breakdown by Role 

The pay for NHS doctors in the UK is structured in pay bands, which alter based on stage of training, years of experience, and responsibilities. This structure has a degree of transparency and consistency across public health jobs in the UK. 

Let's take a closer look at what NHS doctors in different roles can expect to earn in a year: 

Role	Approx. Annual Salary (GBP)	Approx. Annual Salary (INR)
Foundation Year 1 (FY1)	£32,398	INR 34 lakhs
Foundation Year 2 (FY2)	£37,303	INR 39 lakhs
Specialty Registrar (StR)	£43,923 – £63,152	INR 46 – 67 lakhs
Specialty Doctor	£52,530 – £82,400	INR 55 – 88 lakhs
Consultant	£105,504 – £145,478	INR 1.1 – 1.6 crore

Sources: NHS Employers, NHS Health Careers 

Note: The amounts mentioned in the table are approximate and may vary depending on the currency exchange rates. 

How does location affect doctor salaries across the UK? 

Salaries in the UK differ based on location. Doctors working in London or other areas with high living expenses will typically be paid better due to Pay Supplements, while the salaries in rural areas or less populated areas will typically have below average salaries. 

Location/Region	Appx. Monthly Salary (GBP)	Approx. Monthly Salary (INR)
London (High-cost area)	£3,500 – £12,000	INR 3.7 – 12.72 lakh
Southeast England	£3,000 – £10,500	INR 3.1 – 11.15 lakh
Midlands & North England	£2,700 – £9,000	INR 2.86 – 9.55 lakh
Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland	£2,700 – £8,500	INR 2.86 – 9.02 lakh

Location can significantly impact a doctor’s salary, with high-cost areas offering higher pay but also higher living expenses. 

Check out: MBBS in UK: Ranking, Eligibility, Fees for Indian Students 

What are the high-cost area supplements for doctors? 

Physicians practicing in high-cost areas like London, the southeast of England, and also large urban areas receive additional payments, called High-Cost Area Supplements (HCAS). These financial supplements help to cover higher rents, commuting and living costs.  

Here are the details: 

Doctor Role	Approx. HCAS per/year (GBP)	Approx. HCAS per/ year (INR)
Foundation Doctors (FY1–FY2)	£2,000 – £3,000	INR 2,00,000 – 3,00,000
Specialty Registrars & Specialty Doctors	£5,000 – £8,000	INR 5,00,000 – 8,00,000
Consultants	£10,000 – £14,000	INR 10,00,000 – 14,00,000

High-Cost Area Supplements can boost total salary by 10–15%, helping doctors in expensive regions cover higher living costs. 

Which medical specialties earn the highest monthly salary in the UK? 

Some medical specialties certainly pay more than others in the UK and doctors specializing in surgery, anesthetics, and cardiology are usually the ones that are paid the most because of their skills along with demand.  

Below are the top specialties and their typical earnings each month: 

Medical Specialty	Monthly Salary (GBP)	Monthly Salary (INR)
Surgery	£8,500 – £12,000	INR 9,00,000 – 12,72,000
Anesthetics	£7,500 – £11,500	INR 7,95,000 – 12,20,000
Cardiology	£7,200 – £11,000	INR 7,63,000 – 11,66,000
Radiology	£6,800 – £10,500	INR 7,20,000 – 11,15,000
Emergency Medicine	£6,500 – £10,000	INR 6,90,000 – 10,72,000

Choosing a high-demand specialty like surgery can greatly increase a doctor’s monthly earnings. 

Also check out: Healthcare Courses in UK 

How much do surgeons earn per month in the UK? 

Surgeons are among the highest-paid doctors in the UK. Their pay depends on experience, seniority, and extra work like night shifts or private practice. 

This is the usual salary range: 

• Junior Surgeon / Specialty Registrar 
• Monthly pay: £6,500 – £8,500 
• Approx. INR: 6,90,000 – 9,00,000 
• Usually works under supervision and may do on-call shifts 
• Senior Surgeon / Consultant 
• Monthly pay: £9,000 – £12,000 
• Approx. INR: 9,55,000 – 12,72,000 
• Handles complex surgeries and may lead teams or work privately 

Senior surgeons can earn up to £12,000 per month, making surgery one of the top-paying specialties in the UK. 

What are the tax and deduction implications on a doctor’s monthly salary in the UK? 

Doctors in the UK pay Income Tax, National Insurance (NI), and pension contributions. The deductions depend on salary level and role and are calculated to determine monthly take-home pay. 

Here’s the breakdown for an NHS doctor (2025): 

Deduction Type	Amount (GBP)	Amount (INR)
Income Tax	£8,360 per year	INR 6,96,000/year
National Insurance (NI)	£4,535 per year	INR 4,53,500/year
NHS Pension Contribution	9.3% of gross salary	INR 12,00,000/year
Student Loan Repayment	£45 – £75 per month	INR 4,500 – 7,500/month

After deductions, a typical NHS doctor earning £50,000/year will take home around £3,900 per month (INR 3,90,000). 

