Speech and language therapists: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time speech and language therapists in the UK earned a median £45,511 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 17% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 92nd of 382 occupations on this measure.
A full-time median is published for women only; the sample of men is too small.
Most jobs here are part-time: 10,000 of about 21,000 are full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 39.3% (from £32,664), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 19,100 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | – | – | £18,185* | £344.70* | £15.64 |
| 20th percentile | – | £654.90 | £17.47 | £22,091* | £452.70* | £19.09 |
| 25th percentile | £35,843* | – | £19.09 | £26,090* | £530.70* | £20.16 |
| 30th percentile | £39,660 | £721.00 | £19.24 | £27,839* | £555.60 | £20.85 |
| 40th percentile | £41,588 | £809.80 | £21.60 | £31,970 | £607.20 | £22.99 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £45,511 | £861.70 | £23.48 | £35,002 | £646.30 | £23.59 |
| 60th percentile | £47,808 | £885.30 | £24.72 | £36,943 | £711.70 | £24.82 |
| 70th percentile | – | £930.60* | £26.29* | £41,200* | £784.90 | £26.38 |
| 75th percentile | – | – | – | £42,258* | £829.20 | £27.00 |
| 80th percentile | – | – | – | – | £879.10* | – |
| Mean | £44,716 | £854.80 | £23.10 | £34,627 | £670.30 | £23.31 |
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 | £32,664* | £659.70 | £17.55 | £28,174 | £548.00 | 17* |
| 2022 revised | £35,975* | £672.50 | £17.92 | £31,072* | £627.70 | 15* |
| 2023 revised | £35,751* | £777.90 | £20.76 | £31,780 | £681.70 | 16* |
| 2024 revised | £37,691* | £758.60* | £20.78* | £32,130 | £617.50 | 17* |
| 2025 provisional | £45,511 | £861.70 | £23.48 | £35,002 | £646.30 | 21* |
Speech and language therapists by region
UK: 19,100 (± 5,400), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What speech and language therapists do
Speech and language therapists are responsible for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of speech, language, fluency and voice disorders caused by disability, injury or illness. (ONS SOC 2020, 2223)
Also covers: communication therapist, language therapist, speech and language therapist, speech therapist and specialist speech and language therapist.
- Assesses, tests and diagnoses a client’s condition
- Designs and initiates appropriate rehabilitation and/or remedial programmes of treatment
- Treats speech and language disorders by coaching and counselling clients or through the use of artificial communication devices
- Attends case conferences and liaises with other specialists such as doctors, teachers, social workers and psychologists
- Counsels relatives to help cope with the problems created by a patient’s disability
- Writes reports and maintains client caseloads
Entrants require a recognised graduate or postgraduate degree that encompasses both theory and clinical practice. Successful completion of these courses leads to eligibility for a certificate to practice and membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. Full membership is granted after completion of a year of supervised, post-qualifying experience.
Related
Therapy professionals (median £43,240) · Occupational therapists · Psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026