Psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£38,230
Employment patterns
- 45% of Psychotherapists work full-time
- 53% are self-employed
- 99.2% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists pay in the UK
The typical psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists in the UK earns a median salary of £38,230 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 mean (average) salary is higher, at £41,975. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists actually takes home.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 53% of Psychotherapists are self-employed, well above most occupations, so the employee pay above will not capture earnings for those working for themselves; only 45% work full-time, so part-time and flexible roles are common in this field.
Where you work changes the picture: psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists pay ranges from £13,821 in North East up to £39,910 in Yorkshire and the Humber, a difference of £26,089 (189%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists pay in Yorkshire and the Humber or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
Yorkshire and the Humber is the highest-paying region for psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists at £39,910 — 4% above the UK median. North East is lowest at £13,821.
UK median £38,230
| Region | Median payUK median £38,230 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £39,910 | £39,910 | £41,540 | +4% |
| South East | £36,129 | £36,129 | £35,520 | -5% |
| West Midlands | £33,300 | £33,300 | £36,573 | -13% |
| South West | £31,316 | £31,316 | £35,756 | -18% |
| London | £31,142 | £31,142 | £33,553 | -19% |
| East Midlands | £26,785 | £26,785 | £28,010 | -30% |
| North West | £21,347 | £21,347 | £23,276 | -44% |
| Scotland | £20,418 | £20,418 | £23,140 | -47% |
| East of England | £17,371 | £17,371 | £18,722 | -55% |
| North East | £13,821 | £13,821 | £15,335 | -64% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire and the Humber £39,910 | £39,910Mean £41,540 | +4% |
| South East £36,129 | £36,129Mean £35,520 | -5% |
| West Midlands £33,300 | £33,300Mean £36,573 | -13% |
| South West £31,316 | £31,316Mean £35,756 | -18% |
| London £31,142 | £31,142Mean £33,553 | -19% |
| East Midlands £26,785 | £26,785Mean £28,010 | -30% |
| North West £21,347 | £21,347Mean £23,276 | -44% |
| Scotland £20,418 | £20,418Mean £23,140 | -47% |
| East of England £17,371 | £17,371Mean £18,722 | -55% |
| North East £13,821 | £13,821Mean £15,335 | -64% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£38,230); ‘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 psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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