Occupational therapists vs Social workers Salary (2025)

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

Social workers earns £4,461 more per year (12% higher)

Occupational therapists

£38,248
per year
vs

Social workers

£42,709
per year

Detailed Comparison

MetricOccupational therapistsSocial workersDifference
Median Annual£38,248£42,709-£4,461
Mean Annual£38,102£41,994-£3,892
Monthly£3,187£3,559-£372
Weekly£736£821-£85
Hourly£18.39£20.53-£2.14

Salary Range Comparison

PercentileOccupational therapistsSocial workers
10th (Entry)£23,638£25,798
25th£29,972£36,474
50th (Median)£38,248£42,709
75th£45,637£48,804
90th (Senior)£0£53,902
Advertisement

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more, a Occupational therapists or a Social workers?
A Social workers earns more. The median salary for a Occupational therapists is £38,248, whilst a Social workers earns £42,709 — a difference of £4,461 per year.
What is the salary difference between a Occupational therapists and a Social workers?
The difference is £4,461 per year. Social workers is the higher-paid role.
Should I become a Occupational therapists 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