Learning support assistants (LSAs) work alongside teachers to support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), often 1:1 or in small groups under an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Most LSA roles are term-time only, with salaries pro-rated across roughly 38--39 weeks a year. This guide shows exactly what learning support assistants take home after income tax and National Insurance deductions for the 2026/27 tax year.
Figures are indicative term-time-only actual salaries; actual pay varies by local authority, school type and region.
| Role | Career Stage | Salary Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 LSA | Entry level | £18,000--£20,000 | Term-time only; Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning |
| Level 3 LSA | 1--4 years | £20,000--£23,000 | More independent responsibility; SEND-specific training |
| Senior/SEN Specialist LSA | 4+ years | £22,000--£27,000 | 1:1 EHCP support, complex needs specialism |
| Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) | 4+ years | £24,000--£28,000 | National HLTA standards; can lead whole-class sessions |
| 1:1 EHCP-Funded LSA | Varies | £22,000--£27,000 | High Needs Funding-backed dedicated support role |
These scenarios illustrate take-home pay at each level using 2026/27 England tax rates (personal allowance £12,570), before Local Government Pension Scheme contributions.
Entry level, term-time
Term-time
SEN specialist, term-time
Figures are for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scottish taxpayers pay Scottish Income Tax rates.
| Scenario | Gross | Income Tax | NI | Net/yr | Net/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2, entry | £18,500 | -£1,186 | -£474 | £16,840 | £1,403/mo |
| Level 3 | £21,000 | -£1,686 | -£674 | £18,640 | £1,553/mo |
| Senior SEN specialist | £24,500 | -£2,386 | -£954 | £21,160 | £1,763/mo |
| HLTA with SEN responsibility | £27,500 | -£2,986 | -£1,194 | £23,320 | £1,943/mo |
Most school-based LSAs are employed on term-time-only contracts, working around 38--39 weeks a year, with holiday pay built into the annual salary calculation rather than paid separately. This means the headline salary is already an "actual" figure, not a full-year equivalent that would apply to a 52-week role.
LSAs employed by a local authority or academy trust are typically eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), a defined benefit scheme with tiered employee contributions from around 5.5% to 12.5% of actual pensionable pay, offering a valuable guaranteed retirement income relative to the contribution level.
LSAs who develop specialist expertise in areas such as autism, sensory needs or complex medical needs are often given priority for higher-graded senior LSA posts and 1:1 EHCP-funded roles.
Achieving Higher Level Teaching Assistant status, which allows an LSA to lead whole-class sessions under a teacher's planned absence, typically adds £2,000--£4,000 to salary and is a common progression route for experienced LSAs.
Specialist SEND schools and resourced provisions often pay slightly higher LSA salaries than mainstream schools, reflecting the additional training and complexity of the pupils supported.
Many LSAs use the role as a stepping stone into qualified teaching, via a teaching apprenticeship, part-time PGCE or Assessment Only route for very experienced graduate LSAs.
