Mental health nurses vs Social workers Salary (2025)

How do Mental health nurses and Social workers salaries compare in the UK? Here is a detailed side-by-side breakdown.

Social workers earns £4,550 more per year (12% higher)

Mental health nurses

£38,159
per year
vs

Social workers

£42,709
per year

Detailed Comparison

MetricMental health nursesSocial workersDifference
Median Annual£38,159£42,709-£4,550
Mean Annual£38,765£41,994-£3,229
Monthly£3,180£3,559-£379
Weekly£734£821-£87
Hourly£18.35£20.53-£2.18

Salary Range Comparison

PercentileMental health nursesSocial workers
10th (Entry)£22,557£25,798
25th£31,475£36,474
50th (Median)£38,159£42,709
75th£47,087£48,804
90th (Senior)£0£53,902
Advertisement

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more, a Mental health nurses or a Social workers?
A Social workers earns more. The median salary for a Mental health nurses is £38,159, whilst a Social workers earns £42,709 — a difference of £4,550 per year.
What is the salary difference between a Mental health nurses and a Social workers?
The difference is £4,550 per year. Social workers is the higher-paid role.
Should I become a Mental health nurses or a Social workers?
From a salary perspective, Social workers offers higher median pay. However, career choice depends on many factors including interests, qualifications, work-life balance and long-term prospects.

More Comparisons