Teacher Pay Scales 2026 (UK 2025/26)
This guide sets out the Teacher Pay Scales 2026 — the official UK 2025/26 salary figures for England and Wales — following confirmation of the 4% pay award effective from 1 September 2025. It lists every salary on the Main Pay Scale (MPS), Upper Pay Scale (UPS), and Leadership Pay Range across all four geographical bands. Whether you are an early career teacher (ECT) on M1, a head of department receiving TLR payments, or a headteacher on the leadership spine, this guide clarifies your gross salary, allowances, regional weightings and approximate take-home pay. All figures are taken from the statutory School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) 2025 and the union advisory pay points used by the vast majority of schools.
Table of Contents
- The 2025/26 Pay Award Explained
- 2024/25 vs 2025/26: What Changed
- Main Pay Scale (MPS) Table
- Upper Pay Scale (UPS) Table
- Leadership Pay Spine
- TLR and SEN Allowances
- Pay Progression Calculator
- Worked Take-Home Pay Example
- Career Progression Guide
- Regional Differences (London & Wales)
- Frequently Asked Questions
Teacher Pay Scales 2026: The 2025/26 Pay Award (4% Increase)
In 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) accepted in full the recommendations of the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB). This resulted in a 4% consolidated pay increase across all pay ranges and allowances for teachers and school leaders in England. The award is effective from 1st September 2025 and runs through to the end of August 2026, with the updated salaries reflected in the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) 2025.
According to the DfE, the 4% award adds over £1,900 to the pay packet of the average classroom teacher, taking the median teacher salary for 2025/26 to above £51,000 a year. The award is backed by £615 million of additional funding for the 2025/26 financial year; schools are expected to find roughly the first 1% through improved productivity and smarter spending, with the remainder covered by existing and new funding. This section provides a granular breakdown of what that 4% looks like in practice across the four geographical pay areas. Because tax and pension are deducted at the margin, the rise in your net pay is smaller than the headline 4% — you can model the exact figure for your scale point with our take-home salary calculator.
It is important to note that while the pay scales are a national framework, academies and free schools technically have the freedom to set their own pay and conditions. However, the vast majority of trusts mirror the national STPCD recommendations to remain competitive in recruitment, and the government is legislating through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill so that all teachers — including those in academies — can rely on a core pay offer.
2024/25 vs 2025/26: What Changed With the 4% Award
The table below compares the previous (2024/25) advisory pay points with the new 2025/26 figures for the Rest of England band, so you can see exactly how the 4% award affects each scale point in cash terms. The "Increase" column is the annual gross uplift before tax, National Insurance and pension are deducted.
| Scale Point | 2024/25 | 2025/26 (+4%) | Annual Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | £31,650 | £32,916 | +£1,266 |
| M3 | £35,674 | £37,101 | +£1,427 |
| M6 | £43,607 | £45,352 | +£1,745 |
| U1 | £45,646 | £47,472 | +£1,826 |
| U3 | £49,084 | £51,048 | +£1,964 |
| Leadership L1 | £49,781 | £51,773 | +£1,992 |
A common point of confusion is that the 2024/25 M1 figure (£31,650) is sometimes still quoted as the "current" starting salary. For the 2025/26 academic year the correct Rest of England starting salary is £32,916. The DfE estimates the 4% award is worth over £1,900 to the average classroom teacher and lifts the median teacher salary above £51,000.
Main Pay Scale (MPS) 2025/26
The Main Pay Scale is the standard progression route for classroom teachers. Progression usually occurs annually based on performance appraisal, though it is often treated as automatic in many maintained schools unless serious capability issues arise. The "Rest of England" figures apply to the vast majority of schools outside the M25.
| Scale Point | Rest of England | Fringe Area | 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 |
Note regarding M1: The government previously met its pledge to raise starting salaries to £30,000, and the 2025/26 figure of £32,916 (Rest of England) builds on that baseline with the 4% award. M6 (£45,352) represents the 'threshold' point; to progress further, a teacher must apply to cross onto the Upper Pay Scale. The columns above show the four statutory pay bands: Rest of England, the London Fringe, Outer London and Inner London.
