Detailed Breakdown of Housemanship Salaries in Nigeria (2025)
Housemanship salaries vary by profession, hospital ownership (federal, state, or private), location, and additional allowances. Below is a comprehensive breakdown by medical field, including estimated basic salaries, allowances, and total take-home pay.
1. General Overview
- Duration: Housemanship lasts 12 months, typically involving rotations through core departments (e.g., Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology for doctors; or relevant units for other professionals).
- Purpose: Provides hands-on clinical training under supervision to qualify graduates for full licensure and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
- Salary Structure: Comprises a basic salary plus allowances (e.g., hazard, accommodation, transport). Salaries are standardized for federal hospitals but vary for state and private institutions.
- Regulatory Body: The MDCN oversees housemanship for doctors and dentists, while other councils (e.g., Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Nursing and Midwifery Council) regulate allied professionals.
2. Salary Breakdown by Medical Field
The following figures reflect 2025 estimates, incorporating updates from sources like Nigerian Informer (April 2025) and MySalaryScale, with adjustments for inflation and the new minimum wage (₦70,000/month as of 2024). Note that figures from older sources (e.g., 2018–2022) have been updated where possible, but variations exist due to hospital-specific policies.
a. Medical Doctors
- Basic Salary: ₦120,000–₦200,000/month (average ~₦187,000 in federal hospitals as of December 2022, likely ~₦200,000–₦220,000 in 2025 due to inflation).
- Allowances:
- Hazard Allowance: ₦25,000/month (updated in 2023, may be higher in 2025).
- Accommodation: Often provided free in federal/state hospitals (e.g., LASUTH, UUTH) or a stipend of ₦20,000–₦50,000/month in lieu.
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦30,000/month (varies by hospital).
- Association Dues: Deductions like ARD (Association of Resident Doctors) or ID card fees (~₦10,000/month).
- Other (e.g., call duty, overtime): ₦10,000–₦50,000/month (variable, higher in busy hospitals like LASUTH).
- Total Take-Home:
- Federal Hospitals: ₦200,000–₦300,000/month (e.g., ₦244,500 standardized for MDCN portal hospitals; ₦373,000 at General Hospital Odan, Lagos).
- State Hospitals: ₦180,000–₦230,000/month (e.g., ₦230,000 in Akwa Ibom state hospitals).
- Private Hospitals: ₦120,000–₦260,000/month (e.g., ₦260,000 at R-Jolad Hospital, Lagos).
- Examples by Hospital (2023–2025 data):
- FMC Yola: ₦176,000/month (after tax).
- NAUTH (Anambra): ₦169,000/month (with accommodation).
- UUTH (Akwa Ibom): ₦175,000/month (with accommodation).
- General Hospital Isolo/Odan (Lagos): ₦373,000/month (with free accommodation).
- RSUTH (Rivers): ₦260,000/month.
- National Hospital Abuja: ₦105,000/month (outlier, possibly underreported or after heavy deductions).
- Average: ₦147,000–₦244,500/month (MySalaryScale, standardized MDCN portal rate).
b. Dentists
- Basic Salary: ₦150,000–₦180,000/month (2018 data, likely ~₦180,000–₦220,000 in 2025 due to adjustments).
- Allowances:
- Hazard: ₦25,000/month.
- Accommodation: Free or ₦20,000–₦50,000/month.
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦30,000/month.
- Other: ₦10,000–₦30,000/month (e.g., call duty, bonuses).
- Total Take-Home: ₦200,000–₦350,000/month (higher than doctors in some cases due to specialized training).
- Note: Dentists are classified as medical doctors by the MDCN and often earn similar salaries, though some hospitals pay slightly more due to the delicate nature of dental surgery.
c. Pharmacists
- Basic Salary: ₦130,000–₦170,000/month (2018 data, likely ~₦150,000–₦200,000 in 2025).
- Allowances:
- Hazard: ₦15,000–₦25,000/month.
- Accommodation: Free or ₦15,000–₦40,000/month.
