UK Psychiatrist Salary by Region 2026: NHS Consultant Pay, Training Grades, and Private Practice
UK psychiatrist salary by region 2026: ONS ASHE data, NHS consultant pay scales, training grade ladder, Scotland premium, and private practice income.
Psychiatrists are among the highest-paid NHS employees in the UK. As NHS consultants, they earn on a separate medical and dental pay scale from Agenda for Change — with 2025/26 consultant salaries starting at £99,532 and rising to £131,964, plus Clinical Excellence Awards. ONS ASHE data confirms this: the UK median for specialist medical practitioners (which includes psychiatrists) is the highest in our 20-guide series.
What is the average UK psychiatrist salary in 2026?
ONS ASHE 2025 Provisional data gives a UK median salary for specialist medical practitioners (SOC 2212) of £88,997 per year, with a mean of £97,083.
Important note: SOC 2212 "Specialist medical practitioners" covers all NHS consultant-grade doctors, not only psychiatrists. This includes surgeons, cardiologists, radiologists, oncologists, and all other medical specialisms. There is no separate ASHE SOC code for psychiatry. The £88,997 UK median is the best available proxy for NHS consultant earnings — and psychiatrists' actual pay, governed by the NHS medical and dental pay scale, closely mirrors this figure.
UK specialist medical practitioner salary by region in 2026
Eight of 12 regions have usable data. Scotland's mean (£117,105) is the highest in the data — likely reflecting a concentration of academic consultants and university clinical lectureships in NHS Scotland.
| Region | ASHE 2025 Median (£/yr) | ASHE 2025 Mean (£/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £88,997 | £97,083 |
| London | £86,528 | £89,618 |
| South East | £78,811 | £84,700 |
| East of England | £79,305 | £93,161 |
| South West | ONS data suppressed | — |
| East Midlands | ONS data suppressed | — |
| West Midlands | ONS data suppressed | — |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £87,240 | £89,097 |
| North West | £83,567 | £94,321 |
| North East | ONS data suppressed | — |
| Wales | £86,152 | £94,267 |
| Scotland | £114,012 | £117,105 |
Source: ONS ASHE 2025 Provisional, SOC 2212 "Specialist medical practitioners" — covers all consultant-grade NHS doctors, not psychiatrists alone.
NHS psychiatrist pay scale 2025/26
Psychiatrists (as all NHS consultants) are employed on the NHS Medical and Dental Pay scale, governed by the 2003 Consultant Contract. The 2025/26 NHS England consultant pay scales are:
| Consultant pay point | 2025/26 salary |
|---|---|
| Threshold 1 (entry) | £99,532 |
| Threshold 2 | £105,504 |
| Threshold 3 | £111,477 |
| Threshold 4 | £117,449 |
| Threshold 5 | £123,420 |
| Threshold 6 | £131,964 |
Source: NHS England Medical and Dental Pay Scales 2025/26.
In addition to base pay, NHS consultants can earn Clinical Excellence Awards (CEA): employer-based awards (£3,000–£12,000+) for exceptional contribution. National CEA awards (now restructured) provide additional income for high-performing consultants.
London weighting (inner and outer London pay supplements) applies to London NHS trust employed consultants, adding approximately £2,162–£6,469 per year.
Training grade salaries: the path to consultant psychiatry
Training in psychiatry is via the Royal College of Psychiatrists programme. The full training pathway:
| Stage | Duration | 2025/26 salary range |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Year 1 (FY1) | 1 year | £36,616 |
| Foundation Year 2 (FY2) | 1 year | £42,008 |
| Core Psychiatric Training (CT1–CT3) | 3 years | £53,398–£58,397 |
| Higher Psychiatric Training (ST4–ST6) | 3 years | £61,825–£70,425 |
| Consultant Psychiatrist | Indefinite | £99,532–£131,964 |
Total training timeline from medical school: approximately 12–15 years from GCSE to consultant. NHS out-of-hours and on-call supplements add £4,000–£12,000 per year across training grades.
