How much does a Occupational therapists earn in the UK?
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£37,201
Typical Annual pay range
Understanding Occupational therapists pay in the UK
The typical occupational therapists in the UK earns a median salary of £37,201 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of occupational therapists earnings fall between £29,424 and £46,309 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced occupational therapists.
Where you work changes the picture: occupational therapists pay ranges from £29,782 in East Midlands up to £50,032 in London, a difference of £20,250 (68%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see occupational therapists pay in London, Occupational therapists vs Nurse or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for occupational therapists at £50,032 — 34% above the UK median. East Midlands is lowest at £29,782.
UK median £37,201
| Region | Median payUK median £37,201 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £50,032 | £50,032 | £48,577 | +34% |
| Wales | £41,377 | £41,377 | £40,073 | +11% |
| North West | £38,479 | £38,479 | £36,145 | +3% |
| Scotland | £37,220 | £37,220 | £37,415 | ±0% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £37,014 | £37,014 | £37,931 | -1% |
| West Midlands | £36,591 | £36,591 | £38,805 | -2% |
| South East | £36,279 | £36,279 | £35,658 | -2% |
| South West | £35,247 | £35,247 | £32,354 | -5% |
| East of England | £35,101 | £35,101 | £36,217 | -6% |
| North East | £34,831 | £34,831 | £35,140 | -6% |
| East Midlands | £29,782 | £29,782 | £33,238 | -20% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £50,032 | £50,032Mean £48,577 | +34% |
| Wales £41,377 | £41,377Mean £40,073 | +11% |
| North West £38,479 | £38,479Mean £36,145 | +3% |
| Scotland £37,220 | £37,220Mean £37,415 | ±0% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £37,014 | £37,014Mean £37,931 | -1% |
| West Midlands £36,591 | £36,591Mean £38,805 | -2% |
| South East £36,279 | £36,279Mean £35,658 | -2% |
| South West £35,247 | £35,247Mean £32,354 | -5% |
| East of England £35,101 | £35,101Mean £36,217 | -6% |
| North East £34,831 | £34,831Mean £35,140 | -6% |
| East Midlands £29,782 | £29,782Mean £33,238 | -20% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£37,201); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local occupational therapists pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow occupational therapists pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for occupational therapists by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25%–75% range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
Compare with…
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an occupational therapist earn in the UK?
- The median annual salary for an occupational therapist in the UK is £37,201, according to ONS ASHE 2025 data. Most occupational therapists earn between £29,424 and £46,309 per year.
- What is the median occupational therapist salary?
- The median occupational therapist salary in the UK is £37,201 per year (ONS ASHE 2025). Half of all occupational therapists earn more than this figure, and half earn less.
- How much do senior occupational therapists earn?
- The top 25% of occupational therapists in the UK earn more than £46,309 per year (75th percentile, ONS ASHE 2025). The bottom quarter earn up to £29,424 annually.
- Which UK region pays occupational therapists the most?
- London has the highest median occupational therapist salary at £50,032 per year, according to ONS ASHE 2025 data.
- How has occupational therapist pay changed in recent years?
- Median occupational therapist pay rose from £35,727 in 2024 to £37,201 in 2025 — a 4.1% increase (ONS ASHE 2025).
- What is the average occupational therapist salary in the UK?
- The mean (average) occupational therapist salary in the UK is £37,503 per year. The mean is higher than the median of £37,201 because high earners skew the average (ONS ASHE 2025).
Related roles in Therapy Professionals
Other published roles in this occupation group. View category overview →