Physiotherapists play a critical role in healthcare, helping patients recover from injuries, manage chronic conditions and improve their overall physical wellbeing. Whether working in hospitals, clinics or community settings, these professionals are in high demand. If you’re thinking of becoming one and are wondering how much a physiotherapist salary is, we hope that our insight will help you to make an informed decision.
In this article, we’ll explore the job profile of a physiotherapist, covering:
- What is a physiotherapist?
- Daily responsibilities of a physiotherapist
- Physiotherapist salary explained
- How to become a physiotherapist
- Career development opportunities
- Find your next physiotherapist role with Pulse
What is a physiotherapist?
The role of a physiotherapist is to assess and provide treatment to people affected by mobility problems caused by illness, frailty, injury, ageing or disability. Their goal is to help restore movement in patients and to reduce other problems associated with their mobility from arising in the future.
Through effective treatment plans, physiotherapists help people to improve patients’ physical health, activity and wellbeing. They’re crucial in the healthcare sector as the NHS has identified that an additional 12,000 physiotherapists are needed to help with the current demand in the UK.
Daily responsibilities of a physiotherapist
Physiotherapists have numerous responsibilities to address the diverse needs of the patients they treat each day. Some of the many duties they have include:
- Assessing patient mobility and joint concerns
- Creating detailed treatment plans, including exercises and massage
- Managing therapy programmes using ultrasound and other diagnostic techniques
- Keeping accurate and up to date records for each patient’s treatment and progress
- Working in multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive support
- Prescribing medication and other supplementary care where necessary
- Educating patients and carers on how to prevent and improve conditions
Physiotherapists enjoy a very fulfilling career, working in various specialisms. You could make a difference by starting your journey to specialise in physiotherapy today.
Physiotherapist salary explained
Physiotherapy is a very lucrative career, with a defined path for progression for those working in the NHS and private sector. Qualified physiotherapists working for NHS England are compensated according to the 2024/25 pay scales starting on a band 5 salary. From here, you could progress to more senior physiotherapist roles.
The different bands that physiotherapists can achieve are:
- Band 5: £29,970 to £36,483 (physiotherapist)
- Band 6: £37,338 to £44,962 (senior physiotherapist)
- Band 7: £46,148 to £52,809 (clinical specialist/team leader)
- Band 8a: £53,755 to £60,504 (extended scope/clinical lead physiotherapist)
- Band 8b: £62,215 to £72,293 (consultant physiotherapist)
- Band 8c: £74,290 to £85,601 (head of physiotherapy)
This is based on a typical 37.5-hour work week, which may include a mix of shifts, such as nights, early starts, evenings and weekends. Locum physiotherapists may earn more, as their roles attract higher hourly rates, as well as physiotherapists working for private healthcare providers who set their own salaries.
How to become a physiotherapist
The route to becoming is physiotherapist is straightforward. There are a few options that the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) have outlined you can choose to qualify. It’s best that you do your research and understand all the options available to you before you begin your journey into physiotherapy.
Course options
The most popular route to become a physiotherapist is to complete a university degree approved by the HCPC and accredited by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP). You could complete a three-year full-time course, a six-year part-time course or even a Physiotherapy Degree Apprenticeship.
If you already hold a degree in one of the following subjects, you could complete an accelerated master’s degree programme approved by the HCPC and accredited by the CSP:
- Biological science
- Health science
- Sports and exercise science
Universities have individual entry requirements, so it’s essential to verify them directly. Alongside your academic qualifications, you may also need to attend an interview and go through other selection processes to secure a place on your desired course.
Registrations
To practice, you must register as a physiotherapist with the HCPC. Claiming to be a physiotherapist without registration can result in a fine.
You may also want to register with the CSP, they act as a union for physiotherapists and offer continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities and otheronline resources.
Qualities of a good physiotherapist
You’ll need to possess a set of qualities to thrive in this role. Some of them are:
- Written and spoken communication skills
- Ability to develop interpersonal relationships with people from different backgrounds
- Teamwork and collaboration skills when working with other professionals
- Problem-solving skills
- The ability to relay information to people with different levels of understanding
- Organisation and administrative skills
- Compassion and empathy
Career development opportunities
In your career as a physiotherapist, you have the options of working in different specialisms and working through career progression paths, building your experience and salary. If you’re working in the NHS, depending on the service provider you’re with, you may be in a rotational role where you get to work in different specialisms and areas of healthcare. Or you may work in a fixed position and develop your experience there.
The main types of physiotherapy are:
- Sports
- Critical care
- Geriatric
- Paediatric
- Neurological
- Othopaedic
- Muscoskeletal
Your role may focus on one of these areas, or you may work on multiple types of physiotherapy throughout your role. Read our guide on physiotherapy career progression to explore the different options available to you.
Find your next physiotherapist role with Pulse
Physiotherapists are vital in helping individuals recover and maintain mobility in various settings, including clinics and hospitals. At Pulse, we offer exclusive permanent and locum positions for physiotherapists that you can apply for.
Haven’t found the perfect match yet? Register your interest to be the first to know about our latest opportunities and discover industry insights.
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