Social workers: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time social workers in the UK earned a median £44,550 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £5,511 above the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That ranks 99th of 382 occupations on this measure.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £39,517 and £49,959.
Median full-time pay: women £44,665 a year, men £44,053 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 122,000 employee jobs, 81% full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 17.6%, from £37,890, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 139,800 people in this line of work, 15% of them in London.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £33,996 | £657.80 | £17.77 | £24,877 | £494.40 | £17.60 |
| 20th percentile | £38,203 | £728.30 | £19.69 | £32,411 | £628.00 | £19.65 |
| 25th percentile | £39,517 | £757.30 | £20.48 | £35,841 | £699.00 | £20.27 |
| 30th percentile | £40,866 | £775.70 | £20.99 | £37,599 | £727.10 | £20.98 |
| 40th percentile | £42,708 | £818.50 | £22.60 | £40,434 | £773.70 | £22.48 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £44,550 | £851.30 | £23.21 | £42,708 | £818.50 | £23.26 |
| 60th percentile | £46,010 | £884.40 | £24.19 | £44,724 | £856.90 | £24.19 |
| 70th percentile | £48,913 | £937.00 | £25.43 | £46,958 | £897.50 | £25.42 |
| 75th percentile | £49,959 | £954.80 | £26.16 | £48,907 | £935.30 | £26.27 |
| 80th percentile | £51,435 | £983.30 | £26.99 | £50,283 | £960.40 | £27.00 |
| 90th percentile | – | £1,064.40 | £28.98 | £54,862* | £1,033.00 | £28.96 |
| Mean | £44,898 | £868.10 | £23.45 | £41,623 | £804.80 | £23.45 |
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 | £37,890 | £738.60 | £20.09 | £35,468 | £686.50 | 131 |
| 2022 revised | £39,055 | £752.90 | £20.41 | £36,672 | £725.00 | 109 |
| 2023 revised | £40,639 | £783.40 | £21.32 | £38,096 | £747.30 | 113 |
| 2024 revised | £42,668 | £814.70 | £22.06 | £40,698 | £784.70 | 118 |
| 2025 provisional | £44,550 | £851.30 | £23.21 | £42,708 | £818.50 | 122 |
Social workers by region
UK: 139,800 (± 14,500), April 2025 to March 2026. 3 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| London | 21,000* | ± 7,500 |
| East of England | 16,300* | ± 5,500 |
| South East | 16,200* | ± 5,000 |
| North West | 14,000* | ± 4,500 |
| West Midlands | 12,300* | ± 4,600 |
| Scotland | 11,900* | ± 4,000 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 11,200* | ± 3,900 |
| South West | 9,500* | ± 3,500 |
| Wales | 7,400* | ± 2,400 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What social workers do
Social workers provide information, advice and support to those who are socially excluded or are experiencing crisis; they protect the welfare of vulnerable groups including children, young people, people with disabilities, elderly people and people who are mentally or physically ill, and they may specialise in specific areas of work. (ONS SOC 2020, 2461)
Also covers: independent review officer (social worker), mental health social worker, senior practitioner (local government: social services), social worker, team leader (local government: social services), advanced practitioner, field worker, fostering officer, practice manager, reviewing officer, senior practitioner, team manager, adoption social worker, adult social worker, education social worker, family case worker, forensic social worker and fostering social worker (32 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Liaises with other health and social care professionals and agencies to identify those in need and at risk within the local community
- Interviews individuals and groups to assess and review the nature and extent of difficulties
- Undertakes and writes up assessments to specified standards
- Arranges for further counselling or assistance in the form of financial or material help
- Organises support and develops care plans to address service users’ needs
- Keeps case records, prepares reports and participates in team meetings
Social work is a regulated profession and practitioners must be registered with the appropriate statutory body. To register a social worker must satisfy the criteria for registration. Non-graduates must undertake a three year degree in social work; graduates with relevant experience may take a two year postgraduate diploma/Master’s degree. Prior relevant work experience or relevant voluntary work is encouraged. Background checks including a DBS check are required.
Related
Welfare professionals (median £41,867) · Probation officers · Clergy · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026