Youth work professionals: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time youth work professionals in the UK earned a median £36,620 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £2,419 below the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That puts it 174th of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
Median full-time pay: women £41,278 a year, men £34,129 a year.
Since 2021 it has risen 13.0%, from £32,403, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 10,200 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, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median (50th percentile) | £36,620 | £720.10 | £19.90 | £34,630 | £19.30 |
| 60th percentile | – | – | – | – | £20.03 |
| Mean | £37,882 | £720.90 | £19.53 | £32,754* | £18.92 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £32,403 | £680.20 | £18.94 | – | – |
| 2023 revised | £38,407 | £787.60 | £20.60 | £38,407 | £787.60 |
| 2024 revised | – | £667.60 | £19.19 | – | £662.90 |
| 2025 provisional | £36,620 | £720.10 | £19.90 | £34,630 | – |
Youth work professionals by region
UK: 10,200 (± 3,900), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What youth work professionals do
Youth work professionals look after the welfare and support the development of young people. (ONS SOC 2020, 2464)
Also covers: youth and community officer, youth worker (professional), professional youth worker, senior youth worker, youth offending officer, youth offending team officer, youth support worker (professional) and youth worker in charge (professional).
- Provides activities to assist young people develop and fulfil their potential as individuals and within the community
- Develops relationships with and provides guidance to young people
- Advises and supports young people experiencing stress or crisis
- Mentors and counsels young people with mental health problems
- Manages volunteers and part-time workers, and liaises with other relevant professionals
- Keeps records and controls budgets
Professional youth workers require an accredited qualification at degree level, recognised by the National Youth Agency. Experience working with young people may also be useful. Background checks including a DBS check are likely to be required.
Related
Welfare professionals (median £41,867) · Clergy · Probation officers · salary percentile · UK real pay growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026