Are you about to make a whole new move into the world of education? Or perhaps you’re currently working as a teaching assistant and thinking about taking that next step to become the class teacher? Whatever path you are coming from, you’ll probably want to know how much you can potentially earn as a teacher in the UK. In this article we will break down the average salaries of teachers in the UK today, so you know what to expect when searching for jobs or climbing the career ladder.
Wherever you decide to teach, you will find teacher salaries are highly competitive across the UK. Teachers play an imperative role in the lives of their pupils and they are amply rewarded for their hard work through their salaries.
UK Teachers Salary
The following minimum and maximum salaries for qualified teachers are taken from the Department for Education, and are up-to-date as of April 2022:
London: £26,948 - £42,624
Rest of England and Wales: £25,714 - £36,961
An early career teacher (formerly known as an NQT) can expect to earn a salary between £25,714 to £32,157, which is the lowest point of the scale. Opportunities to increase pay become available after meeting the teaching standards set by individual schools.
As you can see, pay is dependent on location. Schools in central London can attract a significantly higher salary but this is to compensate for the city’s higher cost of living. Teachers in the rest of the UK will receive the standard teacher salary.
Career Progression
Senior Teacher
If you have aspirations for a larger pay check, never fear. You’ll certainly be able to increase your salary as a teacher as you move into more senior roles and take on additional responsibilities, like becoming a Head of Department.
Average minimum and maximum annual salaries for senior teachers are:
London: £39,864 - £50,935
Rest of England and Wales: £38,690 - £41,604
Lead Practitioner
Experienced teachers with a long track record of service and ability can grow their salaries further still through mentoring trainees and early career teachers (ECTs) starting out in the profession.
Such mentors are known as lead practitioners.
Average minimum and maximum annual salaries for lead practitioners are:
London: £43,750 - £72,480
Rest of England and Wales: £42,402 - £64,461
You can also choose to take on extra ‘teaching and learning responsibilities’ (TLRs), such as leading the planning of a particular part of the curriculum, or pupil development beyond your usual class. By taking on these responsibilities you can increase your salary between £2,873 and £14,030. How much your pay increases will depend on the responsibility you choose to take on.
Holidays
On top of the salary, many people are attracted to teaching for the extended holidays teacher receive, for good reason. Hardly surprising, given that teachers work 195 days per year compared to an average of 227 days for other professions!
Teaching is a fantastic career choice and a well-remunerated one. As a teacher, you will receive a very competitive salary for all the amazing work you do for children children, as well as good holidays. You can also increase your salary by undertaking extra responsibilities or more senior roles once you have gained some experience. With some years’ experience, you could increase your salary even further by becoming a Head Teacher!
Protocol Education can help you earn your full potential
As one of the UK’s leading education recruitment agencies, we help thousands of teachers each year progress into high-earning roles. Whether you’re looking for jobs in primary, secondary or SEN schools, our experienced consultants will work with you to find a teaching position that pays you what you’re worth. All you have to do is get in touch.
