Secondary School Teacher Take-Home Pay 2026/27: Subject Lead and TLR Pay
What UK secondary school teachers take home after Income Tax, National Insurance and Teachers' Pension Scheme contributions in 2026/27, including Teaching and Learning Responsibility payments.
Basic pay plus responsibility payments
Secondary school teachers sit on the same national pay scales as primary colleagues, but many take on additional Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) payments for leading a subject department, pastoral year group, or other whole-school responsibility — payments that are pensionable and add directly to gross pay.
Worked example: £38,000 salary
Taxable income: £38,000 − £12,570 = £25,430, taxed at 20%, giving Income Tax of £5,086. Teachers' Pension Scheme contribution at an illustrative 9.6% tier: £3,648. National Insurance: (£38,000 − £12,570) × 8% = £2,034. Take-home pay comes to roughly £2,440 a month, before any student loan repayment.
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A secondary school teacher on £38,000 keeps roughly £2,440 a month after tax, National Insurance and Teachers' Pension Scheme contributions, with TLR payments and Upper Pay Range progression the two main routes to increasing pay beyond standard annual increments.
Sources
- GOV.UK: School teachers' pay and conditions document
- Teachers' Pensions: Contribution rates
- GOV.UK: Income Tax rates and Personal Allowances
Frequently asked questions
How much does a secondary teacher take home on a £38,000 salary?
On £38,000, after Income Tax, National Insurance and standard Teachers' Pension Scheme contributions, take-home pay comes to roughly £2,440 a month, before any student loan deduction.
What is a Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) payment?
A TLR is an additional payment on top of basic salary for teachers taking on specific extra responsibilities, such as leading a subject department or a pastoral year group, and is pensionable under the Teachers' Pension Scheme.
Do secondary teachers get paid more for teaching shortage subjects?
Some secondary teachers in shortage subjects such as physics, maths or computing may be eligible for specific bursaries during training, though ongoing in-post salary is generally set by the same national pay scales as other subjects.
How much is a typical TLR payment worth?
TLR payments are banded, with TLR2 typically covering department or team leadership responsibilities and TLR1 covering more senior whole-school leadership responsibilities, each carrying a materially higher additional payment than the other.
Does the Teachers' Pension Scheme apply to TLR payments too?
Yes, TLR payments are pensionable, meaning they count towards Teachers' Pension Scheme contributions and future pension benefits, not just basic salary.
How does student loan repayment work for a qualified secondary teacher?
Most secondary teachers repay under Plan 2 or Plan 5, with 9% deducted from income above the relevant threshold, taken after tax and National Insurance.
What is the Upper Pay Range for secondary teachers?
The Upper Pay Range offers higher salary points to experienced teachers who have passed threshold assessment, available in addition to any TLR responsibility payments.
Do secondary teachers get London weighting like primary teachers?
Yes, the same inner London, outer London and fringe weighting arrangements apply equally to secondary school teachers on the national pay scales.
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