jobfacts

Specialist medical practitioners and consultants

SOC 2020 2212

Specialist medical practitioners and consultants specialise in particular areas of modern medicine, diagnose mental and physical injuries, disorders and diseases within their specialism, prescribe and give treatment, recommend preventative action, and conduct medical education and research activities

Also calledAnaesthetistPaediatricianPsychiatristSurgeonOncologistGastroenterologistand 99 more titles
Typical full-time pay£92,8002025 Provisional
People in the job155,000across the UK
Demand for workersCritical
New adverts a month4,200↓ 13%on last year · 37th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025

Half of full-time specialist medical practitioners and consultants earn between £67,300 and £136,100 a year.

What full-time specialist medical practitioners and consultants earn, 2025
£92,800 typical£49,600lowest 10%£136,10075%£169,000top 10%
Middle half (£67,300–£136,100)
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£49,600
Lowest 20% earn less than£62,900
25%£67,300
Median£92,800
75%£136,100
Top 20% earn more than£143,800
Top 10% earn more than£169,000
Typical pay by regionUK median £92,800
Scotland!£121,800
South West!£98,200
North West!£87,100
London£87,100
Yorkshire and The Humber!£82,500
South East!£80,200
North EastNot published by ONS–
East MidlandsNot published by ONS–
West MidlandsNot published by ONS–
East of EnglandNot published by ONS–
WalesNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £92,800
Scotland£121,800 (small sample)
South West£98,200 (small sample)
North West£87,100 (small sample)
London£87,100
Yorkshire and The Humber£82,500 (small sample)
South East£80,200 (small sample)
North EastNot published by ONS
East MidlandsNot published by ONS
West MidlandsNot published by ONS
East of EnglandNot published by ONS
WalesNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £69,600
  • 2024 £76,100
  • 2025 Provisional£92,800
↑ 33% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 4,200 jobs for specialist medical practitioners and consultants are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as critical.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (3 in all)
Show as table
Aug 20263,356
Jul 2026Not published
Jun 2026Not published
May 20264,463
Apr 20264,412
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 20265,578
Jan 20264,202
Dec 20252,312
Nov 20254,546
Oct 20254,429
Sept 20254,538
Aug 20254,362
Jul 20255,194
Jun 20254,607
May 20255,509
Apr 20254,692
Mar 20255,338
Feb 20255,444
Jan 20255,159
Dec 20243,767
Nov 20245,006
Oct 20245,080
Sept 20244,471
Aug 20244,720
Jul 20245,355
Jun 20245,248
May 20246,244
Apr 20245,865
Mar 20244,666
Feb 20245,351
Jan 20245,671
Dec 20235,540
Nov 20235,350
Oct 20234,623
Sept 20234,455
Aug 20234,903
Jul 20235,689
Jun 20237,219
May 20236,958
Apr 20235,772
Mar 20236,511
Feb 20236,626
Jan 20236,429
Dec 20225,831
Nov 20226,998
Oct 20226,652
Sept 20225,982
Aug 20226,724
Jul 20226,596
Jun 20226,445
May 20227,953
Apr 20225,637
Mar 20226,223
Feb 20225,534
Jan 20225,943
Dec 20214,937
Nov 20215,598
Oct 20215,326
Sept 20214,338
Aug 20214,161
Jul 20215,772
Jun 20214,948
May 20215,143
Apr 20214,365
Mar 20216,076
Feb 20214,589
Jan 20215,048
Dec 20205,513
Nov 20204,630
Oct 20206,004
Sept 20205,338
Aug 20205,461
Jul 20205,228
Jun 20205,286
May 20204,341
Apr 20204,063
Mar 20205,719
Feb 20206,545
Jan 20206,135
Dec 20194,552
Nov 20195,779
Oct 20195,798
Sept 20195,533
Aug 20195,725
Jul 20196,523
Jun 20196,541
May 20196,402
Apr 20194,902
Mar 20195,639
Feb 20195,910
Jan 20196,031
Dec 20184,301
Nov 20187,276
Oct 20186,284
Sept 20185,573
Aug 20185,391
Jul 20186,045
Jun 20187,322
May 20186,361
Apr 20185,665
Mar 20186,372
Feb 20186,396
Jan 20185,972
Dec 20175,302
Nov 20176,529
Oct 20175,714
Sept 20175,596
Aug 20176,149
Jul 20176,942
Jun 20174,855
May 20175,269
Apr 20174,895
Mar 20175,004
Feb 20174,226
Jan 20174,900
Is there a shortage of specialist medical practitioners and consultants?
Critical

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment.

