SOC 2464 Business, media and public service professionals

Youth work professionals Salary

Median salary £34,630 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £35,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For youth work professionals, £36,620 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -6.0% versus the national average.

About this role

Youth work professionals engage with young people to support their personal, social and educational development. They design programmes, provide mentoring and create safe spaces where young people can develop skills, confidence and resilience.

Key responsibilities

Planning and delivering youth programmes
Building trusting relationships with young people
Providing one-to-one mentoring and signposting
Safeguarding and managing risk
Working with schools, social services and community organisations

Qualifications and entry routes

Requires a JNC-recognised qualification — typically a BA or MA in Youth Work validated by NYA (National Youth Agency). Level 3 qualifications provide a support worker entry. DBS check mandatory.

Career outlook

Local authority youth services face funding pressures, but demand for youth work skills in mental health, criminal justice and education settings is growing.

Key skills

Youth engagement Safeguarding Programme design Communication Reflective practice

Common industries

Local authority youth services
Voluntary youth organisations
Schools and colleges
Youth offending teams
Housing associations

Data coverage

SOC code 2464

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2021–2025

Median Salary

£34,630

Mean Salary

£32,754

Jobs (000s)

N/A

Data Years

5 years

Salary Range (2025)

Median: £34,630

P10: --P25: --Median: £35kP75: --P90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Mid Level

£34,630

3-7 years

Salary Trend (2021-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +-9.8%Real growth: -16.0%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£34,630

Full-time Only

£36,620

Full-time premium: +£1,990

Youth work professionals salary: common questions

How much do youth work professionals earn in the UK?

Youth work professionals earn a median of £36,620 a year (ONS ASHE 2025).

Is £36,620 a good salary in the UK?

For youth work professionals, £36,620 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -6.0% versus the national average.

Have youth work professionals salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2021, median youth work professionals pay has risen from £32,403 to £36,620 — +13% in cash terms, or -9.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

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