What is take-home for a Band 6 OT?

On the £42,170 intermediate point of Band 6, with the 9.8% NHS pension tier, take-home is about £30,576 a year, or £2,548 a month, after Income Tax, National Insurance and the contribution. Band 6 entry, £39,959, is about £29,157, and the £48,117 top of the band about £34,391. The same points pay the same on any Band 6 job, so a radiographer or physiotherapist on base pay takes home the same.

How long does Band 5 to Band 6 progression take?

There is no automatic step: Band 6 is a separate post, so moving up means being appointed to a Band 6 role, and when that happens depends on the trust and its vacancies. Within Band 5 itself, the intermediate point is reached after 2 years and the top point after 4.

Do private practice OTs earn more?

ONS pay figures cover employees only, so they do not measure self-employed occupational therapy income, which depends on the fees charged and the caseload. Self-employed OTs pay Income Tax through Self Assessment and Class 4 National Insurance at 6% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% above, and build no NHS pension on that work.

Occupational Therapist Salary 2026/27: NHS Band 6 Take-Home

Newly qualified occupational therapists enter NHS Band 5, £32,073 to £39,043. Band 6 covers rotational and specialist hospital and community posts and runs £39,959 at entry, £42,170 at the intermediate point and £48,117 at the top.

Typical pay & take-home

Agenda for Change Band 6 intermediate point: £42,170
The three points of Band 6, entry to top: £39,959–£48,117
Take-home on that salary: £30,576 England, after the 9.8% NHS pension contribution, Income Tax and NI.

At £42,170, you earn about 8% above the UK full-time median (£39,039), placing you between the 50th percentile (£39,039) and the 75th percentile (£54,009) of UK full-time earnings.

See exact take-home for £42,170 →

What influences occupational therapist pay

Every point of Band 6 is taxed at the basic rate. The pension contribution is a net pay arrangement, taken before Income Tax, so the £48,117 top of the band leaves £43,402 taxable against a £50,270 higher-rate threshold. Weekday clinic-based work carries no unsocial hours premium, so take-home tracks the headline figure closely.

NHS pension is 9.8% across the whole of Band 6 in 2026/27, since the tier running to £52,778 of pensionable pay covers every point of the band. The CARE 2015 scheme accrues 1/54th of pensionable earnings a year, revalued in service at CPI plus 1.5%.

Community OT posts often add an unsocial hours enhancement for evening home visits. Specialist and advanced practice roles progress to Band 7, £49,387 to £56,515, and consultant occupational therapists reach Band 8a, which starts at £57,528.

Career progression

Band 5 entry: £32,073 (2026/27 England).
Band 5 top: £39,043.
Band 6 entry: £39,959.
Band 6 intermediate point: £42,170.
Band 6 top: £48,117.
Band 7 senior or specialist OT: £49,387 to £56,515.

Frequently asked questions

What is take-home for a Band 6 OT?: On the £42,170 intermediate point of Band 6, with the 9.8% NHS pension tier, take-home is about £30,576 a year, or £2,548 a month, after Income Tax, National Insurance and the contribution. Band 6 entry, £39,959, is about £29,157, and the £48,117 top of the band about £34,391. The same points pay the same on any Band 6 job, so a radiographer or physiotherapist on base pay takes home the same.
How long does Band 5 to Band 6 progression take?: There is no automatic step: Band 6 is a separate post, so moving up means being appointed to a Band 6 role, and when that happens depends on the trust and its vacancies. Within Band 5 itself, the intermediate point is reached after 2 years and the top point after 4.
Do private practice OTs earn more?: ONS pay figures cover employees only, so they do not measure self-employed occupational therapy income, which depends on the fees charged and the caseload. Self-employed OTs pay Income Tax through Self Assessment and Class 4 National Insurance at 6% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% above, and build no NHS pension on that work.

All UK professions →

Sources

NHS Employers - Agenda for Change pay scales 2026/27
NHS Employers - NHS Pension Scheme member contribution rates
ONS - ASHE 2025 Table 14.7a, annual pay by SOC 2020 occupation (occupational pay)
ONS — Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 (UK full-time median and percentiles)
HMRC — Rates and thresholds 2026/27
Our full methodology & calculation sources →