What's the highest salary in the NHS?

The highest salaries in the NHS go to top-tier consultants and senior managers, with consultant basic pay reaching over £145,000 and senior executives earning potentially over £250,000 in total remuneration, though specific figures vary greatly by role, experience, and additional duties like Clinical Excellence Awards. While basic pay for most staff is banded (Agenda for Change), senior clinical and managerial roles sit in higher bands or have separate pay scales, with some figures exceeding £400,000 for very senior executives.

What is the highest salary in the NHS?

University Hospitals Plymouth's chief executive had the highest salary in 2023-24, receiving £382,500. This Trust was ranked 95 of 136 in England for A&E waiting time. The highest salary for a senior manager in Scotland was £242,500, belonging to Paul Bachoo, acute medical and portfolio lead at NHS Grampian.

What is considered a good NHS salary?

Average NHS hourly pay ranges from approximately $14.00 per hour for Internal Communications Executive to $44.74 per hour for Order Picker. The average NHS salary ranges from approximately $23,134 per year for Administrative Assistant to $59,000 per year for Physician Associate.

What is the highest position in the NHS?

The chief executive directs the governing body of the NHS, and is the highest-ranking member of the Health Service's board.

Which band is higher in NHS?

Band 6 and above tends to be management, and band 8 is upper management. Band 9 is exclusively reserved for senior managers. Each of the 9 bands has a number of pay points, and staff will normally progress onto the next pay point annually until they reach the top of the pay band.

NHS Doctor Pay Recommendation 2025 EXPLAINED: What You’re Really Getting

Is a PA higher than a DR?

No, a Physician Assistant (PA) is generally not considered "higher" than a Medical Doctor (MD/DO); rather, they are different roles with varying education, autonomy, and scope, with doctors typically having more extensive training, higher earning potential, and greater independence, while PAs work collaboratively under physician supervision, though PAs provide excellent care and perform many similar tasks, according to Barton Associates, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, and American Medical Association. Doctors complete medical school and residency (11+ years), granting them broader autonomy, while PAs complete a Master's program (around 6 years post-high school) and usually work with physician oversight, though this varies by state. 

Who gets paid band 9 in NHS?

Examples of roles at band 9 include podiatric consultant (surgery), chief finance manager and director of estates and facilities.

What are the highest paying medical specialties in the NHS?

The top five highest-paid specialities in the UK are:

• Plastic surgery: £140,000.
• Trauma and orthopaedic surgery: £142,000.
• Neurosurgery: £126,000.
• Otolaryngology: £139,000.
• Cardiology: £139,000.

How to move up NHS band?

Staff are appointed to the bottom of their pay band. Staff move to the next pay step point on their pay step date if they have met all of the requirements. Staff will have yearly appraisals but pay-step dates take place after two, three or five years, depending on band.

Is NHS pension good?

Backed by the Exchequer, the NHS Pension Scheme offers the security of a guaranteed income in every year of retirement for all members, on some of the most generous terms available from a pension scheme. Benefits are not affected by market conditions or falls in the value of investments.

Are NHS getting a pay rise in 2025?

Agenda for Change (AfC) staff, which includes nurses, health visitors, midwives, ambulance staff, porters and cleaners will see their pay rise by 3.6%. Very Senior Managers (VSMs) are receiving an award of 3.25% .

What medical profession makes the most money?

The medical fields that make the most money are overwhelmingly physicians and surgeons, with specialties like neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery, orthopedic surgery, cardiology, and anesthesiology topping the charts, often earning well over $400,000 to over $700,000 annually due to extensive training and high-stakes procedures. While surgeons generally lead, other top earners include specialists like radiologists and dermatologists, with advanced practice nurses (CRNAs) and other high-level roles also commanding high salaries. 

Do surgeons get paid more than doctors?

Surgeons earn some of the highest salaries in the medical field, reflecting their skill and dedication. Factors like specialization, location, and experience significantly influence earning potential. A career in surgery not only offers financial rewards but also the satisfaction of impacting patients' lives.

How much back pay will I get in NHS 2025?

Pay for 2025

Resident doctors will receive an uplift of 4% + £750 to basic pay in Aug 2025. A backpayment will be due for any work between 01 Apr 2025 and 31 Jul 2025. Flexible pay premia are also uplifted by 4%.

Who earns the most in the NHS?

The nine highest-paid people at NHS England

• Sir David Nicholson, chief executive – £211,249.
• Paul Baumann, chief financial officer – £200k-£205k.
• Dame Barbara Hakin, acting chief operating officer/deputy chief executive – £195k-£200k.
• Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, national medical director – £190k-£195k.

What is the most underpaid medical specialty?

The lowest-paid doctor specialties consistently include Pediatrics, Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Public Health/Preventive Medicine, Endocrinology, and Infectious Diseases, often due to their primary care focus and lower volume of high-paying procedures, though exact rankings vary slightly by report. Subspecialties within Pediatrics, like endocrinology or infectious diseases, can also be among the lowest earners. 

What is the starting salary for NHS doctors?

Resident doctors

In Foundation training, you will earn a basic salary of £38,831 to £44,439 (from 1 April 2025). If you're a doctor starting your specialist training in 2025 your basic salary will be £52,656 to £73,992.

Can I negotiate salary in NHS?

For NHS jobs, there is often very little movement in this area, but Agenda for Change does say it can be changed in “exceptional circumstances”. 1.9 Other than in exceptional circumstances, the starting salary for staff new to the NHS will be the bottom point of the band to which they have been appointed.

How much does RN salary increase per year?

Registered nurses who hold a BSN instead of an ADN can also attain higher salaries. The amount of increase depends on the facility, but a 3-5% raise is standard. In addition to annual pay increases, more hospitals and employers are offering sign-on bonuses to nurses, particularly in areas experiencing acute shortages.

How many years does it take to get to top of band 6 in the NHS?

Band 6 and band 7 will have three step points, taking a minimum of two years to progress from the entry step point to the mid step point and then a further minimum of three years to progress to the top of the band.

Can you make $200,000 as a physician assistant?

Yes, a Physician Assistant (PA) absolutely can make $200k, especially with experience, in high-demand specialties like surgery, dermatology, or emergency medicine, in certain geographic locations, or through locum tenens (temporary) work, though it's above the median salary and often requires strategic career choices, bonuses, or exceeding base pay. 

What doctor makes $500,000 a year?

Doctors in surgical and high-demand procedural specialties frequently earn over $500,000 annually, with top earners often being Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Cardiology, and Thoracic Surgery, driven by complex skills, high demand (especially with aging populations), and lucrative elective procedures or emergency needs. Other fields like Radiology, Gastroenterology, Urology, and Anesthesiology also see average incomes exceeding this threshold.
 

Can a PA turn into a doctor?

Yes, it is possible to bridge from a PA program to an MD program, but it requires additional coursework and prerequisites. Some medical schools offer special bridge programs for PAs, while others require PAs to complete a bachelor's degree before applying to medical school.