Upper Pay Scale (UPS) 2025/26
The Upper Pay Scale rewards teachers who make a sustained and substantial contribution to their school. It is not automatic. Teachers typically spend two years at each UPS point, although excellent performance can lead to faster progression in some policies.
| Scale Point | Rest of England | Fringe Area | 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 |
Leadership Pay Range 2025/26
The Leadership Pay Range covers Headteachers, Deputy Headteachers, and Assistant Headteachers. Unlike the MPS/UPS, leadership pay is defined by a minimum and maximum range rather than fixed statutory points, but most schools continue to use the traditional 43-point advisory spine for clarity. The figures below reflect the 4% award applied from September 2025.
| Leadership Point | Rest of England | London Fringe | Outer London | Inner London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L1 (Minimum) | £51,773 | £53,198 | £55,881 | £61,554 |
| L5 | £57,137 | £58,573 | £61,249 | £66,935 |
| L10 | £64,691 | £66,120 | £68,799 | £74,479 |
| L15 | £73,105 | £74,532 | £77,209 | £82,888 |
| L20 | £82,654 | £84,092 | £86,764 | £92,447 |
| L30 | £105,595 | £107,018 | £109,699 | £115,382 |
| L43 (Maximum) | £143,796 | £145,218 | £147,866 | £153,490 |
The full leadership spine runs across 43 advisory points; the rows above are representative milestones. The complete point-by-point table is published by the teaching unions and mirrors the STPCD 2025 ranges.
Assistant & Deputy Headteacher Ranges
Individual leadership ranges are determined by the school's "Group Size" (based on pupil numbers).
- Assistant Head Min (Rest of England): £51,773 (L1).
- Assistant Head Typical Cap: roughly £65,000–£73,000 depending on school size.
- Deputy Head: generally starts around L10–L15 (£64,691–£73,105 in the Rest of England) depending on the school.
- Headteacher: in the largest schools the leadership maximum reaches £143,796 (Rest of England) and £153,490 (Inner London).
Allowances: TLR and SEN
In addition to basic salary, many teachers earn additional payments for extra responsibilities or for working in Special Educational Needs settings.
Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) Payments
TLR payments are awarded for undertaking sustained additional responsibilities for the purpose of ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality teaching and learning.
- TLR1 Range: £10,174 to £17,216 (typically requires line-management responsibility).
- TLR2 Range: £3,527 to £8,611 (does not require line management).
- TLR3 (Fixed Term): £702 to £3,478 (for time-limited school improvement projects).
Special Educational Needs (SEN) Allowances
Awarded to classroom teachers who work in qualifying posts with pupils who have special educational needs.
- SEN Range: £2,787 to £5,497 per annum (2025/26).
TLR and SEN allowances are added to basic salary and taxed in the normal way, so they can push part of your income into the higher 8%-to-2% National Insurance band or the 40% tax band. To see how an allowance changes your deductions, try our National Insurance calculator alongside the take-home estimate above.
Teacher Pay Calculator 2026
Estimate Your New Salary
Worked Take-Home Pay Example (2025/26)
Gross pay scales only tell half the story — what lands in your bank account is your net pay after income tax, National Insurance and Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) contributions. The worked examples below use the 2025/26 tax thresholds (personal allowance £12,570, basic rate 20% to £50,270, higher rate 40% above that, employee NI 8% between £12,570 and £50,270 then 2%) and the relevant TPS member contribution tier. Pension is taken before tax, so it also reduces your taxable income.
