How much does a Social workers earn in the UK?
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£42,708
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 84% of Social workers work full-time
- 1.8% are self-employed
- 93% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Social workers pay in the UK
The typical social workers in the UK earns a median salary of £42,708 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of social workers earnings fall between £35,841 and £48,907 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced social workers.
Where you work changes the picture: social workers pay ranges from £37,044 in East Midlands up to £46,435 in London, a difference of £9,391 (25%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see social workers pay in London, Social workers vs Headteacher or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for social workers at £46,435 — 9% above the UK median. East Midlands is lowest at £37,044.
UK median £42,708
| Region | Median payUK median £42,708 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £46,435 | £46,435 | £47,067 | +9% |
| Scotland | £44,428 | £44,428 | £42,737 | +4% |
| North West | £42,829 | £42,829 | £42,638 | ±0% |
| North East | £42,179 | £42,179 | £40,327 | -1% |
| Wales | £42,029 | £42,029 | £40,502 | -2% |
| South West | £41,199 | £41,199 | £38,619 | -4% |
| South East | £41,026 | £41,026 | £39,733 | -4% |
| East of England | £40,836 | £40,836 | £41,161 | -4% |
| West Midlands | £40,415 | £40,415 | £39,120 | -5% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £38,170 | £38,170 | £36,820 | -11% |
| East Midlands | £37,044 | £37,044 | £36,070 | -13% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £46,435 | £46,435Mean £47,067 | +9% |
| Scotland £44,428 | £44,428Mean £42,737 | +4% |
| North West £42,829 | £42,829Mean £42,638 | ±0% |
| North East £42,179 | £42,179Mean £40,327 | -1% |
| Wales £42,029 | £42,029Mean £40,502 | -2% |
| South West £41,199 | £41,199Mean £38,619 | -4% |
| South East £41,026 | £41,026Mean £39,733 | -4% |
| East of England £40,836 | £40,836Mean £41,161 | -4% |
| West Midlands £40,415 | £40,415Mean £39,120 | -5% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £38,170 | £38,170Mean £36,820 | -11% |
| East Midlands £37,044 | £37,044Mean £36,070 | -13% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£42,708); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local social workers pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow social workers pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for social workers by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25%–75% range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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Frequently asked questions
- How much does a social worker earn in the UK?
- The median annual salary for a social worker in the UK is £42,708, according to ONS ASHE 2025 data. Most social workers earn between £35,841 and £48,907 per year.
- What is the median social worker salary?
- The median social worker salary in the UK is £42,708 per year (ONS ASHE 2025). Half of all social workers earn more than this figure, and half earn less.
- How much do senior social workers earn?
- The top 25% of social workers in the UK earn more than £48,907 per year (75th percentile, ONS ASHE 2025). The bottom quarter earn up to £35,841 annually.
- Which UK region pays social workers the most?
- London has the highest median social worker salary at £46,435 per year, according to ONS ASHE 2025 data.
- How has social worker pay changed in recent years?
- Median social worker pay rose from £40,698 in 2024 to £42,708 in 2025 — a 4.9% increase (ONS ASHE 2025).
- What is the average social worker salary in the UK?
- The mean (average) social worker salary in the UK is £41,623 per year. The mean is lower than the median of £42,708 because low earners skew the average (ONS ASHE 2025).
Related roles in Welfare Professionals
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