SOC 2461 Business, media and public service professionals

Social workers Salary

Median salary £42,708 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £43,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For social workers, £44,550 is the typical (median) pay. That is above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +14% versus the national average. Experienced social workers (top 25%) earn over £48,907.

About this role

Social workers support vulnerable individuals, families and communities, helping them navigate challenges including safeguarding, mental health, disability, substance misuse and housing. They assess needs, develop support plans and coordinate services to protect and empower those they work with, as classified under the 2020 Standard Occupational Classification.

Key responsibilities

Assessing the needs and risks of vulnerable individuals and families
Developing and reviewing care and support plans
Coordinating services and liaising with other agencies
Maintaining accurate case records and reports
Attending court proceedings and case conferences when required

Qualifications and entry routes

Requires a Social Work England-approved degree (BA or MA in Social Work) and registration with Social Work England. An assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE) follows qualification.

Career outlook

Persistent workforce shortages, particularly in children's services and mental health. High demand with ongoing recruitment and retention challenges.

Key skills

Assessment and analysis Safeguarding Communication Resilience Multi-agency working

Common industries

Local authority social services
NHS
Voluntary sector
Mental health
Children and families

Data coverage

SOC code 2461

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 105,000

Median Salary

£42,708

Mean Salary

£41,623

Jobs (000s)

105k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £25kP25: £36kMedian: £43kP75: £49kP90: £55k

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£24,877

0-2 years

Mid Level

£35,841

3-7 years

Senior

£48,907

8-15 years

Leadership

£54,862

15+ years

Potential career growth: +121% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +41.3%Real growth: +2.4%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 3.2%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£42,708

Full-time Only

£44,550

Full-time premium: +£1,842

Social workers salary: common questions

How much do social workers earn in the UK?

Social workers earn a median of £44,550 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £35,841 and £48,907.

Is £44,550 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for social workers?

Entry-level social workers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £35,841, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £24,877.

How much do the highest-paid social workers earn?

The best-paid 10% of social workers earn over £54,862 a year, and the top 25% over £48,907 (ONS ASHE 2025).

Have social workers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median social workers pay has risen from £32,366 to £44,550 — +38% in cash terms, or +0.0% after CPIH inflation. That is roughly in line with inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for social workers?

Male social workers earn a median £43,637 and female social workers £42,250 — a gap of +3.0% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).