How does workload and shifts impact monthly earnings? 

Doctors in the UK can earn more by taking more than their allocated set hours, and shifts during the day period (shifts include nights and weekends). Taking on these shifts adds monthly pay to the base salary.  

• Extra day shifts – could provide approximately (£500–£1,000/month) (~INR 50,000–1,00,000)  
• Night shifts can offer often around (£600–£1,200/month) (~INR 60,000–1,20,000)  
• Weekend or holiday work could provide another (£300–£800/month) (~INR 30,000–80,000). 

Extra shifts for surgery, within cardiology, or emergency medicine can add to a potential additional compensation of 10% to 30%. 

How do on-call hours affect a doctor’s monthly income? 

On-call hours give doctors extra pay on top of their regular salary. Junior doctors can earn £200–£500/month (INR 20,000–50,000) from on-call work. Senior doctors and consultants may earn £800–£1,500/month (INR 80,000–1,50,000) depending on how many calls they take.  

On-call shifts often include nights, weekends, and holidays, making a noticeable difference in total monthly earnings. 

How does private practice compare to NHS in monthly earnings? 

Private practice frequently affords greater income than the NHS, particularly for consultants who have had years in practice. While NHS salaries are dictated by basic pay bands, private work means that the doctor in question can charge for every consultation, surgery or procedure they undertake.   

Here are the figures illustrating NHS vs private income in the UK. 

Role	Avg. NHS Monthly Salary (GBP / INR)	Appx. Private Practice Monthly Earnings (GBP / INR)
Junior Doctor (Foundation Year 1)	£2,800 (INR 2,94,000)	£3,500–£5,000   (INR 3,67,500–INR 5,25,000)
Specialty Doctor	£4,500 (INR 4,72,500)	£6,000–£8,000   (INR 6,30,000–INR 8,40,000)
Consultant (NHS)	£8,000 (INR 8,40,000)	£12,000–£20,000   (INR 12,60,000–INR 21,00,000)
GP (General Practitioner)	£6,000 (INR 6,30,000)	£9,000–£15,000   (INR 9,45,000–INR 15,75,000)
Highly Experienced Consultant	£9,500 (INR 9,97,500)	£25,000+   (INR 26,25,000+)

Earning potential is strongly influenced by specialization, patient demand, and location. Doctors can maximize income by combining NHS security with private practice flexibility. 

How much can hospital consultants earn in private practice? 

Hospital consultants working in private practice are the top earners of all and have the power to set their consultation fees and surgical charges which greatly helps them financially.  

The following is a breakdown of the typical monthly earnings for private consultants in the UK: 

Consultant Type	Avg Monthly Earnings (GBP / INR)
General Medicine Consultant	£10,000 (INR 10,50,000)
Orthopedic Surgeon	£18,000 (INR 18,90,000)
Cardiologist	£20,000 (INR 21,00,000)
Plastic Surgeon	£22,000 (INR 23,10,000)
Top Consultant in London	£30,000+ (INR 31,50,000+)

Private practice allows consultants to scale income faster than NHS roles, but success depends on reputation, location, and specialization. 

What is the long-term salary growth trend for doctors in the UK? 

Doctors' salaries in the UK have seen consistent growth over the past twenty years, but in real terms little has changed when accounting for inflation. For example, NHS data demonstrates how real term pay has not kept up with inflation, whereas private sector pay usually exceeds NHS salaries.  

Here's a summary of the long-term salary growth trends for UK doctors: 

Year	Average Monthly Salary (GBP)	Average Monthly Salary (INR)
Early 2000s	£3,200	INR 320,000
2010	£4,100	INR 410,000
2015	£4,500	INR 450,000
2020	£5,000	INR 500,000
2025 (est.)	£5,600	INR 560,000
2030 (proj.)	£6,200	INR 620,000

If you’re planning a long-term medical career in the UK, it’s important to factor in inflation, NHS policies, and private practice opportunities, as these will directly affect your salary growth. 

How Much Will Doctors’ Monthly Pay Rise in the Next Decade? 

Doctors in the UK can expect regular pay rises over the next decade. For example, currently, in 2025, the average pay for doctors is about $5,000 per month. By 2035, this amount is expected to rise to about $7,800 per month. If this goes to plan, there is a good chance that the pay will go up by more than 50% just within the next decade: because of inflation, pay adjustments, greater demand for services, and more to come. 

Conclusion 

Studying medicine in the UK is a big step, but it can lead to amazing opportunities. With the right preparation, you can build a strong career that makes a real difference. 

Every stage of your journey, from academics to clinical practice, is a chance to learn and grow. Stay focused and consistent, and you’ll be ready to achieve your goals. 

Need to know more or want expert guidance? upGrad is here to support you every step of the way. Book a 1:1 free counselling session with upGrad experts today and start planning your future with confidence.