Teachers’ pay after tax (2026/27)
England · tax year 2026/27
Take-home pay for teachers in maintained schools in England, from unqualified teachers to the leadership range, after income tax, National Insurance and the Teachers’ Pension.
Pay scales effective from 1 September 2026. Source: School Teachers’ Review Body 36th report (2026), Appendix F: recommended pay levels from 1 September 2026, accepted in full by the government on 1 July 2026; Teachers to benefit from multi-year pay deal (GOV.UK, 1 July 2026). Checked 5 October 2026.
Pension: Teachers’ Pension Scheme member contribution rates from 1 April 2026 (Teachers’ Pensions: Understand how much you’ll pay).
Pay ranges outside London
| Range and point | Salary | Take-home a month (with pension) | Take-home a month (no pension) | Pension a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unqualified teachers: Point 1 | £23,732 | £1,600.14 | £1,717.22 | £146.35 (7.4%) |
| Unqualified teachers: Point 6 | £36,494 | £2,266.41 | £2,482.94 | £270.66 (8.9%) |
| Main pay range: M1 | £34,069 | £2,169.37 | £2,337.44 | £210.09 (7.4%) |
| Main pay range: M6 | £46,940 | £2,831.19 | £3,109.70 | £348.14 (8.9%) |
| Upper pay range: U1 | £49,134 | £2,917.06 | £3,241.34 | £405.36 (9.9%) |
| Upper pay range: U3 | £52,835 | £3,127.51 | £3,433.48 | £435.89 (9.9%) |
| Leading practitioners: Minimum | £53,847 | £3,186.62 | £3,482.39 | £444.24 (9.9%) |
| Leading practitioners: Maximum | £81,861 | £4,361.60 | £4,836.40 | £791.32 (11.6%) |
| Leadership group: Minimum | £53,586 | £3,171.37 | £3,469.77 | £442.08 (9.9%) |
| Leadership group: Maximum | £148,829 | £6,736.92 | £7,555.48 | £1,488.29 (12%) |
2026/27 tax rates, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, standard tax code, no student loan. Pension contributions are taken before tax (net pay arrangement). Select a take-home figure to open it in the calculator.
Pay by area
- Rest of England teacher pay after tax
- London fringe teacher pay after tax
- Outer London teacher pay after tax
- Inner London teacher pay after tax
How teachers’ pay works
Teachers in maintained schools are paid within national pay ranges set each year after recommendations from the School Teachers’ Review Body. Qualified teachers start on the main pay range and can move to the upper pay range; schools set their own pay points within each range, so the advisory points shown here are a guide. Academies can set their own pay but many follow the national ranges.
Teachers’ Pension contributions
- Up to £36,198.99: 7.4%
- £36,199.00 to £48,727.99: 8.9%
- £48,728.00 to £57,776.99: 9.9%
- £57,777.00 to £76,572.99: 10.5%
- £76,573.00 to £104,413.99: 11.6%
- £104,414.00 and above: 12%
Frequently asked questions
How much does a newly qualified teacher take home?
A teacher on M1 outside London (£34,069) takes home £2,169.37 a month after tax, National Insurance and a 7.4% Teachers’ Pension contribution, from 2026.
How much do teachers pay into their pension?
Between 7.4% and 12% of salary, depending on your full-time equivalent salary rate. Contributions come off before income tax.
Why are London salaries higher?
Schools in inner London, outer London and the London fringe use higher pay ranges to reflect living costs. Choose an area below for its full table.
Figures for 2026/27, verified against HMRC on 5 October 2026.
Sources:HMRC rates and thresholds for employers, Income Tax rates and Personal Allowances, Income Tax in Scotland. Methodology →