| Scenario | Gross Salary | Income Tax | National Insurance | TPS Pension | Approx. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 ECT (Rest of England) | £32,916 | ~£4,069 | ~£1,628 | ~£2,436 (7.4%) | ~£24,783 / yr (~£2,065/mo) |
| M6 experienced teacher | £45,352 | ~£6,556 | ~£2,623 | ~£4,082 (9.0%) | ~£32,091 / yr (~£2,674/mo) |
| U3 + TLR2 (mid) | £57,117 | ~£11,253 | ~£2,997 | ~£6,055 (10.6%) | ~£36,812 / yr (~£3,068/mo) |
These figures are estimates for a teacher with the standard tax code (1257L), no student loan and the default TPS contribution tier for that salary band. Because income tax and pension are progressive, a 4% gross rise does not translate into a 4% rise in take-home pay — part of any rise is absorbed by higher tax and pension deductions. For a precise personal figure including student loan repayments and salary sacrifice, use our take-home salary calculator or the income tax calculator.
Note: Teachers' Pension Scheme contribution rates are tiered by salary. The 2025/26 tiers run from 7.4% (up to about £34,289) through 8.6%, 9.6%, 10.2%, 11.3% to 11.7% on the highest leadership salaries. Always check your payslip for the exact tier applied.
Career Progression Guide
Moving through the Main Scale (M1-M6)
Under the current School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD 2025), the picture on progression has shifted. Since September 2024 maintained schools are no longer required to link pay rises to performance-related pay, and the joint union advice for 2025/26 is that movement up the Main Pay Scale should be automatic and annual until a teacher reaches the top of the range — the employer may only withhold a step where a teacher is in formal capability procedures.
Teachers still participate in an annual appraisal against the Teachers' Standards, but for most classroom teachers meeting their objectives, moving up one point each year is now the norm rather than a discretionary award. Some academies, which set their own pay policies, may additionally offer "accelerated progression" (jumping a point) for exceptional performance.
Passing the Threshold (M6 to UPS1)
Reaching the top of the Main Scale (M6) is a significant milestone. To access the higher salaries of the Upper Pay Scale (UPS), a teacher must meet the "Threshold" criteria — demonstrating that:
- They are highly competent in all elements of the relevant Teachers' Standards.
- Their achievements and contribution to the educational setting are substantial and sustained.
Regional Differences
London Areas Defined
The "London Area" payments are defined by specific boroughs.
- Inner London: Includes Camden, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, and Westminster (plus some adjacent areas).
- Outer London: The remaining London boroughs (e.g., Barnet, Croydon, Ealing).
- Fringe Area: Specific districts in Surrey, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Berkshire that border London.
Wales
Since the devolution of teachers' pay, Wales sets its own pay scales through the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body (IWPRB), but the figures generally track the English scales closely to maintain parity and prevent cross-border recruitment issues. For 2025/26 the Welsh award is broadly aligned with the 4% uplift applied in England; teachers in Wales should check the IWPRB report and their local authority pay policy for the exact Welsh figures.
Scotland (SNCT)
Scotland operates under a completely different framework managed by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT). The pay scales, grading structures (Probationer, Main Grade, Chartered), and conditions are not comparable to the English MPS/UPS system described here. Scottish teachers generally received different pay awards on different timelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding Teacher Pay Scales
UK salary calculations involve multiple deductions from your gross pay before you receive your net take-home amount. This tool applies the current 2025/26 tax year rates to give you an accurate picture of your actual earnings after income tax, National Insurance, and pension contributions.
Knowing your precise take-home pay is essential for budgeting, comparing job offers, and understanding how pay rises affect your monthly income. Due to progressive tax rates, a £5,000 pay rise does not translate to £5,000 more in your pocket.
Key Information for 2025/26
The UK personal allowance is £12,570, meaning no income tax on the first £12,570 of earnings. The basic rate of 20% applies from £12,571 to £50,270. The higher rate of 40% applies from £50,271 to £125,140. Employee National Insurance is 8% between £12,570 and £50,270, then 2% above.
Example Calculation
On a £35,000 salary, you pay £4,486 income tax and £1,794 National Insurance, giving take-home pay of £28,720 per year or £2,393 per month. Adding a 5% pension contribution via salary sacrifice reduces take-home by £1,260 but puts £1,750 into your pension.
