Occupational therapists Pay Data UK — 2025

Occupational therapists roles in the UK earn a median of £44,500 per year, equivalent to £22.87 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 8.1% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £35,000 in North East to £52,500 in London. Pay has risen over the past 4 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £44,040/yr (1% above our computed national average).

Labour Market

Employment figures from ONS Annual Population Survey (APS). Counts are estimates; suppressed cells (small samples) are excluded from totals.

Pay by Region

Annual pay for Occupational therapists across UK regions. The bar shows the typical pay range (25th–75th percentile); the diamond marks the median.

Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).

How Pay Has Changed Over Time

Annual pay grew by +8.1% from 2024 to 2025.

National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot. Shaded band shows 25th–75th percentile range.

Year-on-Year Pay Change

Annual percentage change in median pay for Occupational therapists.

Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.

About Occupational therapists

Occupational therapists work with people who have a physical or learning disability or mental illness, actively engaging them in purposeful activities in order to maximise self-confidence, independent functioning and well-being.

Typical Tasks and Duties

• considers the physical, psychological and social needs of a patient that may result from illness, injury, congenital condition or lifestyle problems
• devises, designs, initiates and monitors carefully selected and graded treatments and activities as part of the assessment and intervention process
• liaises with a wide variety of other professionals in planning and reviewing ongoing treatments
• trains students and supervises the work of occupational therapy assistants
• makes home visits to clients, families and carers to organise support and rehabilitation and assist them to deal and cope with disability
• counsels clients in ways to promote a healthy lifestyle, prevention of illness and/or preparation for coping with increasing stages of illness
• maintains patient records, manages caseloads

Entry Routes and Qualifications

Entrants usually possess A levels/H grades, an HND/HNC, a BTEC/SQA award or equivalent qualifications followed by training on an approved degree scheme necessary for state registration as an occupational therapist. There is a minimum age limit of 18 years to enter training.

Related Occupations

Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.