Plumbers & heating and ventilating installers and repairers vs Social workers: Salary Compared
A Social workers earns more — a median £44,550 vs £37,881 for a Plumbers & heating and ventilating installers and repairers. That is £6,669 more per year (18%). Real ONS ASHE figures, April 2025.
Quick answer
In the UK, a Social workers is paid more than a Plumbers & heating and ventilating installers and repairers: median gross pay of £44,550 versus £37,881 — a £6,669 (18%) gap. Source: ASHE 2025 provisional, April 2025 reference period, ONS, OGL v3.
Pay compared, side by side
Gross annual pay for full-time UK employees, ASHE 2025 provisional, April 2025 reference period, ONS, OGL v3.
| Measure | Plumbers & heating and ventilating installers and repairers | Social workers |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £24,916 | £33,996 |
| 25th percentile | £31,656 | £39,517 |
| Median | £37,881 | £44,550 |
| 75th percentile | £45,451 | £49,959 |
| 90th percentile | — | — |
SOC 2020 codes: Plumbers & heating and ventilating installers and repairers = 5315; Social workers = 2461.
Regional pay gap
The pay gap is widest in West Midlands, where a Social workers earns a median £43,058 versus £33,541 for a Plumbers & heating and ventilating installers and repairers — a £9,517 difference. Regional medians are published by ONS where the sample is large enough.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a Plumbers & heating and ventilating installers and repairers or a Social workers earn more in the UK?
- A Social workers earns more. The median UK gross annual pay is £44,550 for a Social workers versus £37,881 for a Plumbers & heating and ventilating installers and repairers — a difference of £6,669 (18% more). Source: ONS ASHE, April 2025.
- What is the typical salary range for a Plumbers & heating and ventilating installers and repairers?
- Most Plumbers & heating and ventilating installers and repairers earn between £31,656–£45,451 (25th–75th percentile), with a median of £37,881. Top earners (90th percentile) reach higher.
- What is the typical salary range for a Social workers?
- Most Social workers earn between £39,517–£49,959 (25th–75th percentile), with a median of £44,550. Top earners (90th percentile) reach higher.
- Where do these pay figures come from?
- From the Office for National Statistics Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE 2025 provisional, April 2025 reference period, ONS, OGL v3) — gross annual pay for full-time employees by 4-digit SOC 2020 occupation, published under the Open Government Licence. These are medians, not guarantees: individual pay varies by employer, region and experience.
Related comparisons
Data: Office for National Statistics — Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), ASHE 2025 provisional, April 2025 reference period, ONS, OGL v3. Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures are medians for full-time employees and do not guarantee individual pay. A Gera Systems product.