Locum physiotherapist
Low £30.00Typical £38.00High £55.00
Rate benchmark
Locum physiotherapist rates in the UK, 2026
£38.00typical per hour
Indicative pay ranges for UK locum physiotherapists in the 2026/27 tax year. What’s typical, what drives variance, and how to benchmark your own rate against the market.
Ledger | Indicative 2026 range
Low, typical, and high.
Private-practice locum work (MSK, sports, occupational health) pays more than NHS agency cover. Specialist areas (respiratory ITU, paediatric neuro, vestibular) command the top of the range. Rates in London run 10 to 15% above the national average.
| Rangeper hour | LowIndicative | TypicalIndicative | HighIndicative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indicative 2026 range (per hour) | £30.00 | £38.00 | £55.00 |
Indicative 2026 range (per hour)
Every figure on this page, including the ranges in the text above, is Sessional's own estimate and not a survey result. In forming them we looked at: CSP member guidance; Published private-clinic locum rate sheets. We do not link to them because several are for members only or change often, so treat the ranges as a guide and check current adverts. Real rates vary by individual contract and market conditions. Sessional doesn't guarantee any specific rate and your individual outcome depends on your negotiation and the organisations you work with. Figures last reviewed .
01 | Market context
05Rate driversWhat drives the variance
For physiotherapists, private-practice work (MSK, sports, occupational health) consistently outpays NHS agency cover, and specialist caseloads add further on top.
Geography: London and the South East usually pay above the rest of the country, and rates elsewhere follow local demand.
Urgency: last-minute cover pays more. Organisations covering a sudden gap often pay noticeably above their standard rate.
Specialty: out-of-hours, unplanned care, specialist wards, and complex caseload all uplift the base rate.
Volume: regular weekly bookings are usually offered at a lower rate than ad-hoc shifts in exchange for certainty.
Route to market: direct bookings pay more than agency routes because no one takes a cut.
02 | Your ledger
04Benchmarking stepsHow to benchmark your own rate
Write down the last ten bookings you accepted and the rate you charged or received.
Break them down by region, urgency, and duration.
Compare each against the typical range above. If you are consistently at or below the low end on standard bookings, you are probably underpriced.
Next time you are asked for your rate on a standard booking in a London or South East organisation, quote the typical figure from the headline above and see what happens. A refusal tells you about the booking, not your rate.
03 | Questions
03Short answersLocum physiotherapist rates: common questions
How much do locum physiotherapists earn per hour in 2026?
Indicative 2026 rates for UK locum physiotherapists run from £30.00 to £55.00 per hour, with £38.00 typical. These are Sessional's own estimates, not survey results. In forming them we looked at: CSP member guidance; Published private-clinic locum rate sheets. Real rates vary by contract, region and notice, so check current adverts before you quote.
What makes rates for locum physiotherapists higher or lower?
For physiotherapists, private-practice work (MSK, sports, occupational health) consistently outpays NHS agency cover, and specialist caseloads add further on top.
Does Sessional set or guarantee these rates?
No. The figures are indicative, and your rate depends on your negotiation and the organisations you work with. Sessional records the rates you actually charge so you can compare them with this range.
04 | 34 cities
Look up your city
01Locum physiotherapist in London02Locum physiotherapist in Manchester03Locum physiotherapist in Birmingham04Locum physiotherapist in Leeds05Locum physiotherapist in Liverpool06Locum physiotherapist in Sheffield07Locum physiotherapist in Bristol08Locum physiotherapist in Newcastle09Locum physiotherapist in Nottingham10Locum physiotherapist in Leicester11Locum physiotherapist in Coventry12Locum physiotherapist in Bradford13Locum physiotherapist in Southampton14Locum physiotherapist in Portsmouth15Locum physiotherapist in Brighton16Locum physiotherapist in Reading17Locum physiotherapist in Oxford18Locum physiotherapist in Cambridge19Locum physiotherapist in Norwich20Locum physiotherapist in Milton Keynes21Locum physiotherapist in York22Locum physiotherapist in Plymouth23Locum physiotherapist in Derby24Locum physiotherapist in Stoke-on-Trent25Locum physiotherapist in Hull26Locum physiotherapist in Sunderland27Locum physiotherapist in Glasgow28Locum physiotherapist in Edinburgh29Locum physiotherapist in Aberdeen30Locum physiotherapist in Dundee31Locum physiotherapist in Cardiff32Locum physiotherapist in Swansea33Locum physiotherapist in Newport34Locum physiotherapist in Belfast
Figures last reviewed 24 April 2026
Run your locum work like a business. Minus the accountant.
Keeps the records, does the sums. Filing and advice stay with you and your accountant.
Log every booking in Sessional and keep the rate you actually agreed against each one. Basic is free with no card; earnings by organisation and by month come with the reporting on Pro.