Foundation Year 1 (F1) Salary

£38,831
2026/27 — Nodal Point 1, 2016 hospital doctor contract
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2026/27 Basic Pay (England — 2016 Contract)

Nodal PointAnnualMonthly
Nodal Point 1 (F1)£38,831£3,235.92

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use different pay scales — see the calculator for nation-specific figures.

About Foundation Year 1

Foundation Year 1 (F1) is the first of two years that newly qualified doctors complete on the UK Foundation Programme. F1 doctors work in different specialties across hospital placements, typically rotating every 4 months.

F1 sits on Nodal Point 1 of the 2016 hospital doctor contract pay scale, which applies in England. Equivalent pay points exist for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland under their respective contracts.

F1 basic pay is supplemented for unsocial working — a weekend allowance tied to weekend frequency, a 37% enhancement on hours worked between 9pm and 7am, an availability allowance for on-call, and any additional hours worked above the standard 40-hour week.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Foundation Year 1 (F1) salary?
Foundation Year 1 (F1) sits on Nodal Point 1 of the 2016 hospital doctor contract. F1 doctors receive basic pay plus any applicable supplements for weekend, night and on-call working.
What supplements can F1 doctors receive?
F1 doctors may receive: a weekend allowance (percentage of basic pay based on weekend frequency, e.g. 1-in-4), a night work enhancement (37% of basic hourly rate for hours 9pm–7am), an availability allowance (8% for resident on-call, 3% for non-resident), and additional hours payments. The first two are pensionable; the latter two are not.
Is F1 pay pensionable?
Yes. F1 doctors are automatically enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme (2015 CARE section). Contribution rates are tiered by pensionable pay; the scheme builds 1/54th of pensionable pay as pension each year, revalued by CPI + 1.5%.
How long does F1 last?
F1 lasts one year, after which doctors progress to F2 (Nodal Point 2). F1 and F2 together make up the Foundation Programme.

Doctor pay by grade

F1 F2 ST3–5 ST6–8 SAS Consultant Salaried GP

Topics

Junior Doctor Take-Home On-Call Allowance 2026/27 Pay Scales