SOC 2211 Health professionals

Generalist medical practitioners Salary

Median salary £51,756 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £52,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For generalist medical practitioners, £55,494 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +42% versus the national average. Experienced generalist medical practitioners (top 25%) earn over £66,037.

About this role

Generalist medical practitioners diagnose, treat and prevent illness and disease, providing direct patient care or specialist medical services. They work across primary care, hospitals and specialist clinics, following evidence-based clinical practices.

Key responsibilities

Examining, diagnosing and treating patients
Prescribing medication and treatment plans
Referring patients to specialist services when required
Maintaining accurate medical records
Participating in clinical governance and continuing professional development

Qualifications and entry routes

Requires an MBBS or equivalent medical degree (5-6 years), followed by Foundation Programme (2 years) and specialty training (3-8 years depending on specialisation). Full GMC registration is mandatory.

Career outlook

Persistent workforce shortages across the NHS. High demand in primary care, emergency medicine and psychiatry. Overseas recruitment is significant.

Key skills

Clinical diagnosis Patient communication Evidence-based medicine Clinical decision-making Team working

Common industries

NHS
Private healthcare
Primary care
Hospital medicine
Public health

Data coverage

SOC code 2211

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2021–2025

Estimated jobs 88,000

Median Salary

£51,756

Mean Salary

£53,163

Jobs (000s)

88k

Data Years

5 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £36,586Median: £51,756P75: £66,037

P10: £24kP25: £37kMedian: £52kP75: £66kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£23,781

0-2 years

Mid Level

£36,586

3-7 years

Senior

£66,037

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +178% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2021-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +5.7%Real growth: -14.5%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 10.8%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£51,756

Full-time Only

£55,494

Full-time premium: +£3,738

Generalist medical practitioners salary: common questions

How much do generalist medical practitioners earn in the UK?

Generalist medical practitioners earn a median of £55,494 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £36,586 and £66,037.

Is £55,494 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for generalist medical practitioners?

Entry-level generalist medical practitioners typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £36,586, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £23,781.

Have generalist medical practitioners salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2021, median generalist medical practitioners pay has risen from £50,901 to £55,494 — +9.0% in cash terms, or -12% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for generalist medical practitioners?

Male generalist medical practitioners earn a median £55,400 and female generalist medical practitioners £49,393 — a gap of +11% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).