The 3.5% teacher pay award applies from September 2026. Here's the main and upper pay range — and what it's worth after tax.
Teachers in England are paid on the main pay range (M1–M6), then the upper pay range (UPS1–UPS3) after a successful threshold application. The Government accepted the STRB's recommended 3.5% award for 2026/27, effective from 1 September 2026. London teachers are paid on separate Inner, Outer and Fringe scales — a new Inner London M1 teacher starts on £44,129.
| Scale point | Salary | Take-home / year | Take-home / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| M1 — new teacher (England excl. London) | £32,758 | £27,105 | £2,259 |
| M1 — Inner London | £44,129 | £35,292 | £2,941 |
| M6 — top of main range | £45,214 | £36,074 | £3,006 |
| UPS3 — top of upper range | £52,267 | £40,872 | £3,406 |
Intermediate points (M2–M5, UPS1–2) sit between these values and vary by school pay policy since pay portability rules were relaxed.
Take-home figures use 2026/27 England/Wales/NI rates (Income Tax + employee NI only, standard tax code, no pension or student loan deductions). Public-sector pension contributions will reduce take-home further — model yours with our Pension Tax Relief Calculator.
Teachers' Pension Scheme contributions for 2026/27 are tiered: 8.3% on salaries up to £32,135, 9.7% up to £43,259, 10.2% up to £51,292, and 11.7% above that. That means an M6 teacher on £45,214 pays around £4,611 a year into the TPS — but gets tax relief on all of it, and the TPS remains one of the best pensions available anywhere.
Progression up the main range is annual subject to appraisal, but not automatic. TLR payments (Teaching and Learning Responsibility) add £3,000–£15,000+ for heads of department and pastoral leads. SEN allowances and leadership scales sit on top of the ranges shown here — headteachers of large secondaries can earn well over £100,000.
£32,758 outside London from September 2026 (about £2,240/month after tax and NI, before TPS pension). In Inner London it's £44,129.
The 3.5% award applies from 1 September 2026 — teacher pay years run September to August, unlike the April tax year.
You apply through the threshold process, usually after several years at M6, evidencing sustained high performance. Progression is decided by your school's pay policy.
Almost always yes. It's a career-average defined-benefit scheme with employer contributions above 28% — far more valuable than a typical private-sector pension of the same headline cost.