The NHS consultant pay scale in England is a five-threshold basic-salary framework for doctors and dentists on the 2003 consultant contract. In 2026/27, NHS consultant salary starts at £113,565 and reaches £150,569 after 14 completed consultant years. The correct rate depends on the nation, contract, pay threshold, PAs, on-call work, pension deductions and tax.
Key facts at a glance
- England 2026/27: £113,565 to £150,569 across five thresholds
- Pay award: 3.5%, backdated to 1 April 2026, paid in June 2026 payslips
- Top of the scale is reached after 14 years as a consultant (19 years before April 2024)
- Separate national scales: Scotland £111,430–£148,064 · Wales £114,099–£166,585 · Northern Ireland £110,681–£145,517
NHS consultant pay scale 2026/27: England
The NHS consultant pay scale in England pays annual gross basic salary from £113,565 to £150,569 in 2026/27. The scale applies to consultants on the England 2003 consultant contract and uses completed consultant service to determine the threshold.
The British Medical Association lists five published pay values for the current England scale. NHS Employers states that the 2026 pay arrangements apply a 3.5% increase from 1 April 2026 for consultants and other medical and dental staff groups covered by the relevant terms. British Medical Association, 2026 · NHS Employers, 2026
| England 2003 contract threshold | Completed consultant service | Annual gross basic salary |
|---|---|---|
| Threshold 1 | Starting salary | £113,565 |
| Threshold 2a | After 3 completed years | £120,249 |
| Threshold 2b | After 4 completed years | £123,672 |
| Threshold 3 | After 8 completed years | £135,645 |
| Threshold 4 | After 14 completed years | £150,569 |
The salary table shows basic pay. Basic pay excludes on-call supplements, extra contractual activity, competitive awards, private-practice income, Income Tax, National Insurance, NHS pension contributions and student-loan repayments.
NHS consultant starting salary
The NHS consultant starting salary in England is £113,565 for 2026/27 at Threshold 1. The rate is annual gross basic salary for a consultant on the 2003 contract. British Medical Association, 2026
A starting consultant’s final earnings can exceed the Threshold 1 figure when an agreed job plan includes on-call availability, additional programmed activities, leadership duties or eligible awards. Those additions are not part of the published starting basic salary.
What does the published pay scale include?
The England consultant pay scale is a contractual basic-pay reference. It establishes the annual salary for a threshold before personal deductions and role-specific payments.
A full-time England consultant job plan normally contains 10 programmed activities, known as PAs. The published threshold values provide the standard basic-pay reference for that contractual commitment. NHS Employers, 2021
NHS consultant pay progression: when does salary increase?
NHS consultant pay progression in England moves a consultant through Thresholds 1, 2a, 2b, 3 and 4 after the required completed consultant service. The current milestones are starting appointment, three years, four years, eight years and 14 years.
Consultant pay progression is threshold-based. A pay award changes the monetary value of the whole scale, while threshold progression changes the consultant’s position within that scale. These are separate events.
The England 2003 consultant contract applies to consultants first appointed after 31 October 2003, plus consultants who chose to transfer to it. Consultants appointed before that date who did not transfer remain on older terms, which use a different legacy scale. NHS Employers, 2026 · NHS Employers, 2025
Does previous consultant experience change the starting threshold?
Previous consultant experience does not create an automatic online-calculator entitlement to a higher threshold. The employing organisation assesses the appointment, relevant experience, contract and recognised service when it determines the pay position.
NHS Employers’ consultant contract FAQ gives examples of how historic and overseas consultant-level experience requires employer assessment. A consultant should confirm the threshold, appointment status and effective date in the offer letter before accepting a post. NHS Employers, 2021
How many hours do NHS consultants work? Understanding 10 PAs
A full-time NHS consultant job plan in England normally contains 10 programmed activities. A programmed activity is a scheduled contractual unit with a timetable value of four hours under the England 2003 consultant contract. NHS Employers, 2021
A consultant job plan is an agreed record of duties, responsibilities, locations and objectives. The job plan does not describe only patient-facing time. It also allocates work that supports safe clinical practice and service delivery.
The four core job-plan categories are:
- Direct Clinical Care (DCC): clinical work connected directly to patient care.
- Supporting Professional Activities (SPAs): teaching, appraisal, governance, audit, education and continuing professional development.
