Pay scale
Pay scales for clinical academic staff
Salary scales for clinical academic staff from 1 April 2025.
Updated on 8 August 2025
- The pay scales for medical and dental consultants have been uplifted by 4.0% to basic pay from 1 April 2025, and the value of all Discretionary Points has been increased by 4.0% from 1 April 2025.
- The 2025/26 pay award for doctors and dentists in training in Scotland has not been announced therefore the values for clinical academics below the level of consultant in the pre and post-2009 scales in tables 3 and 4 have not been uplifted.
- The values of distinction awards for consultants are unchanged from last year.
- The transition period for staff holding honorary consultant contracts who transferred to the 2004 consultant contract under the provisions of paragraphs 14.2.3, 14.2.4, 14.2.6 of the terms and conditions of service for consultant grade staff in Scotland has ended. Table 7 has not therefore been updated.
Clinical academics below the level of consultant (pre 2009 scale) and Senior Lecturer / Reader Scale
Clinical Lecturer
- †This salary scale applies to clinical lecturers only. If HEIs wish to apply the scale to other clinical staff than clinical lecturers that is a matter for local determination
- § These points are HE specific pay scales that have no NHS equivalent. An 8.5% increase has been applied from 1 April 2024 and a further 2.3% increase has been applied from 1 October 2024 in line with the latest NHS Scotland Pay Circular.
- * &This point was introduced on 1 April 2002 and relates only to dentists paid on clinical academic pay scales.
| Spine point | Salary from 01/10/2024 | Salary from 01/04/2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £47,474 | £46,406 |
| 2 | £49,826 | £48,705 |
| 3 | £52,177 | £51,003 |
| 4 | £54,528 | £53,302 |
| 5 | £57,363 | £56,073 |
| 6 | £60,199 | £58,845 |
| 7 | £63,039 | £61,621 |
| 8 | £65,875 | £64,393 |
| 9 | £68,710 | £67,165 |
| 10§ | £76,082 | £74,371 |
| 11§ | £82,197 | £80,349 |
| 12§* | £88,311 | £86,326 |
Senior Lecturer/Reader
These points are HE specific pay scales that have no NHS equivalent. An 8.5% increase has been applied from 1 April 2024 and a further 2.3% increase has been applied from 1 October 2024 in line with the latest NHS Scotland Pay Circular.
| Salary from 01/10/2024 | Salary from 01/04/2024 |
|---|---|
| £76,082 | £74,371 |
| £82,197 | £80,349 |
| £88,311 | £86,326 |
| £94,432 | £92,309 |
| £102,235 | £99,936 |
| £107,625 | £105,205 |
Clinical academics below the level of consultant (post 2009 scale) and Senior Lecturer / Reader Scale
Clinical lecturer
- † This salary scale applies to clinical lecturers only. If HEIs wish to apply the scale to other clinical staff than clinical lecturers that is a matter for local determination
- § These points are HE specific pay scales that have no NHS equivalent. An 8.5% increase has been applied from 1 April 2024 and a further 2.3% increase has been applied from 1 October 2024 in line with the latest NHS Scotland Pay Circular.
- *This point was introduced on 1 April 2002 and relates only to dentists paid on clinical academic pay scales.
| Grade | 01/10/24 | 01/04/24 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £48,288 | £47,202 |
| 2 | £52,177 | £51,003 |
| 3 | £54,528 | £53,302 |
| 4 | £57,363 | £56,073 |
| 5 | £60,199 | £58,845 |
| 6 | £63,039 | £61,621 |
| 7 | £65,875 | £64,393 |
| 8 | £68,710 | £67,165 |
| 9 | £71,550 | £69,941 |
| §10 | £79,047 | £77,269 |
| §11 | £85,402 | £83,482 |
| §*12 | £91,753 | £89,690 |
Senior Lecturer/ Reader
These points are HE specific pay scales that have no NHS equivalent. An 8.5% increase has been applied from 1 April 2024 and a further 2.3% increase has been applied from 1 October 2024 in line with the latest NHS Scotland Pay Circular.
