Youth Worker
Also advertised as: Detached Youth Worker, Youth Engagement Officer, Youth Mentor, Youth Project Worker, Youth Support Worker, Youth Worker
Supports young people's development through activities, mentoring and targeted programmes.
What the job involves
Youth workers build trusting relationships with young people, run activities and groups, mentor individuals and connect them to help. Work happens in centres, schools, detached settings on the street and in targeted projects such as knife crime or care leaver support.
Typical responsibilities
- Plan and run group sessions and activities
- Mentor individual young people
- Refer and signpost to specialist support
- Record safeguarding concerns properly
- Work with schools, families and agencies
Common employers
- Charities
- Local authorities
- Housing associations
- Faith organisations
- Schools
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£22,000 – £26,000 a year
With experience
£28,000 – £35,000 a year
Typical hours
Evenings and weekends are common
Working environment
Youth centres, schools and community settings
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Relationship building
- Safeguarding
- Session planning
- Boundary setting
- Community engagement
Transferable skills you may already have
- Coaching sports
- Volunteering with young people
- Handling challenging behaviour
Requirements employers ask for
- Relationship building
- Safeguarding
- Session planning
- Boundary setting
- Community engagement
- Enhanced DBS
- Enhanced DBS
Useful but not essential
- Coaching sports
- Volunteering with young people
- Handling challenging behaviour
- Level 3 Youth Work Practice
- JNC recognised degree for professional status
Helpful qualifications
- Level 3 Youth Work Practice
- JNC recognised degree for professional status
Licences and checks
- Enhanced DBS
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Youth Support Worker (Level 3)
- Youth Worker (Level 6)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Youth work
- Related subject: Sociology
- Related subject: Education
- Related subject: Sport
Where this career can lead
next
Youth Work Manager
next
Social Worker
next
Community Development Manager
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Highly rewarding relational work
- Volunteering counts as real experience
- Route into social work and teaching
What people find hard
- Funding is often short-term
- Evening and weekend hours
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a youth worker?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a youth worker earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £22,000 to £26,000 a year, rising towards £35,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Coaching sports, Volunteering with young people, Handling challenging behaviour.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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