Psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists in the UK earned a median £47,971 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 23% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 67th of 382 occupations on this measure.
A full-time median is published for women only; the sample of men is too small.
Since 2021 the median has risen 35.5% (from £35,396), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 53,300 people in this line of work, 21% of them in South East.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20th percentile | – | – | – | – | – | £20.79 |
| 25th percentile | – | – | – | – | £526.00* | £22.23 |
| 30th percentile | – | £799.60* | £22.52 | – | £604.90* | £23.00 |
| 40th percentile | £47,516* | £877.50 | £24.07 | – | £650.00* | £24.66 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £47,971* | £927.00 | £24.79 | £38,230* | £728.80 | £26.18 |
| 60th percentile | – | £968.70 | £26.32* | £45,199* | £803.50 | £27.03 |
| 70th percentile | – | – | – | – | £870.40* | £28.94 |
| 75th percentile | – | – | – | – | £922.70* | £29.74* |
| Mean | – | £1,125.40* | £31.12* | £41,975* | £809.70* | £28.97* |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £35,396 | £723.00 | £19.33 | £28,730* | £595.30* | 7* |
| 2022 revised | – | £700.50* | £20.48 | £33,755* | £646.30 | 9* |
| 2023 revised | £40,701* | £798.40* | £21.30 | £34,841* | £665.40* | 9* |
| 2024 revised | £45,948 | £836.20 | £22.37 | £38,444* | £700.40 | 8* |
| 2025 provisional | £47,971* | £927.00 | £24.79 | £38,230* | £728.80 | 12* |
Psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists by region
UK: 53,300 (± 9,000), April 2025 to March 2026. 11 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| South East | 11,000* | ± 4,100 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists do
Psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists use a variety of therapies in one-on-one or group settings to help people with mental health issues, stress, emotional and relationship problems. (ONS SOC 2020, 2224)
Also covers: cognitive behavioural therapist, psycho-analyst, psychological counsellor, psychotherapist, analytical psychotherapist, art psychotherapist, cbt therapist, child psychotherapist, children's psychotherapist, counsellor psychotherapist, psychodynamic counsellor, psychological therapist, psychotherapist counsellor, cognitive behavioural psychotherapist, counsellor and psychotherapist and child and adolescent psychotherapist.
- Assesses and provides treatment for people suffering with mental illness, stress, and emotional and relationship problems
- Talks with patients about their emotions, relationships and personal history
- Analyses events, behaviour, and habits to understand their mode of thinking and feelings
- Helps people come up with new ways to cope with their problems and to change their ways of thinking
Job holders in this unit group will usually possess a postgraduate qualification or equivalent accredited qualification. Training usually lasts 4 years. A DBS check may be required for work with vulnerable individuals or children.
Related
Therapy professionals (median £43,240) · Speech and language therapists · Clinical psychologists · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026