Doctor Salary in Nigeria at a Glance (2026)
- Entry level, including house officers (0 to 2 years): ₦120,000 to ₦250,000 per month
- Junior doctor or medical officer (2 to 5 years): ₦250,000 to ₦450,000 per month
- Mid-level or specialist in training (5 to 10 years): ₦450,000 to ₦800,000 per month
- Consultant (10+ years): ₦800,000 to ₦2,500,000+ per month
- Chief medical officer or medical director: ₦3,000,000 to ₦6,000,000+ per month
All figures are gross monthly pay before tax and pension. Pay depends heavily on specialty, employer and city, and the sections below explain each.
Overview: Doctor Salary in Nigeria
Doctors in Nigeria diagnose illness, prescribe treatment and perform procedures in government hospitals, private hospitals, company clinics and NGOs. Pay varies widely with specialty, experience, location and employer. Government hospitals pay on structured salary scales with allowances, while private hospitals, corporate clinics and international organisations may pay more and add benefits. Demand for specialists continues to push pay up at the senior end.
How Doctors Are Paid in Government Hospitals
Doctors in federal hospitals are paid on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS). It has grades that rise with your position, from house officer at the bottom, through medical officer, registrar and senior registrar, to consultant at the top. Each grade has steps for annual increments, and allowances for call duty, hazard and specialty are paid on top of the base salary.
The government reviews CONMESS from time to time, usually after negotiations with the Nigerian Medical Association and resident doctors. State hospitals often pay less than federal ones for the same grade. Always check the current circular or your hospital's HR for exact figures, because the scale changes.
Salary Ranges by Experience Level
- Entry level (0 to 2 years): ₦120,000 to ₦250,000 per month. House officers and newly qualified doctors in government hospitals start at the lower end. Private hospitals may pay slightly more.
- Junior doctor (2 to 5 years): ₦250,000 to ₦450,000 per month. Medical officers and early residents earn more, especially in cities.
- Mid-level (5 to 10 years): ₦450,000 to ₦800,000 per month. Specialists such as paediatricians and obstetricians earn significantly more than general practitioners at this stage.
- Consultant (10+ years): ₦800,000 to ₦2,500,000+ per month. Experienced consultants, especially in private practice or top hospitals, earn the most.
- Chief medical officer or medical director: ₦3,000,000 to ₦6,000,000+ per month. Senior consultants who lead hospitals or corporate medical services reach the highest pay.
Salary by Employer Type
- Government hospitals: ₦120,000 to ₦600,000 per month. Pay follows fixed scales and comes with allowances, job security and pension.
- Private hospitals: ₦250,000 to ₦1,500,000 per month. Pay varies widely with the hospital's reputation and patient volume.
- Large private hospital groups: ₦500,000 to ₦3,000,000+ per month for experienced doctors and specialists.
- NGOs and international organisations: ₦400,000 to ₦2,000,000 per month, often with extra benefits.
- Company clinics (banks, oil and telecoms): ₦300,000 to ₦1,200,000 per month, with stable pay and corporate benefits.
Where Doctors Earn More
These kinds of employers are generally known for paying doctors above average. Pay at any of them depends on your grade, specialty and negotiation, so treat this as a list of places to look rather than a guarantee.
- Large private hospitals in Lagos and Abuja, such as Reddington Hospital, Lagoon Hospitals, Eko Hospitals and St. Nicholas Hospital.
- Specialist centres, particularly in cardiology, oncology and surgery.
- Company medical services at oil, gas and telecoms companies.
- Federal teaching hospitals, such as LUTH and UCH, for consultants, who also gain academic and private practice opportunities.
- International NGOs and development organisations.
Key Factors That Affect Your Pay
- Specialty: Surgeons, cardiologists and other specialists earn significantly more than general practitioners.
- Location: Doctors in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt earn noticeably more than those in smaller cities.
- Postgraduate qualifications: Fellowships of the West African College of Surgeons, the West African College of Physicians or the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria raise earnings and open consultant posts.
- Experience: Pay rises steadily with each grade and year of practice, especially in private practice.
- Employer: Well-known private hospitals and multinationals pay more to attract experienced doctors.
In-Demand Skills That Raise Pay
- Surgical specialties, including minimally invasive surgery.
- Cardiology and other scarce specialties.
- Research and publications, which strengthen applications for consultant and academic posts.
- Digital health and telemedicine experience, which is increasingly valued by private providers.
- Foreign licences, which widen your options, including roles that pay in foreign currency.
How to Negotiate a Higher Salary
- Benchmark your worth: Research pay for your specialty and grade before any offer conversation.
- Highlight scarce skills: Lead with specialties, procedures or certifications the hospital needs.
- Use competing offers carefully: A genuine second offer is your strongest leverage.
- Show value: Explain how you will improve patient outcomes, volume or revenue.
- Negotiate the package: If base pay is fixed, ask for housing, transport, call allowances or bonuses.
- Time it well: Ask after a successful probation period or performance review.
Benefits and Allowances to Ask About
- Health insurance (HMO) covering your family.
- Housing allowance, often a meaningful share of base pay in cities.
- Car or fuel allowance for senior doctors.
- Pension contributions above the statutory minimum.
- Performance bonuses.
- Sponsorship for conferences, courses and postgraduate exams.
Career Progression and Salary Growth
- 0 to 2 years (house officer, newly qualified): ₦120,000 to ₦250,000
- 2 to 5 years (medical officer, early residency): ₦250,000 to ₦450,000
- 5 to 10 years (registrar, senior registrar, specialist): ₦450,000 to ₦800,000
- 10+ years (consultant): ₦800,000 to ₦2,500,000+
- Medical director or established private practice: ₦3,000,000+
Doctors who build a private practice or partner with high-end hospitals can earn well above these ranges.
Find Healthcare Jobs in Nigeria
Hospitals, NGOs and company clinics hire doctors throughout the year. Browse doctor jobs and healthcare jobs on HeadHunter.ng, or read how to become a doctor in Nigeria. For other professions, see the highest paying jobs in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a doctor earn per month in Nigeria?
Most doctors in Nigeria earn between ₦250,000 and ₦800,000 per month in their first ten years. Consultants earn ₦800,000 to ₦2,500,000 or more, and medical directors can earn ₦3,000,000 to ₦6,000,000 or more.
How much is a house officer paid in Nigeria?
House officers and newly qualified doctors typically earn ₦120,000 to ₦250,000 per month in the ranges used in this guide. In federal hospitals they are paid on the CONMESS scale, which the government reviews periodically, so check the current circular for the exact figure.
Do doctors earn more in private or government hospitals?
Experienced doctors and specialists usually earn more in large private hospitals, company clinics and international organisations. Government hospitals offer structured pay, allowances, pension and job security, and consultants there can also run private practice.
Which doctors earn the most in Nigeria?
Specialists earn the most, particularly surgeons, cardiologists and other doctors in scarce specialties, along with consultants who run successful private practices and medical directors of large hospitals.
What is CONMESS?
CONMESS is the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, the pay scale for doctors in federal government hospitals. It sets base salary by grade and step, with allowances paid on top.