How much do teachers get paid?

Early career teacher (ECT) salary

In England and Wales, as an ECT you'll start at the lowest point of the main pay scale for classroom teachers, which is £34,068 but this will vary depending on location (higher pay rates are instated in London and its fringes).

The Scottish equivalent of an ECT is a probationer, who, unlike an ECT, is initially employed on a probationary contract. The current probationer's salary is £36,159. In Northern Ireland, the minimum salary on the main pay scale is £31,017.

There are opportunities for regular pay rises as you develop your skills and performance in the classroom. Find out more about the life of a primary school teacher and what it's like to be a secondary school teacher.

Qualified teacher salary

The pay scales for qualified teachers are split into main and upper pay ranges. After entering at the ECT/probationary starting point, teachers can progress through the pay scales based on performance, experience and their school's pay policy. The ranges are:

• England (excluding London) - £34,069 to £52,835
• London - £35,602 to £54,328 (fringes), £39,196 to £58,120 (outer), £41,729 to £64,684 (inner)
• Wales - £34,912 to £52,760
• Scotland - £43,383 to £54,453
• Northern Ireland - £32,916 to £50,876.

Teachers who demonstrate command of the classroom and have proven expertise can apply to join the Lead Practitioner pay scale. Lead practitioners are paid considerably more than standard classroom teachers. Schools determine whether posts are available, and appointments are typically made through a recruitment or progression process. Take a look at Lead Practitioner Accreditation to find out more.

Unqualified teacher salary

An unqualified teacher is someone who has not yet obtained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Find out more about the different routes into teaching.

Unqualified teachers are paid on a six-point pay scale recommended by the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB). Placement on the scale is determined by the school or academy, with progression dependent on performance and responsibilities.

The six-point scale runs from £23,731 to £36,493 in England and from £23,820 to £37,669 in Wales. London rates vary. You can expect roughly a £1,000 (fringes) to £6,000 (inner) increase on these figures. Unqualified teacher pay arrangements vary across the UK, with separate scales and policies applying in different nations.

For more information, view the teachers' salaries table at Get Into Teaching.

Supply teacher salary

You'll generally earn between £25,000 and £35,000 per year, with daily rates averaging around £153, depending on factors such as location and type of school.

As work isn't guaranteed for the entire year, many supply teachers are paid a daily rate, calculated on a pro-rata basis by dividing the annual salary for their bracket by 195 (the number of days a teacher is required to be in school per year).

London-based supply teachers can expect higher salaries than this, with inner London positions offering up to £50,935 per year. Pay rates for Scottish supply teachers vary depending on length of service, while Northern Irish substitute teachers are paid on a similar points-based pay scale to England and Wales.

Headteacher salary

Headteachers are typically among the highest-paid professionals in schools.

• England (excluding London) - £60,619 to £148,829
• London - £62,102 to £158,863 (this depends on whether you're based in fringe, outer or inner London)
• Wales - £61,683 to £151,434
• Scotland - £67,332 to £124,365
• Northern Ireland - £58,491 to £143,422.

Independent schools set their own pay rates and are not required to follow national teacher pay scales.

Teachers' pay scales

These are national frameworks that determine how much education professionals are paid.

In addition to the main pay scale for qualified classroom teachers, there are separate pay scales for unqualified teachers, teaching assistants, headteachers and other school staff.

Most teachers begin at the lowest point on the relevant pay scale and progress through the range as they gain experience and demonstrate effective performance. In England and Wales, pay progression is typically linked to performance reviews and a school's pay policy. Teachers may also increase their earnings by taking on additional responsibilities or moving into leadership positions, such as assistant headteacher, deputy headteacher or headteacher.

Scotland operates a different system, with progression through the main classroom teacher pay scale based largely on length of service rather than performance-related reviews.

Independent schools are not required to follow national pay scales and can set their own rates of pay. While many private schools do not publish their salary structures, those affiliated with organisations such as the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) or the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC) often offer salaries broadly comparable to those in the state sector.

Pensions and benefits

Benefits include automatic entry onto the Teachers' Pension Scheme, which includes a generous employer contribution of 28.6%. Most teachers employed in eligible teaching roles in state-funded schools are automatically enrolled, though members may opt out if they wish.

Teachers also benefit from:

• Paid school holidays, with annual salary spread across 12 months rather than only during term time.
• Sick pay and maternity, paternity and adoption leave, subject to eligibility and length of service.
• Professional development opportunities, including funded training, qualifications and career progression routes.
• Flexible working options, which are becoming increasingly common across schools and trusts.
• Additional payments, such as Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) payments, Special Educational Needs (SEN) allowances and recruitment or retention payments for some roles.

While teachers are contracted to work 195 days each academic year, lesson planning, marking, training and other responsibilities often take place outside normal teaching hours.

Teaching assistant salary

As there is no national pay scale for teaching assistants (TAs), the exact amount a TA earns is at the discretion of the Local Education Authority (LEA). This means two TAs in the same area could be paid different salaries depending on the demands of their specific roles.

Starting salaries are in the mid-£20,000s. Many TAs are employed on part-time, term-time-only or casual contracts, so actual take-home pay can be much lower. According to UNISON, the public service union, in reality, the average take-home pay for TAs is between £13,000 and £15,000.

Find out what it takes to become a teaching assistant.

Early years teacher (EYT) salary

You can expect to earn a starting salary of £22,000, rising to £40,000 with improved skills and knowledge. Top-level salaries will include some management duties.

Early years teaching is known for its low pay when compared with other roles, but it is recognised throughout the sector that while early years workers deserve higher salaries, this can't happen without more funding.

Further education teacher salary

While the University and College Union (UCU) provides recommended pay scales in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (in Scotland this is the Educational Institute of Scotland), further education institutions are free to set their own scales - and many do.

Figures are typically determined by factors such as:

• geographical location
• prior teaching experience
• subject demand.

Generally, salaries for unqualified further education teachers range from £22,387 to £26,281, rising to between £27,786 and £41,905 once qualified. You'll then work your way up pay scales as you gain experience, with typical salaries at advanced levels falling between £41,905 and £47,156.

Learn more about becoming a further education teacher.