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦20,000/month.
- Other: ₦5,000–₦20,000/month (e.g., professional allowances).
- Total Take-Home: ₦180,000–₦300,000/month.
- Examples: Federal hospitals pay ~₦200,000–₦250,000/month; private hospitals may pay less (₦150,000–₦200,000).
d. Physiotherapists
- Basic Salary: ₦130,000–₦150,000/month (2018 data, likely ~₦150,000–₦180,000 in 2025).
- Allowances:
- Hazard: ₦15,000–₦25,000/month.
- Accommodation: Free or ₦15,000–₦40,000/month.
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦20,000/month.
- Other: ₦5,000–₦20,000/month.
- Total Take-Home: ₦180,000–₦280,000/month.
- Note: Salaries depend on hospital type; federal hospitals pay higher than state or private ones.
e. Medical Laboratory Scientists
- Basic Salary: ₦100,000–₦140,000/month (2018 data, likely ~₦120,000–₦160,000 in 2025).
- Allowances:
- Hazard: ₦15,000–₦25,000/month.
- Accommodation: Free or ₦15,000–₦40,000/month.
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦20,000/month.
- Other: ₦5,000–₦20,000/month.
- Total Take-Home: ₦150,000–₦260,000/month.
- Note: Pay varies by hospital, with federal institutions offering better packages.
f. Nurses
- Basic Salary: ₦100,000–₦140,000/month (estimated for 2025, as specific data is scarce).
- Allowances:
- Hazard: ₦15,000–₦25,000/month.
- Accommodation: Free or ₦15,000–₦40,000/month.
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦20,000/month.
- Shift Duty: ₦5,000–₦20,000/month.
- Total Take-Home: ₦150,000–₦240,000/month.
- Note: Nursing internships are less standardized, and salaries are often lower than for doctors or dentists.
g. Radiographers
- Basic Salary: ₦100,000–₦140,000/month (2018 data, likely ~₦120,000–₦160,000 in 2025).
- Allowances:
- Hazard: ₦15,000–₦25,000/month.
- Accommodation: Free or ₦15,000–₦40,000/month.
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦20,000/month.
- Other: ₦5,000–₦20,000/month.
- Total Take-Home: ₦150,000–₦260,000/month.
- Note: Similar to medical lab scientists, federal hospitals offer higher pay.
h. Optometrists
- Basic Salary: ₦100,000–₦140, 000/month (estimated for 2025, based on allied health trends).
- Allowances:
- Hazard: ₦15,000–₦25,000/month.
- Accommodation: Free or ₦15,000–₦40,000/month.
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦20,000/month.
- Other: ₦5,000–₦20,000/month.
- Total Take-Home: ₦150,000–₦250,000/month.
- Note: Limited data exists, but salaries align with other allied health professionals.
3. Factors Influencing Salaries
- Hospital Ownership:
- Federal Hospitals: Pay the highest (e.g., ₦244,500–₦373,000/month for doctors) due to MDCN standardization and federal funding. Examples include LASUTH, UUTH, and FMC Yola.
- State Hospitals: Pay slightly less (e.g., ₦180,000–₦230,000/month for doctors).
- Private Hospitals: Highly variable (₦120,000–₦260,000/month), with some offering perks like free accommodation (e.g., R-Jolad).
- Location:
- Urban centers like Lagos and Abuja pay more due to higher living costs (e.g., ₦373,000 in Lagos vs. ₦169,000 in Anambra).
- Rural hospitals may offer lower salaries but include hardship allowances.
- Profession: Doctors and dentists earn more than allied professionals due to longer training and demand.
- Experience/Skills: Housemanship is entry-level, but those with prior certifications (e.g., foreign-trained doctors) may negotiate better terms.
- Economic Factors: Inflation (33.2% in 2024) and the minimum wage hike to ₦70,000/month may increase salaries, though not uniformly applied.
