How pay banding works

Pay banding affects how you are paid. Find out what pay band you should be as a flexible or full-time trainee resident doctor. Use our pay band calculator.

Location: UK
Audience: Resident doctors
Updated: Wednesday 18 September 2024
Wallet and notes illustration

The pay banding system affects how you are paid each month. It is different for those in full–time training and those who are flexible trainees.

Full time doctors are paid a salary based on working 40 hours per week between Monday and Friday. If you work more than 40 hours per week or any of your core hours Monday to Friday before 7am or after 7pm you receive a supplement. These supplements are called pay bands.

The value of this supplement depends on:

  • the average number of hours worked in the week
  • the amount of the time at work actually spent working
  • the overall pattern of the hours.

 

Full-time trainee pay bands

Band Definition Salary supplement as % of salary
Band 3 For those working more than 56 hours per week on average or not achieving the required rest. Non-compliant with the new deal, because of excessive hours or other matters. 100%
Band 2a For those working between 48 and 56 hours per week on average, most antisocially 80%
Band 2b For those working between 48 and 56 hours per week on average, least antisocially 50%
Band 1a For those working between 40 and 48 hours per week on average, most antisocially 50%
Band 1b For those working between 40 and 48 hours per week on average, moderately antisocially 40%
Band 1c For those working between 40 and 48 hours per week on average, least antisocially 20%
No band Doctors working on average 40 hours or fewer a week (unless training less than full time) 0% (Doctors in grade FHO1 will receive a 5% uplift)

How your total pay is calculated

This means for example that someone working on a Band 2A rota will be paid their basic salary, and a banding supplement of 80% of their basic salary.

Total salary = basic pay + (% supplement x basic pay)

It must be noted that employers are contractually obliged to conform to the new deal requirements, but also have to comply with European legislation.

Dr Latifa Patel Explains Pay Banding video cover
ST2 Dr Latifa Patel explains pay banding

Flexible trainee pay bands

Basic salary band Hours of actual work (including out-of-hours) Hours of actual work (including out-of-hours) Band value (% off salary)
Equal to Less than
F5 20 24 50%
F6 24 28 60%
F7 28 32 70%
F8 32 36 80%
F9 36 40 90%

Total salary = salary + (salary x % out of hours supplement)

The pay band supplement takes the following form.

Band Value
FA 50%
FB 40%
FC 20%

Band FA is for trainees working at the highest frequency and at the most antisocial times. Band FB and FC represent gradually reducing frequency and out of hours commitments. If you work less than 40 hours per week on average and all between 7am and 7pm then you are not eligible for a pay band supplement.

Monitoring of your working pattern is very important as a flexible trainee, and should occur as soon as is feasible after starting your post. This is to ensure that the hours and intensity of your theoretical rota are accurate.

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