If you’re considering a career as a general practitioner or wondering whether general practice offers competitive earnings, understanding GP salary UK figures is essential. GP salaries in the UK are among the most discussed yet frequently misunderstood topics in the medical profession.
The reality is that GP salary UK varies dramatically depending on whether you’re a salaried GP, a GP partner, or working as a locum. Location, experience, additional responsibilities, and working patterns all significantly impact what you’ll actually take home.
This comprehensive guide breaks down real GP earnings across all career stages, explains what affects your income, and helps you understand the true financial picture of working as a general practitioner in the UK.
Average GP Salary UK: Quick Overview
Let’s start with the headline figures for GP salary UK in 2025:
Salaried GPs earn between £68,975 and £104,085 per year on the NHS pay scale, depending on experience. Newly qualified GPs typically start around £68,975, while experienced salaried GPs can earn over £100,000.
GP partners earn significantly more, with average earnings of around £142,000 per year before tax. However, partner income varies widely, from £80,000 to over £200,000, depending on practice profitability, patient list size, and location.
Locum GPs charge daily rates between £600 and £1,000, potentially earning £100,000 to £150,000+ annually if working full-time, though income fluctuates based on availability and demand.
GP registrars (GPs in specialty training) earn between £49,909 and £70,718 depending on their training year.
How Much Do Salaried GPs Earn in the UK?
Salaried GPs are employed directly by GP practices or Primary Care Networks (PCNs) on fixed contracts. They receive regular salaries, pension contributions, and employment benefits but don’t share in practice profits.
Newly Qualified Salaried GP Salary
A newly qualified salaried GP in the UK starts on the NHS pay scale at £68,975 per year (as of the 2024/25 pay award). This is significantly higher than most other professions and reflects the extensive training required to become a GP.
Most salaried GPs work full-time (typically 8 sessions per week), though many negotiate part-time contracts. Your actual earnings will be pro-rated if you work fewer sessions.
Many practices offer additional payments for on-call work, extended hours, or taking on extra responsibilities like being a clinical lead or safeguarding lead, which can boost earnings by £5,000 to £15,000 annually.
Experienced Salaried GP Salary
As you gain experience, your salaried GP salary increases annually through incremental pay rises. After several years, experienced salaried GPs earn up to £104,085 per year at the top of the pay scale.
Some practices offer above-scale salaries to attract and retain experienced GPs, particularly in areas with recruitment difficulties. In London and parts of the South East, it’s not uncommon to see salaried GP positions advertised at £110,000 to £120,000 for experienced practitioners.
Salaried GP Benefits and Pension
Beyond base salary, salaried GPs receive valuable benefits:
- NHS Pension Scheme: One of the most generous pension schemes in the UK, with employer contributions currently around 20.6% of your salary
- Annual leave: Typically 27 days plus bank holidays
- Study leave: Usually 30 hours per year with associated budget
- Professional fees: GMC registration and medical defence organisation subscriptions often paid by the practice
- Sick pay: Full occupational sick pay entitlement
When you factor in pension contributions alone, the total remuneration package for a salaried GP is worth approximately 20-25% more than the headline salary.
How Much Do GP Partners Earn in the UK?
GP partners represent approximately 40% of the GP workforce and typically earn significantly more than salaried colleagues, though they also assume more responsibility and financial risk.
What Is a GP Partner?
A GP partner is a self-employed GP who co-owns the practice with other partners. Partners share profits (and losses), make business decisions, and are collectively responsible for delivering NHS contracted services.
Partnership comes with additional responsibilities including practice management, financial oversight, staff employment, and premises management. Partners work longer hours than salaried GPs on average and carry greater professional and financial liability.
Average GP Partner Earnings
The average GP partner salary UK is approximately £142,000 per year before tax, according to recent NHS Digital data. However, this figure masks huge variation.
Partner earnings depend heavily on:
- Practice size and patient list
- Contract value and income from enhanced services
- Location (urban vs rural, affluent vs deprived areas)
- Efficiency and practice management
- Whether the practice owns or rents premises
High-performing practices in affluent areas with good management can generate partner profits of £180,000 to £250,000+. Conversely, struggling practices in challenging areas might only provide partner earnings of £80,000 to £100,000.
Factors Affecting Partner Income
Partnership income isn’t a fixed salary. It’s profit share after all practice expenses (staff salaries, premises costs, equipment, utilities) are paid.
Practices with higher Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) achievement, strong uptake of enhanced services, and efficient operations generate higher profits per partner. Practices that own their premises also benefit from property-related income.
Many new partners start on a lower profit share (perhaps 60-70% of a full share) for the first year or two before moving to parity with established partners.