4. Allowances and Benefits
- Hazard Allowance: ₦15,000–₦25,000/month (higher for doctors/dentists, updated in 2023).
- Accommodation: Free in many federal/state hospitals (e.g., LASUTH, UUTH) or a stipend (₦15,000–₦50,000/month).
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦30,000/month, higher in urban areas.
- Call Duty/Overtime: ₦5,000–₦50,000/month, depending on workload (e.g., LASUTH is noted for heavy workloads).
- Other Benefits:
- Access to training and mentorship.
- NHIS (National Health Insurance Scheme) coverage in federal hospitals.
- Occasional bonuses (e.g., project-based or festive allowances, ₦10,000–₦50,000).
- Deductions:
- Taxes, pension contributions, and association dues (e.g., ARD dues, ₦10,000/month).
- Accommodation fees in some hospitals (if not free).
5. Comparison to Other Professions
- N-HYPPADEC (Previous Query):
- Entry-Level: ₦55,000–₦130,000/month (GL 03–07).
- Mid-Level: ₦ scolaire125,000–₦300,000/month (GL 08–12).
- Housemanship salaries for doctors (₦200,000–₦373,000/month) are significantly higher than N-HYPPADEC’s entry/mid-level pay, reflecting the specialized nature of medical training.
- House of Representatives:
- Basic Salary: ₦600,000/month, with total take-home ~₦1,465,596–₦10 million/month (including disputed running costs).
- Housemanship salaries are far lower, highlighting the disparity between medical interns and legislators.
- GBfoods (FMCG):
- Average: ₦257,750/month (mid-level roles like quality control analysts).
- Comparable to housemanship salaries for doctors in federal hospitals but higher than allied professionals.
- Graphic Designers:
- Average: ₦112,500–₦223,017/month.
- Housemanship salaries are generally higher, especially for doctors and dentists.
6. Challenges and Gaps
- Data Variability: Salaries vary across sources (e.g., ₦105,000 at National Hospital Abuja vs. ₦373,000 at General Hospital Odan). Older data (2018–2022) may not reflect 2025 adjustments.
- Limited Allied Health Data: Specific figures for nurses and optometrists are scarce, relying on estimates from allied health trends.
- Hospital Placement: Securing housemanship is competitive due to limited spaces, especially in high-paying federal hospitals.
- Workload vs. Pay: House officers often report salaries not matching workload, especially in busy hospitals like LASUTH.
- Economic Impact: Inflation and currency devaluation may erode real income, though hazard allowance increases help.
7. Recommendations for Further Details
- MDCN Portal: Visit www.housemanship.mdcn.gov.ng for a list of accredited hospitals and vacancy details.
- Job Platforms: Check MyJobMag (www.myjobmag.com) or JobMag for current housemanship postings with salary indications.
- MySalaryScale: Review employee-submitted salaries for specific hospitals (e.g., ₦147,000 average for medical housemanship officers).
- Network: Connect with current/past house officers on X or LinkedIn for real-time insights.
- Hospital Inquiries: Contact hospitals directly (e.g., LASUTH, UUTH) for updated salary structures.
- Professional Associations: Engage with NMA (Nigerian Medical Association) or relevant councils for advocacy on salary reviews.
