Beyond parents and caregivers, Teachers arguably have the greatest influence on a child's life. Helping shape young minds and mentoring children to reach their potential is a huge privilege, making teaching an exciting, challenging, and hugely rewarding career. But how much does a Teacher earn exactly?
In our latest insights piece, we delve into the salaries of various job roles within the education sector.
Teacher pay scales
Teacher pay scales in England and Wales are set according to the School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD), which applies to all Local Authority schools. Classroom Teacher salaries fall into the main or upper pay ranges, depending on performance (or years in service in Scotland). Pay scales are higher in London and different again in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Private schools don't follow the national pay scales.
Let's take a closer look at the pay scales for the various stages of the teaching pathway:
Teacher pay London
The main pay scales for qualified classroom Teachers in London are as follows:
Unqualified Teacher salaries
As the name suggests, an unqualified Teacher hasn't yet achieved Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Most state schools require Teachers to have QTS, though many will allow Teachers to train on the job towards gaining QTS as part of a programme, such as Teach First or School Direct. However, Teachers without QTS are free to teach in many independent schools, academies, and free schools in England.
Unqualified Teacher salary ranges in England and Wales are as follows:
- England (excluding London) – £19,340 to £30,172
- London Fringe – £20,594 to £31,421
- Outer London – £22,924 to £33,759
- Inner London – £24,254 to £35,081
Qualified Teacher salaries
Schools tend to have their own pay scales, which enable Teachers to move up their pay scale according to performance rather than length of service (except in Scotland). However, those pay scales are still based on the national pay scales, which are split into the main and upper pay ranges.
For example, a newly qualified Teacher (NQT) will start at the bottom of the main range and can work their way to the top of the upper range if they can demonstrate excellence against all Teacher standards.
Main pay ranges
The main pay scales for qualified classroom Teachers in England and Wales are as follows:
Headteacher salaries
The most senior person in the school is the Headteacher; with a wide-ranging role that includes maintaining the standards of education children receive and motivating Teachers to reach these goals, Headteacher salaries reflect their status and many responsibilities.
As such, Headteachers command the highest salaries of all teaching roles, with state school pay usually based on the age and number of children enrolled.
Here are the current Headteacher pay scales in England and Wales:
Extra payments and benefits
As well as extensive holidays and entry into the generous Teacher's Pension Scheme, many Teachers can supplement their salaries through extra payments for taking on additional responsibilities. These so-called “teaching and learning responsibility” (TLR) payments come in two main pay ranges:
TLR payments are commensurate to "progressing the education of people beyond your assigned pupils" or "leading, developing and enhancing the teaching practice of others." A special education needs (SEN) allowance is also available for qualified Teachers of SEN pupils. SEN allowance payments range between £2,384 and £4,703 per annum.
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