Medical graduates hit by pay drops - graduate jobs

Medical graduates hoping to eventually earn more than £200,000 a year may not get the chance due to a fall in average salaries, figures have revealed.

GPs working under contract saw their average earnings in 2008/09 drop for the third year in a row to £105,300 (before tax), data from the NHS Information Centre has revealed. The findings cover NHS and private work and full and part-time work across the UK.

Around 14,020 GPs (42%) earned £50,000 to £100,000, 12,820 (38%) earned £100,000 to £150,000 and 3,280 (10%) earned £150,000 to £200,000, according to the NHS figures. Some 700 GPs (2%) earned £200,000 to £250,000, while 250 (0.8%) earned at least £250,000, roughly the same as last year.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "While there has been an overall decrease in GPs' earnings, we must ensure better value for money from the overall investment in the GP contract, and make sure resources are used to the greatest benefits of patients and the taxpayer. The Coalition Government recently announced a two-year pay freeze for all NHS staff earning more than £21k a year."

She said the Government was currently considering how this could be applied to groups such as GPs and dentists.