Become a salaried GP in Scotland

What is a salaried GP?

A salaried GP is a doctor employed by a GP practice, a group of practices, or an NHS Scotland Health Board. Unlike GP partners who own a share of the business, you’ll receive a monthly salary for a set number of hours. Your hours of work and rate of pay will be outlined in your employment contract.

This role allows you to focus on patient care without the financial and administrative responsibilities of running a GP practice.

The benefits of a salaried GP role

Choosing a salaried role offers a clear and stable career path with many advantages. It provides security and allows you to concentrate on what matters most: your patients.

Enjoy a better work-life balance

A salaried contract clearly defines your working hours. You’ll work an agreed number of sessions per week, meaning you’ll have a clear and consistent work pattern. This helps you protect your personal time and reduce the risk of burnout.

You are not expected to work beyond your contracted hours to manage practice business, which is a common requirement for partners.

Get job security and a stable income

As an employee, you’ll receive a guaranteed, regular salary. You don’t need to worry about practice profits or cash flow. This financial stability makes planning your life outside of work much easier.

Your employment also includes statutory rights, such as:

• a workplace pension – NHS Scotland Pension Scheme
• sick pay
• parental leave, such as maternity, paternity, or adoption leave
• annual leave entitlement

These entitlements should be clearly set out in your employment contract.

Focus on clinical care

The main responsibility of a salaried GP is looking after patients. You can dedicate your time and energy to consultations, diagnoses, and treatment plans.

You’ll have fewer administrative tasks compared to a GP partner. For example, you will not be responsible for things like:

• staff management and HR
• business accounts and finance
• premises management
• Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) GP practice quality standards

This frees up your time and energy to concentrate on patient care.

Reduce your personal risk

GP partners are financially liable for the business. As a salaried GP, you carry no personal financial risk or liability for the practice's finances or performance.

You’ll still need personal medical indemnity, but the practice's business and public liability insurance will not be your responsibility.

What to expect in your GP role

Your day-to-day work will centre on providing high-quality medical care. Your responsibilities could include:

• running morning and afternoon clinics with pre-booked and same-day appointments
• managing patient test results, referrals, and prescriptions
• doing telephone and online consultations
• making home visits to patients who are housebound
• attending practice meetings and clinical training events

Your specific responsibilities and the balance of these tasks will be set out in your employment contract.

Your contract

You will have a formal employment contract. The British Medical Association (BMA) provides a model contract for salaried GPs, which is the industry standard. Find out more about pay and contracts on the BMA website.

Your contract should clearly state:

• your gross salary
• your weekly number of sessions and hours
• your annual leave and study leave allowance
• details of your pension scheme
• your notice period

Always review your contract carefully before signing. You can get professional advice from the BMA.

Salaried GP pay

Your pay will depend on your experience, the number of weekly sessions and hours you work, and the responsibilities you agree to take on.

In 2025, a full-time salaried GP in Scotland can typically expect to earn between £77,160 and £115,167 per year. Your salary is negotiable and should be reviewed regularly.

Working in a GP out of hours service

As a salaried GP, you can work in OOH in 2 main ways. You can be formally employed by a GPOOH service on a contract. Alternatively, you can work extra shifts on a self-employed locum basis to supplement your main income.

Before you start GPOOH work

Working OOH in Scotland is straightforward. You just need to be aware of a few practical points:

• Performers’ List—To work in any GP role in Scotland, you must be on a health board's Performers List.
• Indemnity cover—All GPs in Scottish OOH services are covered by the state-backed CNORIS indemnity scheme for that work.
• Flexibility—OOH shifts offer flexibility, particularly for work during evenings and weekends.

Find out more about GPOOH services in Scotland.

Remote and rural opportunities for salaried GPs

A salaried role offers a secure way to work in rural Scotland. Many remote practices are managed directly by the local health board. This provides the stability of a salaried contract, a clear job plan, and often relocation support.

Discover more about working in remote and rural areas:

• GP Jobs: Rural practice
• Scottish Rural Medicine Collaborative
• Rural GP Association of Scotland

Find out more about the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care.

Is a salaried GP role right for you?

This career path is the perfect choice if you value stability and want to focus on patient care.

A salaried GP role could be a good fit if you:

• want a clear boundary between your work and home life
• prefer a predictable income and employment benefits
• want to avoid the risks and stress of running a business
• are early in your career and want to gain experience in different practices
• want to reduce your hours later in your GP career

If you identify with any of these statements, a salaried position could provide the career satisfaction you are looking for.

Salaried GP vs GP partner

To help you make an informed career decision, it's useful to see a direct comparison between the salaried GP and GP partner roles.

The best choice for you will depend on what matters most in your personal life and professional career.

How to find a salaried GP job in Scotland

You can find vacancies for salaried GP roles on the GP Jobs website.

When you apply, tailor your application to highlight your clinical skills and experience. In your interview, be ready to talk about why the salaried model appeals to you and how you would contribute to the practice team.

Related content

The following resources are related to becoming a salaried GP in Scotland:

• The Royal College of General Practitioners: Becoming a GP
• Career development support
• Health and wellbeing support

Check out these resources for further guidance and professional support.