Locum GP Salary UK: Daily Rates and Annual Earnings
Locum GPs work on a sessional or daily basis, offering flexibility but without employment security or benefits like annual leave and sick pay.
Current locum GP rates typically range from £600 to £1,000 per day (or £75 to £125 per hour), depending on location, session type, and notice period. Emergency short-notice locum work commands premium rates, sometimes exceeding £1,200 per day.
If you work as a full-time locum (approximately 220 days per year after accounting for holidays and gaps between assignments), you could earn £132,000 to £220,000 annually before expenses and tax.
However, locum work involves additional costs. You must:
- Pay for your own professional indemnity insurance (£3,000 to £10,000+ annually)
- Cover GMC registration and appraisal fees
- Handle your own tax affairs (usually through a limited company)
- Fund your own CPD and training
- Accept gaps in work and income uncertainty
Locum work suits GPs seeking flexibility, those returning to practice, or experienced doctors wanting to maximise short-term earnings. It’s less suitable if you value job security, pension accumulation, or structured career development.
GP Registrar Salary During Training
GP registrars are qualified doctors completing their three-year specialty training in general practice. They’re employed by training practices or hospital trusts on fixed-term contracts.
GP registrar salaries follow the NHS medical and dental training grade pay scale:
- ST1 (Year 1): £49,909 to £58,398
- ST2 (Year 2): £57,349 to £66,535
- ST3 (Year 3): £65,098 to £70,718
Out-of-hours supplements, additional sessions, and London weighting can increase these figures. By the final year of training, many GP registrars earn over £70,000.
Once you complete training and gain your CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training), you become a qualified GP and move onto salaried GP pay scales or partnership opportunities.
What Affects GP Salary in the UK?
Understanding what influences GP salary UK helps you make informed career decisions and negotiate better remuneration.
Location and Regional Variations
Geography significantly impacts GP earnings. London GPs generally earn more due to recruitment and retention premiums (RRRP) worth up to £21,000 annually for salaried GPs. Practices in London, the South East, and other shortage areas often pay above-scale salaries.
Locum rates are highest in London, rural Scotland, coastal areas, and regions with acute GP shortages. Rates in these areas can exceed £1,000 per day.
Conversely, areas with oversupply of GPs (some affluent suburban areas, university cities) may offer lower salaries and fewer locum opportunities.
Additional Roles and Responsibilities
Taking on additional responsibilities significantly boosts earnings:
- Clinical leads (for specialties like diabetes, mental health): £5,000 to £15,000 extra
- Safeguarding leads: £3,000 to £8,000 extra
- Training supervisors: £500 to £1,000 per trainee
- PCN roles (clinical directors, social prescribing leads): £10,000 to £30,000+ extra
- Appraiser roles: £300 to £500 per appraisal completed
Many experienced GPs supplement their core income by £15,000 to £40,000 through these additional roles.
NHS vs Private Practice
Most UK GPs work primarily in NHS general practice, but private work can supplement income:
- Private GP consultations: £150 to £300 per appointment
- Medico-legal work: £150 to £250 per report
- Insurance medical examinations: £100 to £500 per examination
- Corporate medical services: Variable rates
GPs working one or two private sessions weekly can add £15,000 to £40,000 to annual earnings.
Out-of-Hours Work and Enhanced Services
Participating in out-of-hours services, evening and weekend appointments, or enhanced services increases income. Out-of-hours sessions typically pay premium rates (£100 to £150+ per hour).
Enhanced services commissioned by local NHS organisations (e.g., extended access, minor surgery, contraception services) provide additional practice income, benefiting both partners and, often, salaried GPs through bonus arrangements.
GP Salary Comparison: UK vs Other Medical Specialties
How does GP salary UK compare to other medical specialties?
Consultants (hospital specialists) earn £93,666 to £126,281 on the NHS pay scale, potentially more with Clinical Excellence Awards. Top-performing consultants with maximum awards can earn over £150,000.
Hospital doctors at registrar level earn £49,909 to £70,718, similar to GP registrars.
Specialty doctors earn £52,530 to £82,400.
When comparing like-for-like, GP partners often out-earn hospital consultants, while experienced salaried GPs earn broadly comparable to mid-level consultants. However, hospital consultants have greater private practice opportunities in some specialties (particularly surgery, cardiology, radiology), which can significantly boost total earnings.
General practice offers competitive earnings, better work-life balance, and more flexible working patterns than many hospital specialties, making it financially and personally attractive for many doctors.
Is GP Salary in the UK Competitive Internationally?
UK GP salaries are competitive but generally lower than comparable countries when adjusted for cost of living and tax.
