As the British Medical Association (BMA) prepares for yet another round of industrial action, the question of pay for NHS doctors has once again taken centre stage in UK politics — and public opinion. But while the debate rages on at home, a bigger question looms: how does pay for doctors in the UK compare to their international counterparts?
What’s Behind the Latest Strike?
The BMA recently confirmed that resident doctors — the updated title for junior doctors — will walk out for five days from July 25, unless the government presents an acceptable pay offer. That offer, according to union officials, would need to reflect a 29.2% uplift, citing “pay erosion” since 2008 as the primary grievance.
This figure is based on the Retail Prices Index (RPI), a measure of inflation that includes mortgage interest costs — and one that the government has been hesitant to use. While health secretary Wes Streeting has expressed sympathy for doctors’ working conditions, he has drawn a firm line on pay.
How Much Are Resident Doctors Paid in the UK?
As of early 2025, 77,287 resident doctors were employed by NHS England. They represent the future of the profession: doctors undergoing training toward a medical speciality. While under supervision, many begin to supervise others as they rise through the ranks.
The current pay scale for resident doctors ranges from £38,831 to £73,992 annually for a standard 40-hour week. The upper end includes doctors in the later years of their training, while those just beginning their NHS careers sit at the lower end.
With overtime, weekend, and night shifts, some resident doctors do take home more — but the base salary is where most comparisons are made.
How Does UK Pay Stack Up Internationally?
According to a General Medical Council (GMC) report published in April 2024, here’s how UK pay for resident doctors compares to other countries commonly chosen by British medics seeking a move abroad:
- Australia (21% of UK leavers):
£29,000 to £49,000 (Medrecruit) - New Zealand (10%):
£31,000 to £38,000 (Medrecruit) - Canada (5%):
£27,000 to £59,000 (Scotiabank, varies by province) - Ireland (4%):
£38,000 to £61,000 (IMG Connect) - United Arab Emirates (2%):
Up to £8,000 per month (~£96,000 per year), depending on experience and location (Allocation Assist)
The conclusion? While some regions like Australia or Canada offer similar — or even lower — salaries for doctors in training, the UAE offers significantly more, especially when factoring in tax benefits and lifestyle perks.
Still, money isn’t always the main motivator.
Why UK Doctors Are Moving Abroad
The GMC found that the top reason doctors leave the UK isn’t pay, but a desire for a better quality of life. Pay ranks third, behind a broader sense of feeling undervalued in their current roles.
According to the same survey:
- 30% of UK-based doctors said they were likely to move abroad within the next year.
- 33% said they intended to do so at some point.
- Nearly half (48%) of doctors currently working in the UK have practised medicine abroad at some point.
In other words, the global medical workforce is highly mobile — and increasingly frustrated.
The BMA said of the findings:
“That so many doctors say they are looking to leave for overseas is not surprising… when we consider the immense pressures healthcare staff are under in an overwhelmed service battling huge workforce shortages.”
What Needs to Change?
As of now, the government shows little sign of meeting the BMA’s 29.2% demand — a figure critics argue is politically and fiscally unrealistic in one jump. But what is clear is that a competitive pay structure, work-life balance, and a sense of professional respect will be essential if the NHS wants to retain talent in the long term.
If it doesn’t? The UK risks losing more of its best-trained doctors to countries that offer either better compensation, better conditions — or both.
