Teacher Pay Calculator UK 2026/27
Calculate your exact teacher take-home pay after tax, National Insurance, and TPS pension. Main, upper and leadership pay scales, TLR payments, SEN allowance, London weighting, and part-time pro-rata. Free, instant, no sign-up.
| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | ||
| Gross pay | ||
| TPS Pension | ||
| Income Tax | ||
| National Insurance | ||
| Take-home pay |
Understanding the teacher pay scales 2024/25
Teacher pay in England and Wales is set by the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) and published annually. Teachers are placed on one of three pay scales depending on their career stage: the Main Pay Scale (MPS) for the first six years, the Upper Pay Scale (UPS) for experienced teachers who apply, and the Leadership Pay Scale for head teachers, deputy heads, and assistant heads.
| Point | Scale | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| M1 | Main | £31,650 |
| M2 | Main | £33,483 |
| M3 | Main | £35,308 |
| M4 | Main | £37,140 |
| M5 | Main | £38,980 |
| M6 | Main | £41,333 |
| U1 | Upper | £43,685 |
| U2 | Upper | £45,037 |
| U3 | Upper | £46,525 |
NQTs (ECTs) start on M1 and typically progress one point per year, reaching M6 after six years. To move to the Upper Pay Scale, you must submit an application demonstrating that you are “highly competent in all elements of the Teachers’ Standards” and that your achievements have been “substantial and sustained.” The Leadership scale (L1–L43) covers head teachers, deputies, and assistant heads, ranging from £47,185 to £131,056.
Related: Teacher budgeting guide | How to budget on £35,000
Is the Teachers’ Pension Scheme worth it?
The Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) is one of the most valuable pension schemes in the UK and is almost always worth keeping. It is a defined benefit (DB) scheme, meaning your pension is based on your career average earnings revalued each year by CPI+1.6%, not on investment performance.
TPS contribution rates for 2024/25
Your contribution rate depends on your pensionable earnings. Your employer contributes an additional 28.6% of your pensionable pay — the highest employer contribution of any major UK public-sector pension scheme.
| Pensionable pay | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £32,135 | 7.4% |
| £32,136 – £43,259 | 8.6% |
| £43,260 – £51,292 | 9.6% |
| £51,293 – £67,626 | 10.2% |
| £67,627 – £92,304 | 11.3% |
| Above £92,304 | 11.7% |
TPS contributions are deducted before income tax (“net pay arrangement”), giving you automatic tax relief. National Insurance is calculated on your gross pay before pension deductions. For a teacher on M1 (£31,650), opting out of TPS increases take-home pay by roughly £195 per month — but forfeits £9,052 per year in employer contributions. The TPS is almost always the better deal.
Related: Salary sacrifice calculator | Teacher budgeting guide
TLR payments explained
Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) payments are additional pensionable payments for teachers who take on sustained extra responsibilities beyond their normal teaching duties. They are set by your school’s governing body within nationally defined ranges.
TLR payment ranges
TLR1 (£9,272–£16,461/year) — for significant whole-school responsibility, including line management of a team. Examples include head of department for a large faculty, head of key stage, or SENCO in a large school.
TLR2 (£3,214–£8,009/year) — for focused teaching and learning responsibilities. Examples include subject leader, literacy/numeracy coordinator, or pastoral lead for a year group.
TLR3 (£612–£3,024/year) — for time-limited projects or clearly defined responsibilities. These are paid for a fixed period (typically one to three years) and do not create a permanent entitlement.
All TLR payments are pensionable, meaning they increase both your pension contributions and your eventual pension benefits. A teacher on M6 with a TLR2 of £5,000 has a pensionable pay of £46,333, which pushes them into the 9.6% TPS contribution tier.
Related: How to budget on £45,000 | Budgeting on £50,000
Supply teacher vs permanent: pay comparison
Supply teaching and permanent teaching have fundamentally different pay structures. Understanding the trade-offs helps you make informed career decisions.
A permanent M3 teacher (£35,308) with TPS gets an effective package worth £45,406 including the employer pension contribution. A supply teacher would need to earn £209/day for 217 working days to match this — before accounting for holiday pay, sick pay, and pension.
2026/27 UK tax rates used in this calculator
This calculator uses the following HMRC rates and thresholds for the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027).
| Band | Rate | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | 0% | Up to £12,570 |
| Basic rate | 20% | £12,571 – £50,270 |
| Higher rate | 40% | £50,271 – £125,140 |
| Additional rate | 45% | Over £125,140 |
| NI / Student Loan | Rate | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| NI — primary | 8% | £12,570 – £50,270 |
| NI — upper | 2% | Above £50,270 |
| Student loan Plan 1 | 9% | Above £24,990 |
| Student loan Plan 2 | 9% | Above £27,295 |
| Student loan Plan 5 | 9% | Above £25,000 |
Personal allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income above £100,000, creating an effective 60% marginal rate between £100,000 and £125,140. This affects teachers on the upper end of the Leadership scale (L35+).
Related: Budgeting on £80,000 | IR35 contractor calculator
Track your teacher pay with earmarkIQ
This calculator gives you a snapshot, but your real pay varies month to month — overtime for exam invigilation, tutoring income, salary sacrifice changes, and September pay rises all affect your take-home. earmarkIQ connects to your bank via Open Banking and tracks your actual salary, pension deductions, and spending automatically.
Track your teacher pay with earmarkIQ
earmarkIQ connects to your bank via Open Banking and automatically tracks your salary, pension, and spending. See exactly where your teacher pay goes each month and get personalised insights to save more.
Join the Waitlist — Free