Housemanship Salary Breakdown in Nigeria (2025)
Medical Doctors
- Basic Salary: ₦120,000–₦200,000/month (~₦200,000–₦220,000 in 2025)
- Allowances:
- Hazard: ₦25,000/month
- Accommodation: Free or ₦20,000–₦50,000/month
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦30,000/month
- Other (call duty, overtime): ₦10,000–₦50,000/month
- Deductions (e.g., ARD dues): ~₦10,000/month
- Total Take-Home:
- Federal: ₦200,000–₦373,000/month (e.g., ₦244,500 MDCN standard; ₦373,000 at GH Odan)
- State: ₦180,000–₦230,000/month
- Private: ₦120,000–₦260,000/month
- Examples:
- FMC Yola: ₦176,000/month
- NAUTH: ₦169,000/month
- GH Odan/Isolo: ₦373,000/month
- R-Jolad: ₦260,000/month
Dentists
- Basic Salary: ₦180,000–₦220,000/month
- Allowances:
- Hazard: ₦25,000/month
- Accommodation: Free or ₦20,000–₦50,000/month
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦30,000/month
- Other: ₦10,000–₦30,000/month
- Total Take-Home: ₦200,000–₦350,000/month
Pharmacists
- Basic Salary: ₦150,000–₦200,000/month
- Allowances:
- Hazard: ₦15,000–₦25,000/month
- Accommodation: Free or ₦15,000–₦40,000/month
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦20,000/month
- Other: ₦5,000–₦20,000/month
- Total Take-Home: ₦180,000–₦300,000/month
Physiotherapists
- Basic Salary: ₦150,000–₦180,000/month
- Allowances:
- Hazard: ₦15,000–₦25,000/month
- Accommodation: Free or ₦15,000–₦40,000/month
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦20,000/month
- Other: ₦5,000–₦20,000/month
- Total Take-Home: ₦180,000–₦280,000/month
Medical Laboratory Scientists
- Basic Salary: ₦120,000–₦160,000/month
- Allowances:
- Hazard: ₦15,000–₦25,000/month
- Accommodation: Free or ₦15,000–₦40,000/month
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦20,000/month
- Other: ₦5,000–₦20,000/month
- Total Take-Home: ₦150,000–₦260,000/month
Nurses
- Basic Salary: ₦100,000–₦140,000/month
- Allowances:
- Hazard: ₦15,000–₦25,000/month
- Accommodation: Free or ₦15,000–₦40,000/month
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦20,000/month
- Shift Duty: ₦5,000–₦20,000/month
- Total Take-Home: ₦150,000–₦240,000/month
Radiographers
- Basic Salary: ₦120,000–₦160,000/month
- Allowances:
- Hazard: ₦15,000–₦25,000/month
- Accommodation: Free or ₦15,000–₦40,000/month
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦20,000/month
- Other: ₦5,000–₦20,000/month
- Total Take-Home: ₦150,000–₦260,000/month
Optometrists
- Basic Salary: ₦100,000–₦140,000/month
- Allowances:
- Hazard: ₦15,000–₦25,000/month
- Accommodation: Free or ₦15,000–₦40,000/month
- Transport: ₦10,000–₦20,000/month
- Other: ₦5,000–₦20,000/month
- Total Take-Home: ₦150,000–₦250,000/month
Notes
- Sources: Nigerian Informer, MySalaryScale, Nigerian Price, Nigerian Health Blog.
- Factors: Hospital ownership (federal > state > private), location (Lagos/Abuja higher), profession (doctors/dentists > allied health).
- Challenges: Competitive placements, workload vs. pay, data variability.
- Average: ₦147,000–₦373,000/month (highest for doctors in federal hospitals).
Summary
Housemanship salaries in Nigeria (2025) vary by profession and hospital type. Medical doctors earn ₦200,000–₦373,000/month (federal: ₦244,500–₦373,000; state: ₦180,000–₦230,000; private: ₦120,000–₦260,000), with allowances like hazard (₦25,000), accommodation (free or ₦20,000–₦50,000), and transport (₦10,000–₦30,000). Dentists earn ₦200,000–₦350,000/month, while pharmacists, physiotherapists, medical lab scientists, nurses, and radiographers earn ₦150,000–₦300,000/month. Optometrists likely earn ₦150,000–₦250,000/month. Federal hospitals (e.g., General Hospital Odan, ₦373,000) pay the most, followed by state and private hospitals. Factors like location (Lagos/Abuja pay more), hospital ownership, and inflation (33.2% in 2024) influence pay. Compared to N-HYPPADEC (₦55,000–₦300,000/month) or graphic designers (₦112,500–₦223,017/month), housemanship salaries are competitive but dwarfed by House of Representatives earnings (₦1.46–₦10 million/month).