Teacher salary in the UK after tax — 2026/27
The September 2026 pay award of 3.5% raises M1 to £32,758. But the headline gross figure hides a significant pension contribution — and knowing what you'll actually take home matters when you're deciding whether to stay in teaching, go to leadership, or move to the independent sector.
Main Pay Scale (MPS) take-home — September 2026
England and Wales figures below. Scotland and Northern Ireland use separate pay frameworks with different point values.
| Point | Gross Salary | Monthly Net (before pension) | After TPS Pension | TPS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | £32,758 | £2,259/mo | £2,057/mo | 7.4% |
| M2 | £34,514 | £2,352/mo | £2,138/mo | 7.4% |
| M3 | £36,923 | £2,509/mo | £2,269/mo | 8.6% |
| M4 | £39,023 | £2,621/mo | £2,357/mo | 9.7% |
| M5 | £41,333 | £2,743/mo | £2,447/mo | 9.7% |
| M6 | £45,214 | £3,006/mo | £2,637/mo | 9.7% |
Upper Pay Scale (UPS) and Leadership take-home
| Point | Gross Salary | Monthly Net (before pension) | After TPS Pension |
|---|---|---|---|
| U1 | £47,636 | £3,118/mo | £2,743/mo |
| U2 | £49,470 | £3,218/mo | £2,826/mo |
| U3 | £52,267 | £3,406/mo | £2,970/mo |
| L1 (Assistant Head) | £47,636–£64,735 | £3,118–£3,948/mo | £2,743–£3,440/mo |
| Deputy Head | ~£62,000–£75,000 | ~£3,800–£4,373/mo | ~£3,310–£3,800/mo |
| Headteacher (L18–L20) | ~£80,000–£100,000 | ~£4,656–£5,458/mo | ~£4,040–£4,720/mo |
TPS pension rate at UPS/leadership level is 10.2%–11.7% depending on exact salary. TPS is a defined-benefit scheme.
Inner London vs England/Wales — the weighting difference
London weighting adds significantly to teacher pay. The inner London MPS runs from £41,728 to £57,005 compared to the national £32,758–£45,214. That's roughly £9,000 more at entry point.
| Location | M1 Gross | M1 Monthly Net | M6 Monthly Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inner London | £41,728 | £2,780/mo | £3,540/mo (£57,005) |
| Outer London | £37,482 | £2,529/mo | £3,220/mo (£51,054) |
| London Fringe | £34,381 | £2,354/mo | £3,063/mo (£47,006) |
| England/Wales (national) | £32,758 | £2,259/mo | £3,006/mo (£45,214) |
Inner London teachers earn around £500–£534/month more than national equivalents. But the TPS pension accrues at a higher salary, compounding the long-term advantage.
Teaching salary distribution — 2026
| Percentile | Gross | Monthly Net |
|---|---|---|
| P25 — NQT / M1–M2 | ~£32,758–£34,514 | ~£2,259–£2,352/mo |
| P50 — M4–M5 | ~£39,000–£42,000 | ~£2,621–£2,783/mo |
| P75 — M6 / UPS | ~£45,000–£52,000 | ~£3,006–£3,406/mo |
| P90 — Leadership | ~£65,000–£90,000 | ~£3,943–£5,038/mo |
ONS ASHE 2025 / STRB 34th Report 2026 estimates for England and Wales.
Frequently asked questions
A newly qualified teacher on M1 (£32,758 from September 2026) takes home £2,259/month after income tax and NI. After the 7.4% TPS pension contribution, that's £2,057/month. At M6 (£45,214), take-home is £3,006/month before pension or £2,637/month after. An Upper Pay Scale teacher at U3 (£52,267) takes home £3,406/month before pension.
The STRB recommended a 3.5% pay rise effective from September 2026. For an M1 teacher, that increased the salary from approximately £31,650 to £32,758 — an extra £1,108/year gross, or about £57/month take-home.
The TPS is a career average defined-benefit scheme — you accrue 1/57th of your pensionable pay each year, revalued by CPI+1.6%. The employer contributes 28.68% of your salary. A teacher working 35 years on an average £42,000 builds roughly £25,800/year guaranteed pension. To replicate that privately you'd need to contribute 25–30% of salary yourself — the TPS at 7.4%–11.7% is a significantly better deal.
Entry is below the £35,000 graduate median. But the TPS pension adds 28.68% employer contribution, making total compensation considerably more competitive than gross comparisons show. The ceiling is lower than law, finance, or tech — headteachers top out around £100,000, while those sectors can reach £150,000–£500,000+. Within the public sector though, teaching sits well above most roles when pension value is included.