Resident doctors (formerly junior doctors) explained

Resident doctor is the current name for what used to be called a junior doctor: any doctor below consultant or specialist level who is in training or in a non-consultant post. That covers newly qualified foundation doctors through to senior specialty registrars with many years of experience. In England they are employed on the 2016 contract, and the BMA’s published scale gives basic pay from £41,226 in the first foundation year to £77,348 at the top specialty level.

Who counts as a resident doctor

After medical school, doctors join the two-year UK Foundation Programme. In the first year (FY1) they hold provisional registration with the General Medical Council (GMC), and completing it gives full registration. FY2 broadens experience across more specialties.

After foundation, doctors apply for specialty training. Some specialties use run-through training from the first specialty year to the end. Others split into core training, then a fresh competitive application for higher specialty training. Levels are labelled CT1 and up for core training and ST1 to ST8 for specialty training, and the number reached depends on the specialty. GP training is shorter than hospital specialties; see how to become a GP.

Not everyone stays in a training programme continuously. Many doctors spend a year or more in non-training posts, often called clinical fellow, trust grade or locally employed doctor posts. These are on local contracts, which may or may not mirror the national terms.

Training ends with a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), after which a doctor can join the GMC specialist or GP register and apply for consultant or GP posts.

Pay on the 2016 contract

Basic pay depends on your nodal point, which follows your training grade. These figures come from the BMA’s resident doctor pay scale page, updated 8 September 2026 and citing pay circular MD 1-2026 R2. The BMA page gives no effective date, so treat the figures as provisional until NHS Employers publishes its version.

Grade	Basic pay (BMA figures, England)
FY1	£41,226
FY2	£47,610
ST1 to ST2 (and core training)	£55,355
ST3 to ST5	£67,325 / £67,998
ST6 to ST8	£76,582 / £77,348

Two developments shape this year’s pay. The DDRB recommended a 3.5% increase from 1 April 2026, which the government accepted on 25 March 2026. In June 2026 the government then made an offer to end the long-running dispute, adding pay scale reform worth between 3.5% and 7.1% on top of the 3.5%, depending on nodal point. BMA members voted to accept it. For more detail, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, see doctors’ pay in the NHS.

Basic pay is only part of earnings. Payments for rostered hours above the basic working week come on top, along with an enhancement for night work, a weekend allowance based on how often you work weekends, and on-call availability payments. Flexible pay premia apply in some hard-to-recruit specialties. Your rota’s work schedule sets out what you will be paid.

Rotas and hours

Resident doctors work rotas covering days, long days, nights and weekends. Hospitals need doctors present around the clock, so most posts include out-of-hours work. Each rotation comes with a work schedule describing your duties, hours and training opportunities.

The 2016 contract has rules on maximum hours, consecutive shifts and rest, alongside the Working Time Regulations’ limit of an average of 48 hours a week over 17 weeks unless you opt out in writing. If your actual hours or rest differ from your schedule, or you miss training, you can submit an exception report. Guardians of safe working hours in each trust review these reports and can fine departments that breach limits.

Annual leave is set by the contract and rises with NHS service. Requests usually have to go in well ahead, because rotas are planned weeks in advance. Study leave, with a budget managed by the deanery or trust, supports exams and courses linked to your curriculum.

Rotating between hospitals every few months is normal in training. That means new teams, new IT systems and sometimes moving home or long commutes, which is often the hardest part to manage for doctors with partners, children or caring duties.

Deductions and costs

Doctors pay income tax, National Insurance and NHS Pension Scheme contributions. At FY1 pay the pension contribution rate is 9.8% (pensionable pay of £35,156 to £52,778). At higher specialty pay it is 12.5% once pensionable pay exceeds £67,669. Student loan repayments also apply above the relevant threshold, for example 9% of income above £29,385 a year on Plan 2. Use the take-home pay calculator for the full picture.

GMC registration, Royal College membership and medical defence subscriptions may be eligible for tax relief if the bodies are on HMRC’s approved list; see tax relief on professional fees.

Career routes after residency

Most resident doctors aim for a CCT and then a consultant post or general practice. Others choose specialty and specialist (SAS) doctor posts, which offer more stable hours without the training rotations, or mix clinical work with research, teaching or locum work. Training posts go through the national recruitment process and non-training posts are on NHS Jobs; you can also browse doctors’ jobs.