Specialty Doctor Pay Scale 2026/27 (England)
Basic pay for specialty doctors on the 2021 contract is £63,696 to start and £102,689 after 12 years, from 1 April 2026.
| Years of experience | Basic salary | Take-home a year | A month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 2 | £63,696 | £47,501 | £3,958 |
| 3 to 5 | £73,383 | £53,120 | £4,427 |
| 6 to 8 | £81,804 | £58,004 | £4,834 |
| 9 to 11 (after the threshold) | £90,548 | £63,075 | £5,256 |
| 12 and over | £102,689 | £69,579 | £5,798 |
Figures are basic pay only, before any supplements, on-call or weekend allowances and flexible pay premia, which many doctors also receive. They are also before NHS pension contributions, which come out of pay. Take-home pay is after income tax and National Insurance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The same 3.5% rise applied to specialty and specialist doctors, and to staff grade, specialty and associate specialist practitioners on pre-2021 contracts. Compare other NHS roles in the Agenda for Change pay bands.
Source: NHS Employers: Pay and Conditions Circular (M&D) 1/2026 R2, Annex A. Basic pay from 1 April 2026, England.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a specialty doctor earn?
On the 2021 contract in England, basic pay is £63,696 at the start, rising to £102,689 after 12 years of experience, from 1 April 2026.
What is the threshold on the specialty doctor scale?
There is a threshold between 8 and 9 years of experience. Moving past it takes pay from £81,804 to £90,548.
Figures are for the 2026/27 tax year from official sources and are estimates for guidance only, not financial or legal advice. Printed from ukanswers.co.uk.