Social services managers and directors: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time social services managers and directors in the UK earned a median £48,549 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 24% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 65th of 382 occupations on this measure.
Median full-time pay: women £47,434 a year, men £49,065 a year.
About 79% of the roughly 14,000 employee jobs are full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 38.2% (from £35,122), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 35,600 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20th percentile | £35,082* | £716.40 | £19.68 | £30,779* | £579.50 | £19.05 |
| 25th percentile | £38,696* | £757.20 | £21.53 | £33,609* | £658.10 | £19.45 |
| 30th percentile | £40,843 | £820.60 | £21.93 | £34,573* | £686.50 | £21.56 |
| 40th percentile | £45,876 | £907.00 | £24.56 | £39,252* | £757.30 | £24.03 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £48,549 | £945.60 | £25.68 | £45,155 | £897.60 | £25.24 |
| 60th percentile | £51,134 | £982.70 | £27.11 | £48,422* | £938.70 | £26.29 |
| 70th percentile | £54,619* | £1,083.20* | £30.13* | £51,432* | £984.40* | £29.78* |
| 75th percentile | – | – | – | – | – | £30.32* |
| Mean | £50,235 | £1,033.40 | £28.26 | £45,847 | £930.20 | £27.48 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £35,122* | £726.50 | £19.46 | £34,591* | £692.20 | 13* |
| 2022 revised | £38,665* | £843.80 | £22.25 | £38,039* | £763.40* | 14* |
| 2023 revised | £40,860 | £842.90 | £23.01 | £39,709 | £778.30 | 13* |
| 2024 revised | £42,972 | £870.20 | £23.38 | £40,098 | £799.80 | 13* |
| 2025 provisional | £48,549 | £945.60 | £25.68 | £45,155 | £897.60 | 14* |
Social services managers and directors by region
UK: 35,600 (± 7,300), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What social services managers and directors do
Social services managers and directors plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the resources and commission the services necessary to protect the welfare of certain groups within local authorities including children and young people, families under stress, people with disabilities, elderly people and people needing help as a result of illness. (ONS SOC 2020, 1172)
Also covers: children's centre manager, commissioner (local government: social services), community services manager, service manager (welfare services), social work manager, commissioning manager, foyer manager, locality manager, registered manager, safeguarding director, service manager, children's services manager, community engagement manager, community involvement manager, director of safeguarding, social services manager, support manager (non-residential) and supporting people manager (19 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Provides leadership and management to ensure services are delivered in accordance with statutory requirements and in line with the local authority social services department’s policies and procedures
- Determines staffing, financial, material and other short and long-term needs
- Plans work schedules, assigns tasks and delegates responsibilities of social services staff
- Monitors and evaluates departmental performance with a view to improving social service provision
- Studies and advises upon changes in legislation that will impact upon social service provision
- Liaises with representatives of other relevant agencies
Entry is usually through internal promotion for those with the appropriate professional qualifications and relevant experience. Post-qualifying professional qualifications and in-service training are available.
Related
Health and social services managers and directors (median £58,826) · Health services and public health managers and directors · Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related services · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026