NHSScotland employers

NHSScotland is made up of 14 regional health boards and 8 national boards. Together, they:

• protect and improve the health of Scotland’s population
• deliver and support frontline health and care services
• reduce health inequalities
• provide education and training for the health and care workforce

All NHSScotland employers provide career help for young people just like you. They can advise about the different routes you can take into the NHS workforce and the wide range of job opportunities on offer.

Find out more about NHSScotland employers.

Finding the NHS career that's right for you

There are more than 350 different careers in the NHS, but not everyone is on the front line delivering patient care. As healthcare services evolve to meet the needs of the population, some jobs may change, and new ones will become available.

You have lots of career choices

You could be working in a hospital laboratory testing blood samples. What about a job where you’d be developing technology solutions to help reduce our carbon emissions? You may like a job designing learning resources to help co-workers keep their knowledge and skills up to date.

Whichever job you choose, you’ll make a valued contribution to improving the lives of people across Scotland.

Check out some of the careers you’ll find in the NHS!

Recognising your skills

Transferable skills are important for every job. You’ll develop them in your social life, in education, and at work. Find out how to recognise your skills and how you can apply them to your future NHS career.

Read our blog post on How to write about transferable skills for your NHSScotland job application. 

How to apply for an NHS job

All NHSScotland jobs are listed on our recruitment website. If you know which job you want to apply for, check out our guide to help you understand the recruitment process.

Your school or college careers adviser, guidance tutor, parent, or carer can support your career search and help with your application. You'll also find helpful career resources on My World of Work.

Pay and benefits

Our competitive pay and awesome staff benefits are designed to attract, retain, and nurture a highly skilled workforce.

What you’ll earn

Our pay rates are based on the qualifications, skills, experience, and level of responsibility needed for a job. When searching for a vacancy on our recruitment website, you'll see pay information beside the job title.

Did you know that NHSScotland is a Living Wage employer? The lowest available salary of £24,518 is the same as an hourly rate of £12.71. It is above the real Living Wage rate of £12.00 per hour, set on 1 April 2024.

Find out more about NHS pay rates for 2024 to 2025.

Your NHSScotland pension

As a new employee, you'll be automatically enrolled in the NHSScotland Pension Scheme (2015). Your NHS employer will contribute 20.9% of your monthly pensionable pay to the scheme. The amount you'll contribute towards your pension depends on your pay.

Learn more about NHSScotland pensions.

Staff discounts you'll love

As an NHS employee, you can access online and in-store discounts with national retailers and local businesses. Staff discount schemes include: 

• Blue Light Card
• NHS Staff Benefits

Other discount schemes may be available locally.

Supporting your health and wellbeing

All of us need to live and work healthily. The NHS has a range of workforce policies and support initiatives to promote good health and wellbeing and help you achieve a work-life balance.

Find out more about our workforce policies.

Your career progression

Protected learning time is available to all NHSScotland employees for:

• mandatory training
• in-house workshops
• studying towards profession-specific qualifications 

Throughout your NHS career, you’ll be supported and encouraged to learn new skills and develop your knowledge to help you to:

• build confidence
• adapt to change
• embrace new technology
• achieve your career ambitions

Your NHSScotland employer’s learning and education team can help you find local learning opportunities.

What about holidays?

Great news! As a new full-time employee, you'll start with 27 days of annual leave. This will increase to 29 days after 5 years of service. You'll also get 8 public holiday days each year.

If you’re working part-time, your annual leave and public holiday entitlement will be calculated based on the number of hours you’re contracted to work.

Social care careers in Scotland

Over 208,000 people in Scotland are dedicated to making a positive impact through their work in social services. The workforce includes social care workers, social workers, and those who support children and young people in a wide range of care services. They are essential in building a better future for those under their care.

Discover more about social services careers.