NHS role

Assistant Psychologist

Supports qualified psychologists with assessment, intervention and research — the usual stepping-stone toward doctoral clinical psychology training.

Salary
£28,392–£31,157
NHS demand
Growing
Next step
High Intensity CBT Therapist

Already here? This is my role →

CareRoute Career Score™
Strong
relative to other NHS roles

Strong on AI resistance and work–life balance; held back by entry.

Salary growth80

Can reach ~£80,000 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 access25

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
£28,392–£31,157
Next step
High Intensity CBT Therapist
Avg progression
~3 yrs
NHS demand
Growing
Study required
High
Flexibility
Solid
Why we scored it 69: Strong on AI resistance and work–life balance; held back by entry.

What you'd do

  • Support psychological assessment and therapy
  • Administer and score measures
  • Assist with research and audit
  • Contribute to formulation under supervision

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.

£28,392
Yr 0
£28,392
Yr 2
£49,387
Yr 4
£49,387
Yr 6
£51,932
Yr 8
See how to reach £79,504

Skills & requirements

Skills you'll use in this role
Analytical thinkingEmpathyResearch skillsReflective practice
What you'll need for your next step → High Intensity CBT Therapist
  • PGDip High Intensity CBT (BABCP-accredited)
  • 2+ years post-registration 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 4–5 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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