How much do teachers earn in the UK?

UK teachers earn £30,000-£130,000+ depending on experience and role. A main scale teacher earns £30,000-£46,525, while headteachers earn £55,000-£130,000+.

Are teachers well paid in the UK?

Teacher pay is moderate. Starting salary of £30,000 is competitive but experienced teachers often earn less than equivalent private sector roles.

Teacher Salary UK 2026: Complete Pay Guide by Experience and Region

UK teachers earn £30,000-£130,000+ depending on experience, location, and leadership responsibilities.

Teacher Pay Scales 2024/25 (England & Wales)

Main Pay Range (M1-M6)

Point	Rest of England	Inner London	Outer London	London Fringe
M1	£30,000	£36,745	£34,514	£31,350
M2	£31,737	£38,164	£36,154	£32,906
M3	£33,595	£39,701	£37,933	£34,586
M4	£35,569	£41,354	£39,833	£36,379
M5	£37,665	£43,240	£41,910	£38,302
M6	£40,034	£45,370	£44,267	£40,509

Upper Pay Range (U1-U3)

Point	Rest of England	Inner London	Outer London	London Fringe
U1	£43,266	£52,526	£48,055	£44,687
U2	£44,870	£54,302	£49,765	£46,340
U3	£46,525	£56,357	£51,631	£48,155

Leadership Pay Ranges

Role	Salary Range
Head of Department	£47,000-£55,000
Assistant Headteacher	£52,000-£70,000
Deputy Headteacher	£55,000-£90,000
Headteacher (small school)	£55,000-£75,000
Headteacher (large school)	£75,000-£130,000+

Teacher Salary by Career Stage

Experience	Role	Typical Salary
NQT (Year 1)	Trainee/ECT	£30,000
Years 2-5	Main Scale Teacher	£33,000-£40,000
Years 5-10	Upper Pay Scale	£43,266-£46,525
Years 10+	TLR holder/HOD	£50,000-£58,000
Years 15+	SLT	£60,000-£85,000

Teacher Salary After Tax

Salary	Monthly Take Home
£30,000 (NQT)	£1,994
£36,000 (M5)	£2,352
£43,000 (U1)	£2,775
£50,000 (HOD)	£3,170
£65,000 (DHT)	£3,962

TLR Payments (Additional Responsibilities)

TLR	Annual Payment
TLR2a	£3,214
TLR2b	£5,009
TLR2c	£7,847
TLR1a	£9,272
TLR1b	£11,131
TLR1c	£15,690

SEN Allowance

Special Educational Needs teachers receive:

Minimum: £2,679/year
Maximum: £5,285/year

How to Increase Teacher Salary

Move up pay scales — Performance management targets
Upper Pay Scale — Apply after M6 (requires evidence)
TLR payments — Take on responsibilities
Move to London — Up to £10,000+ more
Leadership roles — HOD, SLT positions
Private schools — Variable (sometimes higher)
International schools — Tax-free in some countries
Supply teaching — £150-£250/day

Private School Teacher Salaries

Role	Salary Range
NQT	£28,000-£35,000
Experienced	£35,000-£55,000
Head of Department	£50,000-£70,000
Deputy Head	£70,000-£110,000
Headteacher	£100,000-£200,000+

Note: Private schools set own pay scales. Top schools pay more but hours often longer.

Teacher Pension

Teachers’ Pension Scheme:

Employer contributes 23.68%
Career average scheme
Retire from age 55+
One of best UK pensions
Death-in-service benefits

International Teaching Salaries

Location	Salary Range	Tax Status
UAE	£40,000-£70,000	Tax-free
Singapore	£35,000-£60,000	Low tax
Hong Kong	£40,000-£70,000	Low tax
International schools (UK)	£35,000-£60,000	Normal tax

Is Teaching Worth It?

Pros:

Job security
Excellent pension
School holidays
Meaningful work
Career progression available

Cons:

Workload (marking, planning)
Behaviour management challenges
Pay hasn’t kept pace with inflation
High accountability pressure
Retention crisis indicates issues

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy