The role of a Social Worker in the UK is both impactful and fulfilling. As society continues to focus on improving well-being and support for individuals and families, the demand for skilled social workers remains strong. From local authorities in London to community organizations in Manchester and Edinburgh, employers are actively seeking compassionate professionals, offering competitive salaries and opportunities for career growth.
Social Worker salary
Base pay £31K – £47Kyr
£38K/yr average base pay
The estimated total pay for a Social Worker is £40,361 per year, with an average salary of £38,060 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is £2,301 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing.
What do Social Worker earn
How much does a Social Worker make in United Kingdom?
£49,564/yr
Highest paying cities for Social Worker near United Kingdom
- Portsmouth
£56,628 per year146 salaries reported - Wigan
£54,793 per year150 salaries reported - Blackpool
£52,077 per year97 salaries reported - London
£50,630 per year1.8k salaries reported - Barnsley
£49,889 per year146 salaries reported - Birmingham
£45,983 per year277 salaries reported - Worcester
£44,977 per year93 salaries reported - Chatham
£42,330 per year115 salaries reported - Woking
£39,636 per year134 salaries reported
What’s on Quora?
How much does a social worker make?
As of 2023, the salary of a social worker can vary widely based on factors such as location, education, experience, and the specific field of social work they are in. Here are some general figures:
- Median Salary: The median annual wage for social workers in the U.S. was approximately $50,000.
- Entry-Level Positions: Social workers just starting out may earn between $35,000 and $45,000 annually.
- Experienced Social Workers: Those with more experience, especially in specialized areas (like clinical social work), can earn between $60,000 and $80,000 or more.
- Location Variations: Salaries can be significantly higher in urban areas or states with a higher cost of living. For example, social workers in California and New York often earn more than the national average.
Additionally, social workers in certain sectors, such as healthcare or government, may have different pay scales compared to those in non-profit or community service organizations.
Top Answer
Depends on experience and background. Only having a BSW is going to be the lowest pay and would increase as you add MSW and LCSW. It would increase more depending on level ie: director vs employee. Also depends on public/non-profit vs private sector.
I’d say here in NC a rough guess of average salaries would be:
BSW: mid 20’s
MSW: high 20’s to low 30’s. Possibly higher working for CPS or something.
LSCW: mid/high 30s up. I’ve seen jobs posted typically in the 40’s but I know of people making mid 50’s. Director levels (director of mental health, head of a psychiatric hospital etc) I’m guessing could get into the 60’s plus but that would come with years of experience.
My first job as an LCSW started in the high 30s. Then we got a cost of living raise to the low 40s. My last job was in the high 40s but wasn’t salary, I just billed a lot of clients. My salary has gone up quite a bit and my current position, I’m guessing because I’m no longer working with Medicaid patients.
These amounts will obviously change depending on location, cost of living etc. there are a lot of variables. Fluency in another language could also add on to salary.