Teacher Pay 2026/27 — Scales and Real Take-Home
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 £41,729.
| Scale point | Salary | Take-home / year | Take-home / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| M1 (new teacher, England excl. London) | £34,069 | £28,049 | £2,337 |
| M2 | £36,042 | £29,470 | £2,456 |
| M3 | £38,400 | £31,168 | £2,597 |
| M4 | £40,941 | £32,997 | £2,750 |
| M5 | £43,529 | £34,860 | £2,905 |
| M6 (top of main range) | £46,940 | £37,316 | £3,110 |
| UPS1 | £49,134 | £38,896 | £3,241 |
| UPS2 | £50,956 | £40,112 | £3,343 |
| UPS3 (top of upper range) | £52,835 | £41,202 | £3,433 |
| M1 London Fringe | £35,602 | £29,153 | £2,429 |
| M1 Outer London | £39,196 | £31,741 | £2,645 |
| M1 Inner London | £41,729 | £33,564 | £2,797 |
| M6 Inner London | £54,131 | £41,953 | £3,496 |
Scale points are the advisory points for England (excluding London and the fringe) published by the NEU after the 3.5% award, and London rows use the matching London scales. Schools set pay under their own pay policy, so progression between points varies.
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.
The Teachers' Pension takes a real bite
Teachers' Pension Scheme member contributions are tiered by salary: 7.4% up to £34,872, 8.9% to £46,943, 9.9% to £55,660, 10.5% to £73,768, 11.6% to £100,590 and 12% above that. These are the rates and salary bands set from April 2025; the bands are revalued each April, so check Teachers' Pensions for the current figures. A teacher on M6 (£46,940) pays around £4,180 a year, but gets tax relief on all of it, and the TPS remains one of the best pensions available anywhere.
Progression and extra allowances
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.
Check your own numbers
Frequently asked questions
£34,069 outside London from September 2026 (about £2,337/month after tax and NI, before TPS pension). In Inner London it's £41,729.
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.