Barristers and judges vs Social workers Salary

How do Barristers and judges and Social workers salaries compare in the UK? Here is a detailed side-by-side breakdown using the latest ONS data.

Barristers and judges earns £10,948 more per year (26% higher)

Barristers and judges

£53,657
per year (gross)
Take-home: £41,678
vs

Social workers

£42,709
per year (gross)
Take-home: £34,270

Detailed Comparison

MetricBarristers and judgesSocial workersDifference
Median Annual£53,657£42,709+£10,948
Mean Annual£61,906£41,994+£19,912
Take-Home (Net)£41,678£34,270+£7,408
Monthly (Gross)£4,471£3,559+£912
Weekly (Gross)£1,032£821+£211
Hourly£25.80£20.53+£5.27

Salary Range Comparison

PercentileBarristers and judgesSocial workers
10th (Entry)£21,879£25,798
25th£31,204£36,474
50th (Median)£53,657£42,709
75th£71,492£48,804
90th (Senior)£0£53,902

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more, a Barristers and judges or a Social workers?
A Barristers and judges earns more. The median salary for a Barristers and judges is £53,657, whilst a Social workers earns £42,709 — a difference of £10,948 per year.
What is the salary difference between a Barristers and judges and a Social workers?
The difference is £10,948 per year. Barristers and judges is the higher-paid role.
What is the take-home pay difference?
After tax and National Insurance, a Barristers and judges takes home approximately £41,678 per year, whilst a Social workers takes home £34,270. The net difference is £7,408.
Should I become a Barristers and judges or a Social workers?
From a salary perspective, Barristers and judges offers higher median pay. However, career choice depends on many factors including interests, qualifications, work-life balance and long-term prospects.

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