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 2026/27. Main Pay Range, Upper Pay Range, 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, based on the statutory School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) 2025 — in force from 1 September 2025 and still the current pay scale as of September 2026. A proposed 3.5% pay award for 2026/27 was out for consultation until 23 September 2026, with the final document expected around October 2026; figures below will need revisiting once it is confirmed.
For a broader comparison with other public-sector and private-sector careers, use our Salary by Profession hub.
Main Pay Range (MPR) — England 2025/26 (current, STPCD 2025)
The Main Pay Range applies to most classroom teachers, including early career teachers (ECTs).
MPR by Region
| Spine Point | Rest of England | Fringe | Outer London | Inner London |
|---|
| M1 (minimum) | £32,916 | £34,398 | £37,870 | £40,317 |
| M2 | £34,823 | £36,373 | £39,851 | £42,234 |
| M3 | £37,101 | £38,627 | £41,935 | £44,238 |
| M4 | £39,556 | £41,075 | £44,128 | £46,339 |
| M5 | £42,057 | £43,545 | £46,800 | £48,952 |
| M6 (maximum) | £45,352 | £46,839 | £50,474 | £52,300 |
How MPR 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 UPR | Apply after M6 with evidence of sustained performance |
Upper Pay Range (UPR) — England 2025/26 (current, STPCD 2025)
Teachers who can demonstrate sustained high performance and wider contribution can apply to move to the Upper Pay Range.
| Spine Point | Rest of England | Fringe | Outer London | Inner London |
|---|
| U1 (minimum) | £47,472 | £48,913 | £52,219 | £57,632 |
| U2 | £49,232 | £50,668 | £54,151 | £60,464 |
| U3 (maximum) | £51,048 | £52,490 | £56,154 | £62,496 |
UPR Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|
| Performance | Sustained high performance against the relevant Teachers’ Standards |
| Evidence | Demonstrate substantial and sustained contribution |
| Application | Must apply formally — not automatic |
| Decision | Headteacher / relevant body makes final decision |
Leadership Pay — England 2025/26 (current, STPCD 2025)
Leadership Group Pay Range
| Rest of England | Fringe | Outer London | Inner London |
|---|
| Minimum | £51,773 | £53,198 | £55,881 | £61,554 |
| Maximum | £143,796 | £145,218 | £147,866 | £153,490 |
Headteachers, deputy headteachers and assistant headteachers are all paid within this overall leadership range. The exact minimum and maximum for a given post depends on the school’s assigned “headteacher group” (based on pupil numbers and other unit-total factors):
| Headteacher Group | Rest of England |
|---|
| Group 1 (smallest) | £58,569 – £77,924 |
| Group 4 | £71,330 – £97,136 |
| Group 8 (largest) | £100,540 – £143,796 |
Leading Practitioner Pay Range
| Rest of England | Fringe | Outer London | Inner London |
|---|
| Minimum | £52,026 | £53,460 | £56,154 | £61,858 |
| Maximum | £79,092 | £80,528 | £83,223 | £88,930 |
TLR Payments (Teaching and Learning Responsibilities)
Additional payments for teachers taking on extra responsibilities, per STPCD 2025:
| TLR | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|
| TLR1 | £10,174 | £17,216 |
| TLR2 | £3,527 | £8,611 |
| TLR3 (fixed-term) | £702 | £3,478 |
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 under STPCD 2025:
| SEN Allowance | Amount |
|---|
| Minimum | £2,787 |
| Maximum | £5,497 |
Scotland Teacher Salaries
Scotland has a separate pay structure negotiated through the SNCT, which changes on its own schedule and was not independently re-verified in this review — confirm current SNCT rates directly with the SNCT or a Scottish local authority before relying on exact figures.
Independent (Private) School Salaries
Private schools set their own pay scales but often benchmark against state school rates. The ranges below are broad market indicators, not a statutory scale, and vary significantly by school:
| 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+ |
These FE/HE figures are broad market ranges, not a statutory scale — see our Lecturer Salary UK guide for more detail.
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 currently — confirmed to fall to 17.68% from 1 April 2027 after the latest scheme valuation |
| Employee contribution | 7.4%-11.7% (based on salary) |
| Accrual rate | 1/57th of salary per year |
| Retirement age | State Pension Age |
| Inflation linked | CPI each year |
Career Progression Timeline
| Stage | Typical Timeline | Role | Salary (outside London, STPCD 2025) |
|---|
| ECT Year 1-2 | Years 1-2 | M1-M2 | £32,916-£34,823 |
| Developing teacher | Years 3-5 | M3-M5 | £37,101-£42,057 |
| Experienced teacher | Years 5-6 | M6 | £45,352 |
| Post-threshold | Years 7+ | UPR1-3 | £47,472-£51,048 |
| Middle leader | Years 8+ | UPR + TLR | £51,000-£68,000 |
| Senior leader | Years 12+ | Leadership | £55,000-£90,000 |
| Headteacher | Years 15+ | Leadership | £58,000-£144,000+ |
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, STPCD 2025) |
|---|
| Newly qualified (M1) | £32,916 |
| Top of Main Pay Range (M6) | £45,352 |
| Upper Pay Range (U3) | £51,048 |
| With TLR responsibility | +£702-£17,216 |
| Assistant/Deputy Head | £51,773-£143,796 (within leadership range) |
| Headteacher | £58,569-£143,796+ |
| Inner London premium | +£7,401-£11,448 depending on point |