Australia: GPs earn AUD $200,000 to $400,000+ (£100,000 to £200,000+), with lower tax rates and comparable living costs.
Canada: Family physicians earn CAD $250,000 to $350,000+ (£145,000 to £200,000+), though costs vary by province.
USA: Primary care physicians earn $200,000 to $300,000+ (£155,000 to £235,000+), but face higher insurance costs and student debt.
Ireland: GPs earn €100,000 to €200,000+ (£85,000 to £170,000+), with growing opportunities.
New Zealand: GPs earn NZD $180,000 to $300,000+ (£85,000 to £145,000+).
While UK GP salaries are solid, overseas opportunities often offer higher take-home pay, lower living costs (especially housing), and sometimes better lifestyle factors. However, the NHS pension remains one of the best in the world, and quality of life considerations extend beyond pure salary.
How to Maximise Your GP Earnings in the UK
If you want to optimise your GP salary UK, consider these strategies:
Negotiate your starting salary. Practices in shortage areas or those struggling to recruit will often pay above-scale salaries. Don’t automatically accept the bottom of the pay scale, especially if you have experience or additional skills.
Take on additional roles. Clinical leads, PCN roles, training, and appraisal work all supplement income. Build expertise in areas with funding attached.
Consider partnership. While riskier and more demanding, partnership substantially increases long-term earning potential compared to salaried positions.
Mix salaried and locum work. Some GPs work 6-7 salaried sessions plus locum work to combine stability with higher earning potential.
Develop portfolio careers. Combine general practice with medico-legal work, teaching, private practice, or NHS leadership roles.
Work in shortage areas. London, coastal areas, and regions with recruitment difficulties offer recruitment premiums, golden hellos, and higher locum rates.
Maximise pension contributions strategically. Understand pension annual allowance rules and optimise contributions to avoid unnecessary tax charges while building retirement income.
Frequently Asked Questions About GP Salary UK
What is the starting salary for a GP in the UK?
A newly qualified salaried GP starts at £68,975 per year on the NHS pay scale. This can be higher in London or shortage areas with recruitment and retention premiums.
Do GP partners earn more than salaried GPs?
Yes, typically. The average GP partner earns around £142,000 annually compared to salaried GPs earning £68,975 to £104,085. However, partnership involves more responsibility, longer hours, and financial risk.
How much do locum GPs earn per day in the UK?
Locum GP rates range from £600 to £1,000 per day, with emergency short-notice work commanding premium rates exceeding £1,000. Annual earnings for full-time locums can reach £150,000 to £200,000+ before tax and expenses.
Is GP salary in the UK good compared to other jobs?
Yes. GP salary UK is significantly above the national average (£34,000) and competitive with other high-paying professions like law, senior management, and engineering. When factoring in the NHS pension, total remuneration is excellent.
What qualifications do I need to become a GP in the UK?
You need a medical degree (5-6 years), Foundation Training (2 years), and GP Specialty Training (3 years), totalling 10-11 years of education and training. You must also pass the MRCGP examination and gain a CCT.
Can GPs earn over £200,000 in the UK?
Yes, but it’s uncommon. High-performing GP partners in profitable practices, or full-time locum GPs working extensive hours, can exceed £200,000. However, most GPs earn £70,000 to £150,000.
How does GP salary increase with experience?
Salaried GPs receive annual incremental increases, reaching the top of the pay scale (£104,085) after several years. Partners’ income grows as they take larger profit shares and develop the practice. Additional responsibilities and portfolio work further increase earnings.
Are GP salaries rising in the UK?
GP salaries increase annually through NHS pay awards, though real-terms growth (accounting for inflation) varies. Recent years have seen below-inflation increases, creating frustration within the profession. However, recruitment difficulties mean many practices offer enhanced remuneration packages.
Conclusion
GP salary UK offers competitive, above-average earnings across all career stages, from GP registrars earning £50,000 to £70,000, through to experienced partners earning £150,000 to £200,000+.
The key to understanding GP earnings is recognising the variety. Your actual income depends on whether you’re salaried or a partner, your location, additional responsibilities, and how much you choose to work. Flexibility exists to shape a career that balances income with lifestyle priorities.
While some doctors look enviously at higher salaries overseas, UK GPs benefit from excellent pension provision, free CPD and training, NHS employment rights, and work-life balance that’s often superior to hospital medicine or general practice abroad.
Ready to pursue a career in general practice? Research training programmes, speak to current GPs about their experiences, and consider shadowing opportunities to understand whether the financial and professional rewards align with your career goals. With strategic planning, general practice offers both financial security and professional fulfilment throughout your medical career.