Speech Therapist Salary UK 2025
Calculate your NHS or private SLT take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance for 2025/26.
By Mustafa Bilgic (MB) · UK Salary & Tax Specialist · Updated February 2026
SLT Take-Home Pay Calculator 2025/26
NHS Speech Therapist Pay Bands 2025/26
Speech and language therapists in the NHS are employed under the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay framework. The following table shows the full pay range for each SLT band in 2025/26.
| Band | Role | Pay Range | Monthly Take-Home* | Weekly Take-Home* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 5 | Newly Qualified SLT | £29,970 – £36,483 | £1,973 – £2,365 | £455 – £546 |
| Band 6 | Experienced SLT | £37,338 – £44,962 | £2,415 – £2,878 | £557 – £664 |
| Band 7 | Specialist SLT | £43,742 – £50,056 | £2,793 – £3,139 | £644 – £724 |
| Band 8a | Advanced / Consultant SLT | £50,952 – £57,349 | £3,102 – £3,385 | £716 – £781 |
* Take-home estimates based on 2025/26 tax rates, no pension, no student loan. Actual figures will vary.
NHS vs Private Practice: Which Pays More?
Many speech and language therapists consider whether to work in the NHS, move into private practice, or do both. The comparison involves more than just headline salary figures.
NHS Employment
- Salary: £29,970 – £57,349
- NHS Pension Scheme (defined benefit)
- 27-33 days annual leave
- Sick pay from day one
- Maternity/paternity pay
- CPD study leave paid
- Structured career progression
- Employer NI contributions paid
Private Practice SLT
- Hourly rate: £35 – £100
- Flexible working hours
- Choose your caseload
- London rates: £70-£100/hr
- Must fund own insurance
- HCPC registration: £98/yr
- RCSLT membership: £220/yr
- No sick/holiday pay
A private SLT working 25 client hours per week at £60/hour earns a gross income of £78,000 per year — significantly more than the NHS Band 8a maximum. However, after accounting for business costs (insurance, admin, premises, CPD), the net position is closer to a senior NHS SLT. Many experienced SLTs choose a hybrid model: maintaining a part-time NHS contract for job security and pension while building a private caseload.
Private SLT Hourly Rate Estimator
Use the calculator above (select "Private Hourly Rate") to estimate your annual income from private practice. As a guide, below are typical private SLT session costs across the UK in 2025:
| Session Type | London | South East | Midlands/North | Scotland/Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Assessment (60 min) | £120-£160 | £90-£130 | £70-£110 | £60-£95 |
| Therapy Session (45 min) | £90-£120 | £70-£95 | £55-£80 | £45-£70 |
| School Visit / Report | £150-£200 | £120-£160 | £90-£130 | £80-£110 |
| Online/Telehealth (45 min) | £75-£100 | £60-£90 | £50-£75 | £45-£65 |
SLT Career Progression and Salary Growth
Speech and language therapy offers a structured career ladder within the NHS and significant earning potential in the independent sector. Here is what you can typically expect at each career stage:
Newly Qualified SLT (Band 5): Fresh from your RCSLT-accredited degree or postgraduate diploma, you will start on Band 5 at £29,970. With annual increment progression and satisfactory appraisals, you can expect to reach the top of Band 5 (£36,483) within three to four years.
Experienced SLT (Band 6): After demonstrating clinical competency and taking on more complex caseloads, most SLTs progress to Band 6 (£37,338–£44,962). This typically happens two to four years post-qualification. Band 6 SLTs often specialise in a clinical area such as dysphagia, paediatric language, autism, or acquired communication disorders.
Specialist SLT (Band 7): Band 7 roles (£43,742–£50,056) require specialist clinical knowledge and often include service development responsibilities, student supervision, and leadership within the team. Many Band 7 SLTs hold or are working towards a relevant postgraduate qualification such as a PGCert or MSc.
Advanced and Consultant SLT (Band 8a): The most senior clinical SLT roles sit at Band 8a (£50,952–£57,349). These include Highly Specialist SLTs, Consultant SLTs, and Clinical Leads. At this level, SLTs are expected to shape service strategy, conduct research, and lead multidisciplinary teams. Consultant SLTs may also hold honorary academic positions.
