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SOC 4211 Secretarial and related occupations

Medical secretaries Salary

Median salary £24,071 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £24,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For medical secretaries, £26,958 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -31% versus the national average. Experienced medical secretaries (top 25%) earn over £28,194.

About this role

Medical secretaries provide specialist administrative support within healthcare settings, managing patient correspondence, typing clinical letters and reports, handling medical terminology and supporting clinical teams with administrative functions.

Key responsibilities

  • Typing clinical letters, discharge summaries and medical reports
  • Managing patient correspondence and referrals
  • Handling telephone enquiries from patients and healthcare professionals
  • Maintaining patient records and filing systems
  • Scheduling appointments and supporting clinical administration

Qualifications and entry routes

Medical secretarial qualifications (AMSPAR) or equivalent are valued. Accurate audio typing skills, knowledge of medical terminology and IT proficiency are essential. NHS experience is beneficial.

Career outlook

NHS administrative demand remains strong. Electronic patient records and digital dictation are changing workflows but the need for accurate medical correspondence continues.

Key skills

Medical terminology Audio typing Patient confidentiality IT systems Organisation

Common industries

  • NHS hospitals
  • GP practices
  • Private hospitals
  • Clinical commissioning
  • Medical agencies

Data coverage

SOC code 4211
Data source ONS ASHE
Years available 2015–2025
Estimated jobs 43,000

Median Salary

£24,071

Mean Salary

£23,031

Jobs (000s)

43k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £12kP25: £17kMedian: £24kP75: £28kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£12,330

0-2 years

Mid Level

£17,286

3-7 years

Senior

£28,194

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +129% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Nominal growth: +41.6%Real growth: +2.6%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 4.0%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£24,071

Full-time Only

£26,958

Full-time premium: +£2,887

Medical secretaries salary: common questions

How much do medical secretaries earn in the UK?
Medical secretaries earn a median of £26,958 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £17,286 and £28,194.
Is £26,958 a good salary in the UK?
For medical secretaries, £26,958 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -31% versus the national average. Experienced medical secretaries (top 25%) earn over £28,194.
What is the starting salary for medical secretaries?
Entry-level medical secretaries typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £17,286, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £12,330.
Have medical secretaries salaries kept up with inflation?
Since 2015, median medical secretaries pay has risen from £21,783 to £26,958 — +24% in cash terms, or -10% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.
Is there a gender pay gap for medical secretaries?
Male medical secretaries earn a median £25,074 and female medical secretaries £24,071 — a gap of +4.0% in 2025.

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