NCHD Pay Scales Ireland 2026: SHO, Registrar & SpR Salaries
Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) — the junior and training-grade doctors who staff Irish hospitals — are paid on national incremental scales. Here are the consolidated NCHD salary scales effective 1 June 2026, by grade.
NCHD salary scales at a glance (June 2026)
| Grade | Scale |
|---|---|
| Senior House Officer (SHO) | €55,292 – €75,623 |
| Registrar | €70,276 – €82,756 |
| Specialist Registrar (SpR) | €78,786 – €98,091 |
| Senior Registrar | €83,847 – €102,619 |
Basic salary only — see below for what comes on top. Intern year sits before SHO on the ladder; its rate is set in the NCHD contract documents for each intake.
The NCHD ladder
- Intern — the first year after medical school, on a national intern programme.
- Senior House Officer — typically years 2–4, often while entering a training scheme.
- Registrar — greater clinical responsibility; many doctors work registrar posts while applying for higher specialist training.
- Specialist Registrar (SpR) — the higher specialist training grade that leads to consultant eligibility.
You move up your grade's scale by annual increments, and jump scales on promotion. After SpR training, doctors compete for consultant posts (€203,000–€286,000) or enter general practice.
What comes on top of basic pay
- Overtime — structured overtime for hours beyond the standard week is a major part of real NCHD earnings; total pay commonly runs well above the basic scale.
- On-call and unsocial hours premiums — nights, weekends and on-site call attract premium rates.
- Living out / training supports — allowances per the NCHD contract, including training supports for scheme doctors.
Use the take-home pay calculator to see any scale point after tax — at registrar level and above, a meaningful share of each increment falls in the 40% band, so the net-to-gross view is worth a look too.
Working as an NCHD in Ireland
NCHD recruitment runs through the HSE (NER — national employment record and campaigns) and individual hospitals; posts change over in January and July. Browse live doctor vacancies across Irish hospitals.
Source: HSE consolidated pay scales effective 1 June 2026 (SHO, Registrar, Specialist Registrar and Senior Registrar scales). Overtime and premium rates are set by the NCHD contract; figures for a specific post are in its campaign documentation.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an SHO earn in Ireland?
- The Senior House Officer scale runs €55,292 to €75,623 (June 2026 consolidated scales) — basic salary only. Structured overtime and on-call premiums typically bring total earnings well above the scale figure.
- What is a registrar's salary in Ireland?
- The Registrar scale is €70,276–€82,756 and the Specialist Registrar (SpR) scale is €78,786–€98,091 at June 2026 rates, before overtime and on-call premiums.
- What does NCHD mean?
- Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor — the collective term for doctors below consultant grade in Irish hospitals: interns, SHOs, registrars and specialist registrars.
- Do NCHDs earn more than the published scale?
- Usually, yes. The scales are basic pay; structured overtime, on-call and unsocial-hours premiums are a substantial part of real NCHD income, varying by rota and specialty.
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