- Additional NHS responsibilities: agreed leadership, management or educational duties.
- External duties: approved work outside ordinary trust duties.
A 10-PA job plan does not mean every consultant works ten identical four-hour blocks every week. NHS Employers states that PAs can be divided into half units and scheduled flexibly by agreement across the year. NHS Employers, 2021
How much is 1 PA worth for an NHS consultant?
An additional programmed activity is regular agreed work above a consultant’s standard contracted commitment. Under the England consultant terms, the annual rate for an additional PA is 10% of basic salary in the specified contractual context. NHS Employers, 2021
The calculation needs the consultant’s current basic salary and the type of extra activity. Additional PAs and extra PAs have contractual distinctions, including different agreement and pensionability details. A job-plan review or medical staffing team should confirm the treatment for a specific post. NHS Employers, 2021
NHS consultant on-call supplement and additional pay
NHS consultant earnings can exceed basic salary through agreed on-call availability, additional work and competitive award schemes. The published pay scale itself remains the annual basic-salary component.
An on-call availability supplement is payment for a consultant’s availability on an on-call rota. Schedule 16 of the England 2003 consultant terms links the supplement to rota frequency and the category of on-call duties. NHS Employers, 2021
Additional PAs increase contractual pay when the consultant and employer agree the work. A consultant cannot be compelled to accept a contract containing more than 10 PAs, according to NHS Employers’ additional and extra PA guidance. NHS Employers, 2021
National Clinical Impact Awards, or NCIAs, are competitive awards rather than standard salary. The 2026 awards guide lists annual values of £10,500 for N0, £21,000 for N1, £31,500 for N2 and £42,000 for N3. Applicants must demonstrate national impact beyond the expectations of their paid role over the previous five years. GOV.UK, 2026
Private-practice income sits outside NHS consultant basic salary. A salary-scale article should not add private earnings to a published NHS basic-pay figure.
What is included in NHS consultant basic salary?
NHS consultant basic salary is contractual gross pay for the applicable threshold and agreed standard job-plan basis. It does not include personal tax deductions or private-practice income.
On-call availability supplements, additional PAs, extra PAs, awards and local role payments require separate treatment. A job plan and employer payroll record establish which elements apply to an individual consultant.
NHS consultant salary after tax: what affects take-home pay?
NHS consultant take-home pay is the amount left after payroll deductions and personal tax variables are applied to gross income. A universal take-home figure does not exist because pension membership, tax code, student loans, on-call pay, additional PAs, salary sacrifice and other taxable income differ between consultants.
The NHS Pension Scheme contribution rate from 1 April 2026 is 12.5% for pensionable pay of £67,669 and above. England consultant basic salaries exceed that contribution threshold when the consultant participates in the scheme. NHS Business Services Authority, 2026
The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined-benefit scheme. All active members have been members of the 2015 Scheme from 1 April 2022, and the 2015 Scheme calculates pension accrual at 1/54 of pensionable earnings for each scheme year. NHS Business Services Authority, 2022 · NHS Business Services Authority, current guidance
Income Tax also changes the result. For the 2026/27 tax year, the standard Personal Allowance is £12,570. The Personal Allowance falls by £1 for every £2 of adjusted net income above £100,000 and reaches zero at £125,140. GOV.UK, 2025 · GOV.UK, current guidance
Why does NHS consultant take-home pay vary?
A consultant with the same England Threshold 1 basic salary can receive a different monthly net amount from another Threshold 1 consultant. Pension membership, student-loan plan, Scottish versus England/Wales/NI tax treatment, tax code, salary sacrifice, on-call payments and other income change payroll deductions.
Use a consultant salary-after-tax calculator only after confirming the correct nation, contract, threshold, PA count and pension status. This guide explains published pay terms. It is not personal tax, pension, legal or employment advice.
NHS consultant pay scale in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
UK NHS consultant pay is a group of nation-specific employment frameworks rather than one universal salary scale. England figures do not answer a Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland pay question.
NHS consultant pay scale Wales
The NHS Wales consultant pay scale for 2026/27 runs from £114,099 at the minimum point to £166,585 at the top point. Wales uses a distinct progression structure with a minimum and points 1 to 7. British Medical Association, 2026
A Wales consultant should use the Wales table and current Welsh pay circular rather than applying England threshold labels. Wales figures need Wales contract and pay-year context in every comparison.