Source: Based on official HMRC 2025/26 tax rates and thresholds. Last Updated June 2026.
What is the starting salary for a teacher in 2026?
For the 2025/26 academic year (effective September 2025), the starting salary for a newly qualified teacher on M1 in the Rest of England is £32,916. In Inner London this rises to £40,317, in Outer London £37,870 and in the London Fringe £34,398, reflecting the higher cost of living around the capital.
How much has teacher pay increased for 2025/26?
The government accepted in full the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) recommendation of a 4% pay award across all pay ranges and allowances, effective from 1 September 2025. The DfE says this adds over £1,900 to the average classroom teacher's pay and takes the median teacher salary above £51,000.
What is the Upper Pay Scale (UPS) limit for 2025/26?
The maximum Upper Pay Scale point (U3) for 2025/26 is £51,048 in the Rest of England. It is higher in the weighted bands: £52,490 in the Fringe, £56,154 in Outer London and £62,496 in Inner London.
How much is a teacher's take-home pay on M1?
On the Rest of England M1 salary of £32,916, after 20% income tax above the £12,570 personal allowance, 8% National Insurance and the 7.4% Teachers' Pension Scheme contribution, take-home pay is roughly £24,800 a year, about £2,070 a month. London weighting and your pension tier will change this — see the worked example above.
Do teachers get paid for holidays?
Yes, qualified teachers are salaried employees. Their annual salary is paid in 12 equal monthly instalments that cover all school holidays, including the summer break. This differs from pro-rata term-time-only contracts often used for support staff.
What are TLR payments for 2025/26?
Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) payments are additional allowances for significant responsibilities. For 2025/26, TLR1 ranges from £10,174 to £17,216, TLR2 from £3,527 to £8,611, and the time-limited TLR3 from £702 to £3,478. They are paid on top of basic salary.
How much is the SEN allowance in 2025/26?
The Special Educational Needs (SEN) allowance for 2025/26 is between £2,787 and £5,497 per year, paid to classroom teachers in qualifying SEN posts in addition to their basic pay.
How does London Weighting affect teacher pay?
Teachers in and around London are paid on one of three higher area bands: London Fringe, Outer London and Inner London. Inner London offers the highest rates — M1 is £40,317 versus £32,916 in the Rest of England, a premium of about £7,400.
How do I move from M6 to UPS1?
Movement to the Upper Pay Scale depends on meeting the threshold criteria — being highly competent against the Teachers' Standards with a substantial and sustained contribution. Since the removal of mandatory performance-related pay from September 2024, the NEU and NASUWT advise that progression onto the Upper Pay Range should be automatic and annual, with employers only able to withhold it during formal capability procedures. Where a school still operates a formal threshold application, it is usually submitted to the headteacher in the autumn term.
Do academies have to follow the STPCD pay scales?
Statutory pay arrangements apply to maintained schools, but most academies and free schools choose to mirror the STPCD ranges to stay competitive in recruitment. The government is legislating through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill so that all teachers, including those in academies, can rely on a core pay offer.
When did the 2026 teacher pay scales come into effect?
The pay scales commonly called the "Teacher Pay Scales 2026" are the figures for the 2025/26 academic year. They took effect from 1 September 2025 and apply through to 31 August 2026, with the 4% award backdated to the start of that academic year and reflected in the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) 2025. The next award (2026/27) will be set following the STRB's report for that year.
What is the unqualified teacher pay scale for 2025/26?
Teachers without qualified teacher status (QTS) — such as instructors or trainees on employment-based routes — are paid on a separate Unqualified Teacher Pay Range. For 2025/26 in the Rest of England this runs from £22,601 to £35,259, with higher minima in the Fringe and London bands (up to £40,994 in Inner London), reflecting the same 4% uplift. Once a teacher gains QTS they move onto the Main Pay Scale.