SOC 2225 Health professionals

Clinical psychologists Salary

Median salary £45,954 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £46,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For clinical psychologists, £58,366 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +50% versus the national average. Experienced clinical psychologists (top 25%) earn over £61,251.

About this role

Clinical psychologists assess, diagnose and treat psychological and emotional difficulties, helping individuals and groups manage mental health conditions, behavioural challenges and life transitions. They use evidence-based therapeutic approaches tailored to client needs.

Key responsibilities

Conducting psychological assessments and formulations
Delivering evidence-based therapeutic interventions
Developing treatment plans in collaboration with clients
Maintaining detailed clinical records and case notes
Contributing to multidisciplinary team care and supervision

Qualifications and entry routes

Psychologists typically require a BPS-accredited degree plus doctoral-level training. Counsellors require BACP or equivalent accreditation. Therapists require relevant professional registration (HCPC, UKCP, BACP).

Career outlook

Significant demand driven by growing awareness of mental health and NHS Talking Therapies expansion. Waiting list pressures create opportunities in private practice.

Key skills

Therapeutic techniques Active listening Clinical assessment Empathy Ethical practice

Common industries

NHS
Private practice
Education
Occupational health
Social services

Data coverage

SOC code 2225

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2021–2025

Estimated jobs 16,000

Median Salary

£45,954

Mean Salary

£49,160

Jobs (000s)

16k

Data Years

5 years

Salary Range (2025)

Median: £45,954P75: £61,251

P10: £29kP25: --Median: £46kP75: £61kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£29,064

0-2 years

Mid Level

£45,954

3-7 years

Senior

£61,251

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +111% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2021-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +16.1%Real growth: -6.1%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 21.0%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£45,954

Full-time Only

£58,366

Full-time premium: +£12,412

Clinical psychologists salary: common questions

How much do clinical psychologists earn in the UK?

Clinical psychologists earn a median of £58,366 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £38,468 and £61,251.

Is £58,366 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for clinical psychologists?

Entry-level clinical psychologists typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £38,468, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £29,064.

Have clinical psychologists salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2021, median clinical psychologists pay has risen from £45,260 to £58,366 — +29% in cash terms, or +4.0% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for clinical psychologists?

Male clinical psychologists earn a median £57,158 and female clinical psychologists £45,154 — a gap of +21% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).