Speech Therapist Salary by Region 2025
NHS Agenda for Change pay rates are nationally agreed, so the banded salary is the same whether you work in London or Leeds. However, NHS staff in inner London receive a High Cost Area Supplement:
- Inner London: 20% supplement on salary (minimum £5,132, maximum £7,905 per year)
- Outer London: 15% supplement (minimum £4,272, maximum £5,435 per year)
- Fringe (within M25): 5% supplement (minimum £1,192, maximum £2,040 per year)
- Rest of England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland: No supplement
For private practice, location has a much greater influence on earnings. London-based independent SLTs routinely charge £70–£100 per session, while practitioners in rural areas typically charge £35–£60.
Tax and Deductions for SLTs in 2025/26
Understanding your deductions is essential for planning your finances as an SLT. For 2025/26 the main deductions from your gross NHS salary are:
- Income Tax: Personal Allowance £12,570 (tax-free). Basic rate 20% on earnings £12,571–£50,270. Higher rate 40% on earnings £50,271–£125,140. Additional rate 45% above £125,140.
- National Insurance: 8% on earnings £12,570–£50,270. 2% on earnings above £50,270. No NI below the Primary Threshold (£12,570).
- NHS Pension: Member contribution rates range from 5.1% to 10.7% depending on your earnings tier. NHS pension contributions are made from gross pay before income tax, which reduces your tax bill.
- Student Loan: If you took out a student loan to fund your SLT degree, repayments are deducted via PAYE. Plan 2 repayments are 9% of income above £27,295 per year.
Professional Costs for Speech and Language Therapists
Whether working in the NHS or privately, SLTs face a number of mandatory and recommended professional costs each year:
| Cost | Annual Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HCPC Registration | £98 | Mandatory for all practising SLTs |
| RCSLT Membership | £140–£220 | Recommended; reduced rate for Band 5-6 |
| Professional Indemnity Insurance | £80–£300 | Essential for private practice |
| Specialist CPD Courses | £200–£800 | NHS may fund; private must self-fund |
| Clinical Supervision | £300–£600 | Recommended for all SLTs |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newly qualified speech and language therapists (SLTs) in the NHS start on Band 5, which ranges from £29,970 to £36,483 per year (2025/26 pay scales). After tax and National Insurance, this gives a monthly take-home of approximately £1,973 to £2,365.
NHS speech and language therapists are graded from Band 5 (newly qualified) through to Band 8a (advanced/consultant SLT). Band 6 covers experienced SLTs (£37,338–£44,962), Band 7 covers specialist SLTs (£43,742–£50,056), and Band 8a covers advanced and consultant SLTs (£50,952–£57,349).
Private speech and language therapists in the UK typically charge between £35 and £100 per hour depending on their location and specialism. London-based SLTs often charge £70–£100 per hour, while those in other regions typically charge £35–£65 per hour. A standard initial assessment usually costs £80–£150.
A Band 7 specialist speech and language therapist earning the midpoint salary of around £46,899 takes home approximately £35,400 per year after income tax and National Insurance. That equals about £2,950 per month or £681 per week. Exact amounts depend on pension contributions and student loan repayments.
Speech and language therapists on Band 8a (£50,952–£57,349) begin to enter the higher rate 40% tax band, which applies to earnings above £50,270. However, NHS pension contributions (typically 5.1–13.5% of salary) reduce taxable income and may keep some SLTs below the higher rate threshold in practice.
NHS employment offers job security, a generous defined benefit pension, sick pay, annual leave, and clear career progression. Private practice can offer higher hourly rates (£35–£100/hour) but requires self-funding of HCPC registration, professional indemnity insurance, and CPD. Many SLTs combine both for flexibility and income diversification.
To work as an SLT in the UK you need a degree or postgraduate qualification in Speech and Language Therapy accredited by the RCSLT, followed by registration with the HCPC. Undergraduate SLT courses take 3–4 years; postgraduate routes take 2 years for graduates with relevant first degrees.