  • Visas grantedWell above usual
  • Online job advertsWell above usual
  • Wage growthWell above usual
  • Pay against similar jobsWell above usual
  • Hours workedAbove usual
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
31%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for health professionals, which includes specialist medical practitioners and consultants. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London2,308
Birmingham576
South Gloucestershire387
Manchester247
Leeds219
Bristol, City of213
Liverpool188
Tewkesbury185
Nottingham179
Sheffield175
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where specialist medical practitioners and consultants are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 1,466 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, ranking it 11th of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of specialist medical practitioners and consultants
3.1%!
21%!
31%
26%
15%
3.6%!
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
16–243.1% (small sample)
25–3421% (small sample)
35–4431%
45–5426%
55–6415%
65+3.6% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent93%
Higher education below degree!3.1%
A levels or equivalent!1.9%
GCSEs or equivalent–
Not published
Other qualifications!1.7%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent93%
Higher education below degree3.1% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent1.9% (small sample)
GCSEs or equivalentNot published
Other qualifications1.7% (small sample)

Main employers: hospital activities (59%), regulation of the activities of providing health care, education, cultural services and other social services, excluding social security (13%), other human health activities (7.1%), specialist medical practice activities (4.7%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
93%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
None
none leads directly into this work

Routes in

Anaesthetist

You can get into this job through a university course or a degree apprenticeship.

University

To become an anaesthetist, you'll need to complete:

  • a 5-year degree in medicine from a medical school recognised by the General Medical Council
  • a 2-year foundation programme of general training
  • specialist training which can take 7 to 8 years

You might be able to do a foundation year before starting a medical degree. This will depend on your circumstances and what qualifications you hold.

If you already have a degree, you could take a 4-year graduate entry route into medicine.

There is a lot of competition for places, so it's important to check the entry requirements of medical schools before you apply.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry
More about this route
Entry tests

When you apply for a course in medicine, you may be asked to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).

It tests for skills you'll need on the course, such as:

  • critical thinking
  • problem solving
  • data analysis
  • decision making
Work experience

Medical schools will expect you to have some relevant paid or voluntary work experience. The British Medical Association provides information on how to find a placement.

Apprenticeship

You may be able to apply for a place on a Doctor Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship, if you're working in a healthcare setting.

This takes 5 years to do and you would need the support of your employer to apply.

On successful completion, you could progress to the 2-year foundation training programme, then move on to specialist training.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

What you’ll need

  • pass enhanced background checks

Registration and professional bodies

Registration
  • you'll need to register with the General Medical Council
Career tips

The General Medical Council has a guide on what it means to be a good doctor. You might find this useful when preparing for medical school interviews.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the British Medical Association for advice, resources and professional development opportunities.

Further information

You can find more details on how to become an anaesthetist from the Royal College of Anaesthetists and Health Careers.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for anaesthetist. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Paediatrician

You can get into this job through a university course or an apprenticeship.

University

To become a paediatrician you'll need to complete:

  • a degree in medicine recognised by the General Medical Council
  • a 2-year foundation programme of general training
  • specialist training which takes a minimum of 8 years

A medical degree normally takes 5 years to complete. Some courses have the option to include an extra year if you want to study a subject further. This is called an intercalated year.

You might be able to study a foundation year before starting a medical degree. This will depend on your circumstances or if you have not studied enough sciences. Check with the admissions department where you want to study.

If you already have a degree, you could take a 4-year graduate entry route into medicine. There’s lots of competition and entry requirements vary, so check with the admissions department where you want to study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • at least 5 GCSEs grades 9 to 7 (A* or A), including English maths and sciences
  • 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry
More about this route
Entry tests

When you apply for a course in medicine, you may be asked to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).

It tests the skills you'll need on the course, like critical thinking, problem solving, data analysis, communication and scientific knowledge.

Work experience

Medical schools will also expect you to have some relevant paid or voluntary work experience. The British Medical Association provides information on how to find a placement.

Apprenticeship

You might be able to do a doctor degree apprenticeship which will take around 5 years to complete.

The apprenticeship is recognised by the General Medical Council.

You could then progress to the foundation course of general training before completing the specialist training.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

What you’ll need

  • pass enhanced background checks

Registration and professional bodies

Registration
  • you'll need to register with the General Medical Council
Career tips

The General Medical Council has a guide on what it means to be a good doctor. You might find this useful when preparing for medical school interviews.

You can use online resources to find out more about the types of interviews you can expect to get into for medical school.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the British Medical Association for professional development and training opportunities.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in paediatrics from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Health Careers.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for paediatrician. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Psychiatrist

You can get into this job through a university course or an apprenticeship.