Scotland: the regional premium explained
Scotland's specialist medical practitioner median (£114,012) and mean (£117,105) are substantially above England and Wales. This reflects two factors: NHS Scotland's separate pay framework for consultants (broadly equivalent to England but with Scottish-specific terms), and the high concentration of academic medical consultants in NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow who hold joint university/NHS appointments and earn additional academic salary. Clinical lecturers and senior lecturers within NHS Scotland's teaching hospitals may attract higher combined incomes than NHS-only equivalents in England.
Private psychiatry: the supplement to NHS income
Many NHS consultant psychiatrists undertake private practice work. Private psychiatric consultation fees range from £150–£400 per session. An established psychiatrist seeing 5–8 private patients per week (alongside full-time NHS work) can earn £30,000–£80,000 in supplementary private income annually.
Private psychiatric services — particularly for ADHD assessment, eating disorders, and psychotherapy — have expanded rapidly since 2020 as NHS waiting lists have lengthened. Independent sector providers (Priory, Elysium, Cygnet) employ psychiatrists at equivalent or slightly below NHS consultant rates.
How to earn more as a psychiatrist in the UK
1. Progress through consultant pay thresholds. NHS consultant pay rises automatically through thresholds on a fixed schedule. Reaching threshold 5–6 (£123,420–£131,964) requires consistent performance and typically takes 8–12 years from consultant appointment.
2. Secure Clinical Excellence Awards. Employer-based CEA awards (local CEA) are worth £3,000–£12,000 and are awarded for contribution to research, education, and clinical quality. Many NHS trusts award the majority of their CEA budget annually — it's worth understanding your trust's process.
3. Develop a private practice alongside NHS work. Private psychiatry in ADHD, eating disorders, and trauma-focused therapy has significant demand relative to supply. An established private practice adds £30,000–£80,000/year for a part-time private commitment alongside full-time NHS work.
4. Pursue academic or management roles. Medical directors, clinical directors, and deanery training directors earn supplements above base consultant salary. Academic roles (clinical lecturer, reader, professor) at universities with strong clinical departments similarly attract combined NHS-university salary packages above standard consultant rates.
FAQ
What is the average psychiatrist salary in the UK in 2026?
NHS consultant psychiatrists earn £99,532–£131,964 (2025/26 medical and dental pay scale), before London weighting and Clinical Excellence Awards. ONS ASHE data for SOC 2212 (all specialist medical practitioners) shows a UK median of £88,997 — slightly below the consultant entry threshold because the ASHE sample includes non-consultant specialist doctors.
How much do trainee psychiatrists earn?
Core psychiatric trainees (CT1–CT3) earn £53,398–£58,397 per year. Higher psychiatric trainees (ST4–ST6) earn £61,825–£70,425. These figures exclude on-call and out-of-hours supplements, which add approximately £4,000–£12,000 annually.
Is psychiatrist pay the same across the UK?
NHS Medical and Dental pay scales are set nationally and apply across England, Scotland, and Wales. Scotland has equivalent terms with Scottish-specific provisions. London trusts pay inner and outer London supplements (£2,162–£6,469). The main regional variation is in private practice opportunities, which are concentrated in London and the South East.
How long does it take to become a consultant psychiatrist?
Medical school: 5–6 years. Foundation training: 2 years. Core psychiatric training: 3 years. Higher psychiatric training: 3 years. CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training) allows appointment as a consultant. Total: approximately 13–15 years from A-levels to consultant appointment.
Can psychiatrists work privately in the UK?
Yes. Many NHS consultant psychiatrists supplement their income with private sessions (150–400 per consultation). Private demand for ADHD assessment, eating disorder treatment, and psychotherapy has expanded significantly since 2020. All private psychiatric practice requires current GMC registration.
Next steps
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Topics: uk salary, regional pay, ons, 2026, psychiatrist, doctor, nhs, mental health