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NHS pay bands and what IMGs actually earn
NHS medical pay in England is set nationally. Non-training doctors sit on a specialty-doctor or trust-grade scale; training doctors follow the 2016 junior doctor contract. Basic pay is enhanced by nodal points, night and weekend supplements, and on-call availability. Expect £45,000–£65,000 total earnings in a first NHS SHO-equivalent post, higher at registrar level.
Who this applies to
- IMGs budgeting for the move to the UK.
- IMGs comparing offers between trusts or specialties.
Key requirements
Trainee pay 2016 junior doctor contract — nodal points 1–5 Non-trainee pay Specialty doctor / trust-grade national scales Enhancements Night, weekend, on-call availability supplements First-post range ~£45k–£65k total for SHO-equivalent
Steps
- 1. Check the current pay circular
NHS Employers publishes the up-to-date scales — do not rely on forum estimates.
Rota code drives the enhancement — the same nodal point can pay very differently between trusts.
Deduct tax, NI, student loan (if any) and pension contributions.
Common failure points
- Comparing basic pay only, ignoring rota supplements.
- Assuming London weighting applies to every English post.
Official sources
Every fact above should be confirmed against the controlling source before you act on it.
- NHS Employers — pay for doctors NHS EmployersOfficial
- BMA — pay scales British Medical AssociationOfficial
Written by Editorial LeadReviewed by Procedural ReviewerPublished 12 July 2026Updated 12 July 2026See change log →
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