University

To become a psychiatrist you'll need to complete:

  • a degree in medicine recognised by the General Medical Council
  • a 2-year foundation programme of general training
  • 3 years core training in psychiatry
  • specialist training which can take up to 3 years

A medical degree normally takes 5 years to complete. Some courses have the option to include an extra year if you want to study a subject further. This is called an intercalated year.

You might be able to study a foundation year before starting a medical degree. This will depend on your circumstances or if you have not studied enough sciences. Check with the admissions department where you want to study.

If you already have a degree, you could take a 4-year graduate entry route into medicine. There’s lots of competition and entry requirements vary, so check with the admissions department where you want to study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
More about this route
Entry tests

When you apply for a course in medicine, you may be asked to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).

It tests the skills you'll need on the course, like critical thinking, problem solving, data analysis, communication and scientific knowledge.

Work experience

Medical schools will also expect you to have some relevant paid or voluntary work experience. The British Medical Association provides information on how to find a placement.

Apprenticeship

You might be able to do a doctor degree apprenticeship which will take around 5 years to complete.

The apprenticeship is recognised by the General Medical Council.

You could then progress to the foundation course of general training before completing the specialist training.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

What you’ll need

  • pass enhanced background checks

Registration and professional bodies

Registration
  • you'll need to register with the General Medical Council
Career tips

The General Medical Council has a guide on what it means to be a good doctor. You might find this useful when preparing for medical school interviews.

You can use online resources to find out more about the types of interviews you can expect to get into for medical school.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the British Medical Association for professional development and training opportunities.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a psychiatrist from the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Health Careers.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for psychiatrist. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Surgeon

You can get into this job through a university course or an apprenticeship.

University

To become a surgeon you'll need to complete:

  • a 5-year degree in medicine recognised by the General Medical Council
  • a 2-year foundation programme of general training
  • core surgical training in a hospital which takes 2 years
  • specialist training which can take up to 6 years

You might be able to do a foundation year before starting a medical degree. This will depend on your circumstances and what qualifications you hold.

If you already have a science-based degree, you could take a 4-year graduate entry route into medicine.

There is a lot of competition for places, so it's important to check the entry requirements of medical schools before you apply.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • at least 5 GCSEs grades 9 to 7 (A* or A), including English maths and sciences
  • 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry
More about this route
Entry tests

When you apply for a course in medicine, you may be asked to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).

It tests for skills you'll need on the course, such as:

  • critical thinking
  • problem solving
  • data analysis
  • decision making
Work experience

Medical schools will also expect you to have some relevant paid or voluntary work experience. The British Medical Association provides information on how to find a placement.

Apprenticeship

You may be able to apply for a place on a Doctor Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship, if you're working in a healthcare setting.

This takes 5 years to do and you would need the support of your employer to apply.

On successful completion, you could progress to the 2-year foundation training programme, then move on to core and specialist training.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

What you’ll need

  • pass enhanced background checks

Registration and professional bodies

Registration
  • you'll need to register with the General Medical Council
Career tips

The General Medical Council has a guide on what it means to be a good doctor. You might find this useful when preparing for medical school interviews.

You can use online resources to find out more about the types of interviews you can expect to get into for medical school.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the British Medical Association for professional development and training opportunities.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a surgeon from the Royal College of Surgeons and Health Careers.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for surgeon. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • examines patient, arranges for any necessary x-rays or other tests and interprets results
  • diagnoses condition and prescribes and/or administers appropriate treatment/surgery
  • administers medical tests and inoculations against communicable diseases
  • supervises patient’s progress and advises on diet, exercise and other preventative action
  • provides specialist advice to generalist medical practitioners or other specialists
  • performs specialist medical tasks such as surgery, anaesthetisation and diagnostic or interventional radiology
  • prepares and delivers lectures, undertakes research, and conducts and participates in clinical trials
  • takes overall responsibility for, supervises and directs the implementation of care and treatment plans by other healthcare providers

Skills

  • provide healthcare services to patients in specialised medicine
  • advise on pregnancies at risk
  • conduct health related research
  • contribute to education in medicine
  • employ foreign languages for health-related research
  • employ foreign languages in care
  • manage a healthcare unit budget
  • manage a multidisciplinary team involved in patient care

Knowledge

  • allergology
  • anaesthetics
  • biological chemistry
  • biological haematology
  • cardiology
  • child psychiatry
  • clinical biology
  • clinical neurophysiology

Suits people who like

  • Working with ideas and solving problems
  • Helping and caring for people

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for health professionals, a group of 24 jobs that includes specialist medical practitioners and consultants.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 19%about 310,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20351.3 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.