Prison service officers (below principal officer) vs Social workers Salary

How do Prison service officers (below principal officer) and Social workers salaries compare in the UK? Here is a detailed side-by-side breakdown using the latest ONS data.

Social workers earns £8,239 more per year (24% higher)

Prison service officers (below principal officer)

£34,470
per year (gross)
Take-home: £28,338
vs

Social workers

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

Detailed Comparison

MetricPrison service officers (below principal officer)Social workersDifference
Median Annual£34,470£42,709-£8,239
Mean Annual£36,850£41,994-£5,144
Take-Home (Net)£28,338£34,270-£5,932
Monthly (Gross)£2,873£3,559-£686
Weekly (Gross)£663£821-£158
Hourly£16.57£20.53-£3.96

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more, a Prison service officers (below principal officer) or a Social workers?
A Social workers earns more. The median salary for a Prison service officers (below principal officer) is £34,470, whilst a Social workers earns £42,709 — a difference of £8,239 per year.
What is the salary difference between a Prison service officers (below principal officer) and a Social workers?
The difference is £8,239 per year. Social workers is the higher-paid role.
What is the take-home pay difference?
After tax and National Insurance, a Prison service officers (below principal officer) takes home approximately £28,338 per year, whilst a Social workers takes home £34,270. The net difference is £5,932.
Should I become a Prison service officers (below principal officer) 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.

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