29 Jan 2026 ● Matt Farrah
Functional Assessor Pay: How Much Do Functional Assessors Earn in the UK?
Functional Assessors in the UK earn a salary of somewhere between £40,000 and £48,000 a year. However, this is merely a broad guide.
Roles are offered by private healthcare companies, typically contracted by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). Payment within these companies varies as it isn’t regulated in the same way NHS pay is.
Jobs for Functional Assessors
Discover Functional Assessor roles nationwide with care homes, public and private sector healthcare providers on our Functional Assessor jobs page. We aim to list more jobs than any other job board, as well as information about each advertiser so you can discover your best job and employer match.
Average Functional Assessor Salary in the UK
The average Functional Assessor salary in the UK, based on the best available data, is around £45,000 per year for someone with several years of experience.
Pay varies depending on the private company you work for.
Overtime or unsocial hours are sometimes available, which can also influence total earnings.
And as is often the case, salaries are higher in London and the South East, reflecting increased regional living costs.
Here is how Functional Assessor pay varies by seniority:
New Starters | £38,000 - £45,000 |
Experienced | £45,000 - £50,000 |
Senior | £50,000 - £55,000 |
Managerial/specialist | £55,000+ |
Overtime, Incentives and Enhancements for Functional Assessors
Overtime is frequently available for Functional Assessors, and pay is structured in a couple of different ways.
Case-based incentives are common, which, for example, might mean being paid an extra £50 for every assessment completed.
Hourly-based overtime is also common, which can be between 150% and 200% of your normal hourly rate.
This typically applies for unsocial hours - so evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
Specialist Functional Assessor Roles and Higher Pay
Higher pay as a Functional Assessor relies on becoming more specialised and gaining more experience.
Examples of specialist roles include:
- PIP (Personal Independence Payment) Assessor - with pay rates upwards of £40,000
- Senior Functional Assessor - with pay potentially beyond £45,000
- Specialist Functional Assessor (ie Mental Health) - with pay rates towards £50,000+
- Team Leader - with pay beyond £55,000
Agency Functional Assessor Pay Rates
Functional Assessors working through agencies can expect pay rates similar to full-time positions, or in some cases with higher rates.
Agency Functional Assessor pay for specialists and the most experienced might go well beyond £50,000 annually.
Because it’s a relatively new and specialised role, it is important to note that working on a flexible basis through an agency doesn’t always guarantee full-time hours. It really depends on your experience, specialist areas and location.
Factors That Affect What Functional Assessors Earn
Various things affect how much you earn as a Functional Assessor, including:
- Experience. Whether you work for a DWP-linked private provider or through a recruitment agency, experience is the most influential factor in terms of what you will earn
- Qualifications: To progress beyond standard roles, a useful qualification to acquire is a level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA)
- Geography: Roles often pay more in London and parts of the South East. In some cases roles are also better paid in major cities like Manchester and Birmingham too
- Employer type: The primary employers are private companies assigned by the DWP, but some Functional Assessors also work through specialist recruitment agencies which can affect rates of pay
Salary Progression and Future Earnings
In terms of career progression as a Functional Assessor, there are different potential routes.
Simply through experience and developing new competencies, you could move into a more senior role.
Beyond that, you could start to specialise and become an assessor within a particular specialism - for example, mental health.
Experience combined with developing managerial competencies could also see you become a team leader, which would also come with a significant increase in pay.
Demand for Functional Assessors is high in the UK, which means pay rates could well continue to increase in the coming years
International Applicants: What to Expect
To apply as an international Functional Assessor you must first register with the NMC or HCPC, which will mean you’ll need to be a qualified professional with relevant proof.
Once secured, you’ll need to pass an English language assessment and then find a position that’s actively looking for international applicants. These kinds of employers will then likely support you in securing a Visa and providing relevant certification, as well as other aspects of your move.
FAQs About Functional Assessor Pay
What’s the highest paid role as a Functional Assessor?
The highest paid Functional Assessor roles are likely to be managerial or team leader positions, potentially offering salaries well beyond £50,000 a year.
Do Functional Assessors work in the NHS?
No, Functional Assessors are typically employed by specialist agencies who themselves are contracted by the Government’s Department of Work and Pensions.
What is the lowest pay for a Functional Assessor?
Functional Assessors generally start on a salary no lower than £38,000 a year - although this can vary a little.
Do Functional Assessors in London earn more?
Yes, Functional Assessors typically earn around 10-15% more annually than those across the rest of the UK.
