Salary and bands
Medical physics pay depends on role, training route, NHS band, location and experience. Treat salary pages as a guide to progression, not a guarantee for a particular job.
STP trainee
STP posts are employed trainee roles and are normally advertised with a stated salary or band for that recruitment round.
Registered scientist
After training and registration, clinical scientist roles commonly progress through NHS Agenda for Change bands.
Senior roles
Specialist, principal and consultant-level posts involve higher responsibility, service leadership and governance.
How to read a job advert
Look at the band, whether registration is essential, whether training support is included and whether the role is in radiotherapy, imaging, nuclear medicine, radiation protection or another specialty.
Two jobs with the same title can differ if one requires HCPC registration, one is pre-registration, or one includes management and service-development duties.
Progression is not only time served
Progression normally depends on competence, registration, local service needs and the duties of the post. A higher band usually means broader responsibility, not just more years in the department.
- Clinical responsibility
- Quality assurance and governance
- Teaching and supervision
- Research or service improvement
- Specialist equipment or modality expertise
Sources: NHS clinical scientist role profile, IPEM careers.