Consultant
Consultants in England on the 2003 contract are paid on a national pay scale that NHS Employers publishes each year. A Consultant is usually on the Consultant (2003 contract) scale, which runs from £113,565 to £150,569 (rates from 1/4/2026).
All figures are illustrative. Use your contract, payslip or employer for definitive amounts.
Sector context
Consultant roles within NHS sit in the Health part of the UK public sector. Pay, leave and family leave terms are usually shaped by national or sector frameworks, then applied by your employer. The calculators below use illustrative data for this role; your contract and local policies always take precedence.
How pay works in the NHS
Most NHS staff in England are on Agenda for Change (AfC). Pay is organised in bands with spine points. You usually move up one point at set intervals if you meet national progression standards. Pay awards apply nationally each year. Enhancements such as unsocial hours, on-call and high cost area supplement (HCAS) sit on top of basic pay. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements but often follow similar band structures.
For Consultant, our dataset typically maps this role to Consultant (2003 contract) on NHS Consultant Contract (England, 2003). Your actual grade may differ; check your contract.
About this role
Find out more about the Consultant role within NHS and whether it would be the right role for you.
What is a Consultant?
A Consultant is a senior doctor who has completed specialty training (CCT or equivalent). They lead clinical care, train juniors and often hold management or research roles. Pay is on the national consultant contract (England) or equivalent, not Agenda for Change.
Typical demands, progression and balance
Consultant roles offer clinical leadership, autonomy and high impact. Pay and satisfaction depend on specialty, contract and additional work. Progression to clinical director, medical director or academic roles is common.
Progression and pay
Consultants progress through 2003-contract pay thresholds (and additional programmed activities or awards where applicable). Use the pay table for basic salary thresholds; confirm CEA/CIA and extras with your trust.
Popular scenarios
Jump straight to a common planning question for this role.
Calculators for this role
Browse our career-focused calculators for those who work as a Consultant, covering pay progression, promotion paths, take-home pay, working patterns, leave, allowances and more. Click the calculators below to get started.
Common questions
Which calculators should I use first for Consultant?
Start with pay progression to see how Consultant (2003 contract) pay could move over time. If you are weighing promotion, try career decisions. For part-time or reduced hours, use work patterns. Take-home pay, annual leave, sick pay and maternity calculators help with day-to-day planning.
Does NHS pay exactly like the national framework?
Often yes for base pay and leave, but employers can have local agreements, spot salaries, market supplements or academy freedoms. Use these tools to understand typical structures, then confirm anything material with your employer.
Can I plan part-time working as Consultant?
Yes. Use the part-time or reduced hours calculator for your role, then follow the part-time planning journey to link allowances, leave and take-home pay with the same band and FTE saved in your browser.
Where can I read longer guides on pay and leave?
Open Guides in the site menu for in-depth articles on AfC, teachers' pay, FTE, sick pay, maternity and more, with links back to role calculators like this page.
In-depth guides
Longer articles on pay frameworks, FTE, leave and career planning for your sector.