Salary by Profession in the UK: Compare Jobs, Regions and Pay LevelsHow Much Do Teachers Earn in the UK? — 2026 Salary Guide
Complete guide to teacher salaries in the UK for 2026. Main Pay Scale, Upper Pay Scale, leadership pay, London weighting, TLR payments, and how to increase your teaching salary.
Teaching is one of the UK’s largest professions, with over 500,000 teachers in state schools. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of what teachers earn across different roles, scales, and regions.
For a broader comparison with other public-sector and private-sector careers, use our Salary by Profession hub.
Main Pay Scale (MPS) — England & Wales 2025/26
The Main Pay Scale applies to most classroom teachers, including early career teachers (ECTs).
MPS by Region
| Point | Rest of England | Fringe | Outer London | Inner London |
|---|
| M1 | £30,000 | £31,350 | £34,514 | £36,413 |
| M2 | £31,737 | £33,075 | £36,147 | £38,100 |
| M3 | £33,614 | £34,959 | £37,939 | £39,950 |
| M4 | £35,561 | £36,918 | £39,826 | £41,895 |
| M5 | £37,733 | £39,103 | £42,003 | £44,111 |
| M6 | £41,333 | £42,689 | £45,483 | £47,666 |
How MPS Progression Works
| Factor | Details |
|---|
| Annual progression | Not automatic — based on performance appraisal |
| ECT (formerly NQT) | Start at M1, 2-year induction period |
| Time to M6 | Typically 5-6 years with good performance |
| Threshold to UPS | Apply after M6 with evidence of sustained performance |
Upper Pay Scale (UPS) — England & Wales 2025/26
Teachers who can demonstrate sustained high performance and wider contribution can apply to move to the Upper Pay Scale.
| Point | Rest of England | Fringe | Outer London | Inner London |
|---|
| U1 | £43,266 | £44,579 | £47,592 | £49,320 |
| U2 | £44,870 | £46,179 | £49,218 | £50,210 |
| U3 | £46,525 | £47,839 | £50,210 | £51,179 |
UPS Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|
| Performance | Two consecutive successful appraisals at M6 |
| Evidence | Demonstrate substantial and sustained contribution |
| Application | Must apply formally — not automatic |
| Decision | Headteacher makes final decision |
Leadership Pay — England & Wales 2025/26
Leadership Pay Ranges
| Role | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|
| Leading Practitioner | £47,417 | £72,085 |
| Assistant Headteacher | £52,301-varies | Set by school group |
| Deputy Headteacher | £55,338-varies | Set by school group |
| Headteacher (Group 1, smallest) | £53,380 | £68,400 |
| Headteacher (Group 4) | £63,815 | £92,624 |
| Headteacher (Group 8, largest) | £91,633 | £140,051+ |
School Group Sizes
| Group | Pupil Units |
|---|
| Group 1 | Up to 1,000 |
| Group 2 | 1,001-2,200 |
| Group 3 | 2,201-3,500 |
| Group 4 | 3,501-5,000 |
| Group 5 | 5,001-7,500 |
| Group 6 | 7,501-11,000 |
| Group 7 | 11,001-17,000 |
| Group 8 | 17,001+ |
TLR Payments (Teaching and Learning Responsibilities)
Additional payments for teachers taking on extra responsibilities.
| TLR | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|
| TLR1 | £9,272 | £15,690 |
| TLR2 | £3,214 | £7,847 |
| TLR3 (fixed-term) | £639 | £3,169 |
Typical TLR Roles
| Role | Typical TLR |
|---|
| Head of Department | TLR1 or TLR2 (higher end) |
| Head of Year | TLR2 |
| Subject Lead | TLR2 |
| Key Stage Coordinator | TLR2 |
| Special project lead | TLR3 |
SEN Allowance
Teachers working with pupils with special educational needs receive an additional allowance.
| SEN Allowance | Amount |
|---|
| Minimum | £2,539 |
| Maximum | £5,009 |
Scotland Teacher Salaries
Scotland has a separate pay structure negotiated through the SNCT.
