NHS Medical Secretary salary, 2026/27
Medical secretaries handle dictation, clinic correspondence, appointment scheduling and patient queries for consultants and clinical teams. The role requires strong administrative skills and medical terminology knowledge. Most medical secretaries are banded at 3, with senior medical secretaries (working for multiple consultants or in highly specialised areas) at Band 4.
- Range (England)
- £25,760 to £31,157
- Typical bands
- Band 3, Band 4
- Hourly entry
- £13.17
- Hourly top
- £15.93
Medical Secretary pay by band, England 2026/27
The table below shows the entry and top step at each band Medical Secretaries are typically paid on. Most Medical Secretaries move through the bands over the course of their career as they take on more senior or specialist responsibilities.
Medical Secretary pay in Scotland
Scottish NHS staff are paid on a separate pay scale, negotiated by the Scottish Government rather than the UK Pay Review Body. Scotland consistently pays more than England at every band. The figures below are the Scottish equivalents for the same bands.
Common questions
- What pay band is a Medical Secretary on?
- NHS Medical Secretaries sit at Band 3 or Band 4 depending on experience and the specific responsibilities of the role. Newly qualified Medical Secretaries usually start on the lowest banding shown, with progression to the higher bands as they take on more senior or specialist work.
- How much does an NHS Medical Secretary earn in 2026/27?
- On the 2026/27 England pay scale, an NHS Medical Secretary earns between £25,760 and £31,157 a year gross, depending on band and step. At the lowest entry rate that works out to roughly £13.17 an hour, and at the top rate roughly £15.93 an hour. Take-home pay after tax, NI and the NHS pension contribution is typically 70% of the gross figure. Scottish Medical Secretaries earn between £29,103 and £34,303 on the equivalent Scottish scale.
- Where can I find Medical Secretary jobs in the NHS?
- NHS Jobs (jobs.nhs.uk) lists all current vacancies across the four UK nations. Filter by 'Pay Band' to focus on roles at the band you're interested in. HSC Recruit covers Northern Ireland (jobs.hscni.net) and NHS Scotland Jobs covers Scotland (jobs.scot.nhs.uk). Most Trusts also list vacancies on their own websites alongside the national portal.
- Does Medical Secretary get London weighting?
- Only at NHS Trusts in England inside one of the three London weighting (HCAS) zones. Medical Secretaries working at Inner London Trusts get 20% on top of basic pay (minimum £5,794, maximum £8,746 for 2026/27). Outer London is 15%, Fringe is 5%. Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish Medical Secretaries don't receive a London weighting equivalent.