Social workers roles in the UK earn a median of £45,500 per year, equivalent to £23.96 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 8.2% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £41,000 in Yorkshire and The Humber to £48,500 in London. Pay has risen over the past 4 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £44,550/yr (2% above our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£45,500
as of 2025
Modelled estimateMedian Hourly Pay
£23.96
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+8.2%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£38,500 – £53,000
25th – 75th percentile
UK Employment (2024)
~176,000
estimated employees
94 of 180 areas not disclosed by ONS
Employment Change
2021–2024
2021: ~203,000 → 2024: ~176,000
Market Signal
Growing marketPay and employment are both rising — competition for workers is increasing.
Employment figures from ONS Annual Population Survey (APS). Counts are estimates; suppressed cells (small samples) are excluded from totals.
Annual pay for Social workers across UK regions. The bar shows the typical pay range (25th–75th percentile); the diamond marks the median.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
Annual pay grew by +8.2% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot. Shaded band shows 25th–75th percentile range.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Social workers.
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
For job seekers
Check your salary against official UK data for Social workers roles — broken down by region and seniority level. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
For employers & recruiters
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.
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.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.