NHS consultant pay scale Scotland
The BMA Scotland consultant-pay page retrieved for this article labels its table 2024/25. That table runs from £111,430 at pay point 1 to £148,064 at pay point 8 after 20 years of seniority. British Medical Association, 2025
A Scotland consultant should verify the newest Scottish pay circular before using a rate for an offer, payslip or financial decision. Scotland also has separate income-tax arrangements, so an England take-home calculation does not apply.
NHS consultant pay scale Northern Ireland
The BMA Northern Ireland page identifies separate pre-2004 and 2004 consultant contracts. Its 2004-contract table lists annual basic rates effective from 1 April 2025 of £110,681, £116,193, £119,501, £131,076 and £145,517. British Medical Association, 2026
A Northern Ireland consultant should check the effective date before comparing those rates with England’s 2026/27 threshold table.
INFORMATION GAIN: Which NHS consultant pay scale applies to me?
The applicable consultant pay scale is the published rate framework that matches a consultant’s nation, contract and employment circumstances. Use the N-CAPS Pay Check before relying on any salary figure.
| N-CAPS step | Confirm this attribute | Why it changes the answer |
|---|---|---|
| N — Nation | England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland | Each nation publishes separate rates and applies its own contract structure. |
| C — Contract | England 2003, England pre-2003, Scotland 2004, NI 2004 or another applicable framework | Contract determines the threshold or pay-point system. |
| A — Appointment | Substantive, fixed-term, locum or honorary/academic | Appointment status affects employment and pay context. |
| P — PAs | Standard PA count, LTFT arrangement, additional PA or extra PA | PA count defines the job-plan basis for the salary. |
| S — Service | Completed consultant service recognised for the appointment | Service determines the applicable threshold or pay point. |
NHS Employers states that the England 2003 contract applies to consultants first appointed after 31 October 2003 and consultants who transferred to that contract. Consultants appointed before that date who did not transfer remain on older terms. NHS Employers, 2026
A consultant should then check the offer letter, job plan, employer payroll record and current pay circular. This sequence prevents four common errors: using England figures in another UK nation, confusing basic pay with net pay, treating consultant thresholds as Agenda for Change bands, and assuming all previous experience maps automatically to a higher threshold.
What the NHS consultant pay scale does and does not show
The consultant pay scale is a basic-pay reference, not a complete measure of a consultant’s financial position. It shows a gross contractual annual salary for a stated nation, contract, threshold and work pattern.
The scale does not show household costs, location, tax residence, private income, student-loan deductions, pension choices, workload intensity or total hours outside scheduled activity. The scale also does not show whether a consultant receives on-call supplements, additional PAs, leadership payments or awards.
A six-figure basic salary is a factual headline figure. A take-home-pay result requires payroll inputs. A total-remuneration comparison requires pension, leave, contractual security, workload and role responsibility context.
Consultant doctors also do not sit on Agenda for Change Bands 7, 8 or 9. The NHS Careers Agenda for Change page states that the system covers staff except doctors, dentists and very senior managers. NHS Careers, 2026
The Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration evaluates pay evidence across recruitment, retention, progression, total earnings and comparator professions. That context explains why a basic-pay table cannot settle every question about value, affordability or career choice. Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration, 2026
NHS consultant pay scale FAQs
How much does a newly qualified NHS consultant earn?
NHS consultant starting salary in England is £113,565 for 2026/27 at Threshold 1. The figure is annual gross basic pay for consultants on the England 2003 contract and is effective from 1 April 2026. British Medical Association, 2026
How many hours do NHS consultants work?
A full-time NHS consultant job plan in England is normally 10 programmed activities. A PA has a timetable value of four hours under the 2003 contract, and the job plan can include DCC, SPA, on-call duties and annualised activity. NHS Employers, 2021
Will NHS consultants get a pay rise in 2026?
NHS consultant pay in England received a 3.5% increase from 1 April 2026. The current published threshold values reflect that arrangement, while an employer’s payroll process determines how an individual payslip is updated. NHS Employers, 2026
Are NHS consultants on Band 7, Band 8 or Band 9?
