Social worker salary UK
42,708 GBP
Median gross annual pay · 2025 · ONS ASHE · 2461
Half of all social workers in the UK earn more than 42,708 GBP a year, half earn less.
Rank by pay91of 398 occupations
Spread, quartile to quartile1.36×35,841 GBP – 48,907 GBP
Men against women3.2 %43,637 GBP against 42,250 GBP
| Measure | All | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower quartile | 35,841 GBP | — | — |
| Median | 42,708 GBP | 43,637 GBP | 42,250 GBP |
| Mean | 41,623 GBP | — | — |
| Upper quartile | 48,907 GBP | — | — |
About the figure
Occupation code 2461 in SOC 2020, the UK occupation classification. Covers all employee jobs. Published by the Office for National Statistics, not estimated by us. The figure is gross annual pay, not monthly.
Occupations that pay about the same
- Probation officers 43,960 GBP
- Biological scientists 43,781 GBP
- Managers and proprietors in other services n.e.c. 43,382 GBP
- Pipe fitters 42,580 GBP
- Quality control and planning engineers 42,511 GBP
- Other researchers, unspecified discipline 42,463 GBP
Source: ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14. Figures are for 2025; snapshot taken 2026-08-15. www.ons.gov.uk