| Point | Salary |
|---|
| Probationer | £32,217 |
| Point 1 | £38,547 |
| Point 2 | £40,026 |
| Point 3 | £41,604 |
| Point 4 | £43,266 |
| Point 5 | £44,994 |
| Point 6 (top of main scale) | £46,404 |
| Principal Teacher (min) | £49,539 |
| Principal Teacher (max) | £54,597 |
| Depute Headteacher (min) | £54,879 |
| Headteacher (min) | £58,044 |
| Headteacher (max) | £98,808+ |
Independent (Private) School Salaries
Private schools set their own pay scales but often benchmark against state school rates.
| Role | Typical Range |
|---|
| Newly qualified teacher | £28,000-£38,000 |
| Experienced teacher | £35,000-£55,000 |
| Head of Department | £45,000-£65,000 |
| Senior leader | £60,000-£90,000 |
| Headteacher (day school) | £80,000-£150,000 |
| Headteacher (boarding, major) | £120,000-£250,000+ |
Top public schools (Eton, Harrow etc.) pay significantly above state scales
Additional Independent School Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|
| Fee remission | Typically 50-100% off school fees for staff children |
| Accommodation | Free or subsidised at boarding schools |
| Holiday | Longer holidays than state schools |
| Class sizes | Smaller (typically 15-20 vs 30+) |
| Pension | Usually TPS or private scheme |
Further Education and University Lecturers
| Role | Salary Range |
|---|
| FE Lecturer (new) | £25,000-£30,000 |
| FE Lecturer (experienced) | £30,000-£40,000 |
| FE Senior Lecturer | £38,000-£45,000 |
| University Lecturer | £42,000-£55,000 |
| Senior Lecturer (university) | £55,000-£65,000 |
| Reader/Associate Professor | £60,000-£75,000 |
| Professor | £75,000-£120,000+ |
Additional Earning Opportunities
| Opportunity | Typical Earnings |
|---|
| Exam marking/examining | £1,000-£5,000+ per year |
| Private tutoring | £25-£60/hour |
| Online tutoring | £20-£45/hour |
| Textbook writing | £2,000-£20,000+ per book |
| Supply teaching (daily) | £130-£200/day (£200-£350 in London) |
| Holiday revision courses | £200-£500/day |
| Teacher training mentor | £1,000-£2,000/year |
Teachers’ Pension Scheme
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| Type | Defined benefit (guaranteed pension) |
| Employer contribution | 28.68% of salary |
| Employee contribution | 7.4%-11.7% (based on salary) |
| Accrual rate | 1/57th of salary per year |
| Retirement age | State Pension Age (or 65 in older scheme) |
| Inflation linked | CPI each year |
Example Pension
| Scenario | Annual Pension |
|---|
| 30 years at average £38,000 | ~£20,000/year |
| 35 years at average £42,000 | ~£25,800/year |
| 25 years at average £55,000 (leadership) | ~£24,100/year |
Career Progression Timeline
| Stage | Typical Timeline | Role | Salary (outside London) |
|---|
| ECT Year 1-2 | Years 1-2 | M1-M2 | £30,000-£31,737 |
| Developing teacher | Years 3-5 | M3-M5 | £33,614-£37,733 |
| Experienced teacher | Years 5-6 | M6 | £41,333 |
| Post-threshold | Years 7+ | UPS1-3 | £43,266-£46,525 |
| Middle leader | Years 8+ | UPS + TLR | £46,000-£62,000 |
| Senior leader | Years 12+ | Leadership | £55,000-£90,000 |
| Headteacher | Years 15+ | Leadership | £53,000-£140,000+ |
Other Teacher Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|
| Holidays | 13 weeks school holidays (directed time ~195 days) |
| Sick pay | Full pay for up to 100 working days, half pay for 100 more |
| Maternity | Statutory + 4 weeks full pay + 2 weeks 90% (varies by authority) |
| Teacher discounts | Various retailers and services |
| CPD | Professional development funded by school |
| Job security | Strong demand means good employment stability |
Summary
| Level | Typical Salary (England, outside London) |
|---|
| Newly qualified (M1) | £30,000 |
| Top of Main Pay Scale (M6) | £41,333 |
| Upper Pay Scale (UPS3) | £46,525 |
| With TLR responsibility | +£3,214-£15,690 |
| Assistant/Deputy Head | £52,000-£80,000 |
| Headteacher | £53,000-£140,000+ |
| Inner London premium | +£5,000-£7,000 |