NHS role

Clinical Psychologist

Assesses and treats the full range of mental health problems using psychological theory and therapy — trained to doctoral level (DClinPsy).

Salary
£49,387–£56,515
NHS demand
Growing
Next step
Clinical Director / Consultant-level Lead

Already here? This is my role →

CareRoute Career Score™
Excellent
relative to other NHS roles

Strong on salary growth and AI resistance; held back by entry.

Salary growth96

Can reach ~£92,000 via Clinical Director / Consultant-level Lead.

Job security48

Workforce scale not separately tracked; trend not tracked.

AI resistance95

Highly resistant to automation — hands-on clinical work.

Work–life balance95

Strong work–life balance; regular hours.

Entry access15

Demanding entry — high study load, high competition.

Flexibility62

2 onward routes; good flexible-working scope.

Career Score™ is CareRoute's own indicative rating from public NHS-style data — not an official NHS ranking. A composite of six factors; same inputs always give the same score.

Salary
£49,387–£56,515
Next step
Clinical Director / Consultant-level Lead
Avg progression
~4 yrs
NHS demand
Growing
Study required
High
Flexibility
Solid
Why we scored it 71: Strong on salary growth and AI resistance; held back by entry.

What you'd do

  • Assess and formulate complex presentations
  • Deliver a range of psychological therapies
  • Supervise and consult across teams
  • Lead research and service development

Is this you?

You enjoy helping people and working as part of a team
You want hands-on NHS experience
You're drawn to mental health
You value secure, structured public-sector work

Typical progression routes

Indicative routes from the career graph — not usage data.

Your salary roadmap

Indicative pay on the highest-reaching route, by year.

£49,387
Yr 0
£51,932
Yr 2
£79,504
Yr 4
£84,346
Yr 6
£84,346
Yr 8
See how to reach £91,609

Skills & requirements

Skills you'll use in this role
FormulationMultiple therapy modelsResearchConsultation
What you'll need for your next step → Clinical Director / Consultant-level Lead
  • HCPC registration (allied health professional)
  • Consultant-level portfolio / doctoral study
  • Senior operational / clinical leadership experience
Latest intelligence

Guides & updates

We're writing in-depth mental health guides — pay, entry routes and progression. In the meantime, explore the roles and career map above.

FAQ

Questions, answered straight

Band 7–8a on the 2026/27 Agenda for Change scale — indicative figures; verify against official NHS sources.
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Where to look next

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