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Create CVDoctor UK salary is one of the most misunderstood compensation structures in the job market. Unlike tech roles or corporate careers, doctor pay is highly structured, progression-based, and influenced by multiple layers including NHS pay bands, specialisation, private work, and geographical factors.
If you’re searching this, you’re likely trying to understand not just “how much doctors earn,” but how salaries actually evolve, where the real money is, and what separates average earners from top-tier consultants.
This guide breaks down real-world salary progression, recruiter and hiring logic within healthcare, and strategic decisions that significantly impact lifetime earnings.
Doctors in the UK primarily follow structured pay scales under the NHS.
FY1 (Year 1): £32,000 – £37,000
FY2 (Year 2): £37,000 – £43,000
ST1–ST2: £43,000 – £55,000
ST3–ST5: £55,000 – £70,000
ST6–ST8: £65,000 – £80,000
Base salary is only part of the picture.
Overtime and unsocial hours pay
On-call allowances
Clinical excellence awards
Can add £20,000 – £300,000+ annually
Highly dependent on specialty and reputation
Doctor salaries are not negotiated like corporate roles. However, earnings still vary significantly based on strategic choices.
Specialty choice
Seniority and progression speed
Private practice involvement
Location (London vs regional)
Subspecialisation
Starting: £93,000
Mid-range: £105,000 – £120,000
Senior consultants: £120,000 – £140,000+
Not all doctors earn the same. Specialisation is the biggest income driver.
Surgery (Orthopaedics, Neurosurgery)
Cardiology
Radiology
Anaesthetics
Dermatology
Typical consultant earnings (with private work):
General Practice (GP)
Psychiatry
Paediatrics
Public Health
Typical earnings:
£70,000 – £120,000
GP partners can exceed £150,000
Higher ceiling with private practice
More prestige-based earning potential
Faster route to higher income
Greater flexibility
Strong locum market
This is where top doctors differentiate.
Reputation
Referral network
Specialisation demand
Location (London dominates)
A consultant surgeon:
NHS salary: £110,000
Private earnings: £150,000+
Total: £260,000+
Unlike corporate hiring, doctors are assessed differently.
Clinical competency
Training pedigree
Subspecialisation
Research and publications
Reputation within network
Can this doctor handle complexity independently?
Do they bring prestige or reputation?
Can they contribute to department performance?
Foundation training
£32k – £43k
Specialty training
£43k – £80k
Consultant level
£93k – £140k+
Earnings scale significantly
£150k – £300k+
Reality:
Early years are relatively low-paid
High earnings come later
Reality:
Reality:
Networking is critical
Reputation compounds over time
London = higher private income
Regional = less competition but lower fees
Doctor (Consultant): £100k – £250k+
Investment Banker: £120k – £500k+
Software Engineer (Senior): £80k – £150k+
Doctors have:
Slower start
High long-term stability
Strong earning ceiling with private work
Junior doctors: £30 – £60 per hour
Consultants: £100 – £200+ per hour
Flexibility
Higher short-term income
No long-term security
No benefits
Name: Dr. Sarah Mitchell
Role: Consultant Cardiologist
Location: London, UK
Professional Summary
Consultant Cardiologist with 12+ years of clinical experience specialising in interventional cardiology. Recognised for improving patient outcomes and leading high-performing cardiac units. Established private practice generating £180,000 annually.
Core Expertise
Interventional cardiology
Cardiac imaging
Acute coronary syndrome management
Clinical leadership
Research and publications
Professional Experience
Consultant Cardiologist – NHS Trust (London)
2018 – Present
Lead cardiology services for a major NHS hospital
Reduced patient waiting times by 35%
Performed 1,000+ interventional procedures
Private Practice – Cardiology Clinic (London)
2019 – Present
Built private patient base generating £180,000 annually
Developed referral network across London hospitals
Education & Training
MBBS – University of Oxford
MRCP (UK)
CCT in Cardiology
Strong private practice
High-demand specialties
Established reputation
Subspecialisation
NHS-only roles
Limited private work
Generalist focus
Increasing demand for specialists
Growing private healthcare market
NHS pay pressures continuing
Private income will become more important
Specialisation will drive earnings even more
Doctors:
Start slower financially
Peak later
Build long-term wealth through private practice
Compared to other careers:
More stable
Less volatile
Strong long-term earning potential
Doctor salary in the UK is not just about NHS pay bands.
It is shaped by:
Specialty choice
Private practice strategy
Reputation and network
Long-term positioning
The biggest difference between a £100k doctor and a £300k doctor is not intelligence or effort. It’s strategic career decisions.
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