Calculate your occupational therapist take-home pay for 2025/26. Select an NHS band, social care or private sector salary, and see exact monthly pay after income tax and National Insurance.
Agenda for Change pay scales for OTs in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may have different rates.
| Band | Role | Min | Max | Monthly Net (min, no pension) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 5 | Newly Qualified OT | £29,970 | £36,483 | ~£2,075 |
| Band 6 | Specialist OT | £37,338 | £44,962 | ~£2,530 |
| Band 7 | Senior / Team Lead OT | £43,742 | £50,056 | ~£2,900 |
| Band 8a | Advanced / Consultant OT | £50,952 | £57,349 | ~£3,200 |
| Band 8b+ | Head of OT / Director | £58,972 | £79,706+ | ~£3,600+ |
| Sector | Typical Salary Range | Monthly Take-Home | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHS (Band 5) | £29,970–£36,483 | ~£2,075–£2,440 | NHS Pension, sick pay, progression |
| NHS (Band 6–7) | £37,338–£50,056 | ~£2,530–£3,100 | NHS Pension, career ladder |
| Local Authority Social Care | £27,000–£40,000 | ~£1,880–£2,680 | LGPS Pension, stability |
| Private Sector / Care Home | £35,000–£55,000 | ~£2,380–£3,350 | Flexible hours, variety |
| Independent / Medico-Legal | £50–£120/hour | Highly variable | High earnings, flexibility |
Occupational therapy is one of the most versatile and essential allied health professions in the United Kingdom. OTs work to enable people with physical, mental health, learning disability or social care needs to participate in meaningful activities of daily life. They are employed across the NHS, local authority social services, education, housing, justice and the independent sector, making OT one of the most cross-cutting roles in UK health and social care.
Understanding what occupational therapists earn — and how different sectors, bands and locations affect take-home pay — is crucial whether you are a student deciding on a career path or an experienced OT considering a move between sectors.
All newly qualified occupational therapists registering with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and entering NHS employment start on Band 5. The 2025/26 starting salary is £29,970, with incremental progression to £36,483. After income tax and National Insurance (with no pension deduction), monthly take-home is approximately £2,075. With NHS pension at 9.8%, take-home reduces to around £1,870 per month, but you accrue substantial defined benefit pension rights.
Band 6 is the typical destination for OTs after two to four years of post-qualification experience. Specialist OTs work in areas including hand therapy, neurological rehabilitation, community living, mental health, paediatrics, housing adaptations, and vocational rehabilitation. The 2025/26 Band 6 salary is £37,338 to £44,962. Monthly take-home after tax and NI is approximately £2,530 to £2,920 (without pension).
Band 7 OTs hold senior specialist or team leader roles. They may manage a team of Band 5 and 6 OTs, lead specialist clinics, contribute to service development, or work in extended scope practice areas. In social care, some Band 7 equivalents work as Approved Mental Health Practitioners (AMHPs) or Housing Occupational Therapists managing major adaptation assessments. The 2025/26 salary is £43,742 to £50,056, with monthly take-home of approximately £2,900 to £3,100.
Local authority occupational therapists are employed on council pay scales, which are separate from the NHS AfC framework. Salaries typically range from £27,000 for newly qualified social care OTs to £40,000 for experienced senior practitioners. Some London boroughs and city councils pay more due to local supplements. Social care OTs are enrolled in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), which offers a defined benefit pension with employer contributions of around 20%.
Social care OT roles often focus on housing adaptations (Disabled Facilities Grants), equipment provision, and community independence assessments. The work is different in character from acute NHS OT but equally valuable and often offers better work-life balance and more predictable hours.
Private sector OTs working in care homes, rehabilitation units, private hospitals and corporate wellbeing services typically earn £35,000 to £55,000 per year. Senior private sector OTs in specialist roles — particularly those working in brain injury rehabilitation or complex discharge planning — may earn at the higher end of this range or above. Private sector OT roles vary significantly in terms of employment conditions, and pensions are typically workplace pension (NEST or similar) at minimum auto-enrolment levels rather than defined benefit.
Many experienced OTs develop independent practices, providing assessments and reports for solicitors, insurers, case managers and families. Independent OTs charge £50–£120 per hour, with medico-legal and expert witness work commanding the highest rates. An independent OT with a busy caseload can earn £60,000–£90,000 per year, significantly above NHS Band 7 or 8a levels. However, they must manage their own business overheads, professional indemnity insurance, HCPC registration, and tax obligations via self-assessment.
NHS OTs working in London receive a High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS). Inner London HCAS is 20% of salary (minimum £4,551, maximum £5,514 per year). Outer London HCAS is 15% (minimum £3,948, maximum £4,654 per year). The High-Cost Fringe rate (areas immediately surrounding Greater London) is 5% (minimum £1,192). Social care OTs employed by London boroughs may receive similar local supplements.
The UK faces a persistent and growing shortage of occupational therapists, with the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) highlighting critical gaps in both health and social care. This shortage has driven investment in apprenticeship degree routes, increased university places, and international recruitment. For practitioners already qualified and registered, the shortage creates strong job security and opportunities for career advancement, particularly in specialist and leadership roles.
The OT career pathway typically runs: Band 5 (newly qualified) to Band 6 (specialist, 2–4 years) to Band 7 (senior/team lead, 5–10 years) to Band 8a (advanced practitioner, 10+ years). Each band transition brings a meaningful salary increase. Moving from Band 6 max (£44,962) to Band 7 min (£43,742) may initially represent a very small increase, but on a different pay spine and with higher ceiling (£50,056). Progression from Band 7 to 8a is the most significant pay jump, with Band 8a minimum (£50,952) taking the OT into higher-rate tax territory.
For 2025/26, OTs earning up to £50,270 pay income tax at 20% (above the £12,570 personal allowance) and NI at 8%. Band 8a OTs earning above £50,270 pay 40% income tax on earnings above this threshold, and 2% NI. The 40% rate kicks in for those at the top of Band 7 and above, meaning each additional £1 of gross salary above £50,270 yields only around £0.58 in take-home pay. Pension contributions made via salary sacrifice can reduce the amount subject to higher-rate tax.
Last updated: April 2025. NHS data from Agenda for Change 2025/26. Social care and private sector figures are market estimates. Tax calculations use HMRC 2025/26 rates. Author: Mustafa Bilgic (MB).