| 01/10/24 | 01/04/24 |
|---|---|
| £76,082 | £74,371 |
| £82,197 | £80,349 |
| £88,311 | £86,326 |
| £94,432 | £92,309 |
| £102,235 | £99,936 |
| £107,625 | £105,205 |
Staff holding honorary consultant contract (pre-2004 contract)
| Incremental points | 01/04/25 | 01/04/24 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | £92,518 | £88,959 |
| 1st | £99,141 | £95,327 |
| 2nd | £105,759 | £101,691 |
| 3rd | £112,381 | £108,058 |
| 4th | £118,647 | £114,083 |
New consultant contract
Basic salary for staff holding honorary consultant contracts whose first appointment to a post on the consultant grade was on or after 1 April 2004 / pay arrangements for new honorary consultants
| Seniority point | Pay point | Salary | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/04/25 | 01/04/24 | ||
| 1 | 1 | £111,430 | £107,144 |
| 2 | 2 | £113,784 | £109,407 |
| 3 | 3 | £117,169 | £112,662 |
| 4 | 4 | £120,558 | £115,921 |
| 5 | 5 | £123,937 | £119,170 |
| 6 | 5 | £123,937 | £119,170 |
| 7 | 5 | £123,937 | £119,170 |
| 8 | 5 | £123,937 | £119,170 |
| 9 | 5 | £123,937 | £119,170 |
| 10 | 6 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 11 | 6 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 12 | 6 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 13 | 6 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 14 | 6 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 15 | 7 | £140,026 | £134,640 |
| 16 | 7 | £140,026 | £134,640 |
| 17 | 7 | £140,026 | £134,640 |
| 18 | 7 | £140,026 | £134,640 |
| 19 | 7 | £140,026 | £134,640 |
| 20 | 8 | £148,064 | £142,369 |
Transitional pay arrangements based on 2022-2023 rates for staff holding honorary consultant contracts
Staff who transferred to the 2004 consultant contract under the provisions of paragraphs 14.2.3, 14.2.4, 14.2.6 of the terms and conditions of service for consultant grade staff in Scotland
| Seniority (years) as at 1 April 2003 | Current Salaries / Interval (years) | Basic Salary (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | From 1 April 2022 * | £121,548 |
*(or anniversary of appointment is appointed after 1 April 2003)
The transition period has ended.
Transitional pay arrangements for staff holding honorary consultant contracts
Staff who transferred to the 2004 consultant contract before 1 April 2008 under the provisions of paragraphs 14.2.7 to 14.2.9 of the terms and conditions of service for consultant grade staff in Scotland.
Salary upon transfer based on 2025-26 rates
| Spine point | Seniority (years) | 2025/26 rates | 2024/25 rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | £111,430 | £107,144 |
| 1 | 2 | £112,303 | £107,983 |
| 2 | 3 | £113,172 | £108,819 |
| 3 | 4 | £113,172 | £108,819 |
| 4 (<1 year @ max) | 5 | £120,558 | £115,921 |
| 4 (+1 year @ max) | 6 | £122,249 | £117,547 |
| 4 (+ 2-24 years @ max) | 7-29 | £123,937 | £119,170 |
| 4 (>25 years @ max) | 30+ | £131,982 | £126,905 |
Subsequent pay progression based on 2025-26 rates
| Seniority (years) | Interval (years) | 2025/26 Basic salary | 2024/25 Basic salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30+ | 1 | £140,026 | £134,640 |
| 1 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 21 – 29 | 1 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 1 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 1 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 20 | 1 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 2 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 1 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 19 | 1 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 2 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 2 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 18 | 2 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 1 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 2 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 17 | 2 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 2 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 2 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 16 | 3 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 1 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 3 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 15 | 3 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 1 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 4 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 14 | 3 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 2 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 4 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 13 | 3 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 2 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 5 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| Seniority (years) | Interval (years) | ||
| 12 | 3 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 3 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 5 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 11 | 4 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 3 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 5 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 10 | 4 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 4 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 5 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 9 | 4 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 5 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 5 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 7 to 8 | 5 | £131,982 | £126,905 |
| 5 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 5 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 6 | 1 | £123,937 | £119,170 |
| 4 | £131,982 | £126,905 | |
| 5 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 5 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 5 | 1* | £122,249 | £117,547 |
| 1 | £123,937 | £119,170 | |
| 4 | £131,982 | £126,905 | |
| 5 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 5 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 4 | 1 | £117,169 | £112,662 |
| 1 | £120,558 | £115,921 | |
| 1 | £123,937 | £119,170 | |
| 3 | £131,982 | £126,905 | |
| 5 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 5 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 3 | 1* | £115,476 | £111,034 |
| 1 | £120,558 | £115,921 | |
| 1 | £123,937 | £119,170 | |
| 4 | £131,982 | £126,905 | |
| 5 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 5 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 2 | 1 | £113,784 | £109,407 |
| 1 | £120,558 | £115,921 | |
| 1 | £123,937 | £119,170 | |
| 5 | £131,982 | £126,905 | |
| 5 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 5 | £148,064 | £142,369 | |
| 1 | 1* | £113,172 | £108,819 |
| 1 | £117,169 | £112,662 | |
| 1 | £120,558 | £115,921 | |
| 1 | £123,937 | £119,170 | |
| 5 | £131,982 | £126,905 | |
| 5 | £140,026 | £134,640 | |
| 5 | £148,064 | £142,369 |
*for consultants with seniority of 1, 3 or 5 years on transition, the first pay threshold is for transitional purposes
Consultants – additional/discretionary points
There has been no increase in the value of discretionary points in this pay round.
| Point | 01/04/25 | 01/04/24 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £3,744 | £3,600 |
| 2 | £7,488 | £7,200 |
| 3 | £11,232 | £10,800 |
| 4 | £14,976 | £14,400 |
| 5 | £18,720 | £18,000 |
| 6 | £22,464 | £21,600 |
| 7 | £26,208 | £25,200 |
| 8 | £29,952 | £28,800 |
Consultants – distinction awards
There has been no increase in the value of distinction awards in this pay round.
| Award | 01/04/25 | 01/04/24 |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | £75,889 | £75,889 |
| A | £55,924 | £55,924 |
| B | £31,959 | £31,959 |
Enquiries