NHS consultant doctors are not on Agenda for Change pay bands. Agenda for Change excludes doctors and dentists, while consultant doctors use consultant-contract pay thresholds. NHS Careers, 2026
What are the pay scales in the NHS?
NHS pay scales are separate pay frameworks for different staff groups and employment contracts. Consultant doctors use consultant thresholds, resident doctors use separate medical and dental arrangements, and many nurses and allied health professionals use Agenda for Change bands.
Who earns more: a GP or an NHS consultant?
NHS consultant basic salary and GP income are different remuneration models. A salaried GP has a published range, while GP partners, locum GPs, consultant doctors and consultants with extra contractual work can receive different total earnings.
Are NHS consultants well paid?
NHS consultant basic pay is a published gross salary, but the phrase “well paid” depends on the comparison and personal circumstances. The salary scale does not measure take-home pay, pension value, workload, on-call responsibility, housing costs or private income.
Why are British doctors called consultants?
An NHS consultant is a senior doctor or dentist who provides specialist clinical leadership and takes responsibility for patient care in a specialty. The medical term “consultant” is different from a business, IT, HR or management consultant.
How do I check my NHS consultant pay point?
An NHS consultant pay point is confirmed by the applicable nation, contract, completed consultant service, appointment details and employer payroll record. Check the offer letter, job plan and current pay circular, then ask the employing organisation to explain a discrepancy.
Complete sources list
| Source | URL | Publication / update year | Specific claim supported | Article section |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Medical Association — Pay scales for consultants in England | URL | 2026 | England 2003-contract thresholds £113,565 to £150,569; pre-2003 rates | Lede; H2 1; H2 2; FAQs |
| NHS Employers — Pay and conditions circulars for medical and dental staff | URL | 2026 | 3.5% 2026 increase and 1 April 2026 England arrangements | H2 1; FAQ |
| NHS Employers — Consultant contract (2003) | URL | 2026 | Contract applicability after 31 October 2003; job-plan context | H2 2; N-CAPS |
| NHS Employers — Old terms and conditions of service for medical and dental staff | URL | 2025 | Pre-2003 consultant terms remain for eligible historic appointments | H2 2 |
| NHS Employers — Consultant contract FAQ | URL | 2021 | Ten PAs; four-hour timetable value; contract and experience questions | H2 2; H2 3; FAQs |
| NHS Employers — Terms and Conditions, Consultants (England) 2003 | URL | 2021 | Additional PA rate and on-call availability supplement framework | H2 3; H2 4 |
| NHS Employers — Additional/extra PA guidance | URL | 2021 | Ten-PA standard; additional and extra PA contracting | H2 3; H2 4 |
| NHS Business Services Authority — Cost of being in the Scheme | URL | 2026 | Pension contribution tier of 12.5% at £67,669+ pensionable pay | H2 5 |
| NHS Business Services Authority — About the NHS Pension Scheme | URL | Current | Active members moved into the 2015 Scheme from 1 April 2022 | H2 5 |
| NHS Business Services Authority — Pension statement guidance | URL | Current | 2015 Scheme accrual of 1/54 of pensionable earnings | H2 5 |
| GOV.UK — Income over £100,000 | URL | Current | Personal Allowance taper from £100,000; nil at £125,140 | H2 5 |
| GOV.UK — Budget 2025 rates and allowances | URL | 2025 | £12,570 Personal Allowance in 2026/27 | H2 5 |
| GOV.UK — National Clinical Impact Awards 2026 applicant guide | URL | 2026 | NCIA values, five-year evidence period, national-impact requirement | H2 4 |
| British Medical Association — Pay scales for consultants in Wales | URL | 2026 | Wales 2026/27 scale £114,099 to £166,585 | H2 6 |
| British Medical Association — Pay scales for consultants in Scotland | URL | 2025 page; 2024/25 scale | Scotland consultant pay-point structure and retrieved 2024/25 rates | H2 6 |
| British Medical Association — Pay scales for consultants in Northern Ireland | URL | 2026 page; 2025 effective rates | NI 2004-contract scale effective from 1 April 2025 | H2 6 |
| NHS Careers — Agenda for Change pay rates | URL | 2026 | Agenda for Change excludes doctors and dentists | Counter-arguments; FAQs |
| Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration — 54th Report | URL | 2026 | Remuneration context and 3.5% recommendation | Counter-argument |