UK teachers received a 5.5% pay award for 2024/25 — the largest uplift in many years. Use the calculator below for your exact pay point, then read on for a full guide to every range and TPS pension contributions.
Teachers take-home pay calculator 2025/26
Main Pay Range (MPS) — England Outside London 2024/25
Take-home estimates include TPS pension contribution and standard Income Tax and NI. Student loan not included.
Pay point
Gross salary
TPS pension
Est. take-home
M1 (NQT/ECT)
£31,650
7.4% (£2,342)
£1,997/mo
M2
£33,483
7.4% (£2,478)
£2,096/mo
M3
£35,524
8.6% (£3,055)
£2,170/mo
M4
£37,652
8.6% (£3,238)
£2,283/mo
M5
£40,012
8.6% (£3,441)
£2,407/mo
M6
£43,607
8.6% (£3,750)
£2,597/mo
Upper Pay Range (UPS) — England Outside London 2024/25
UPS requires a successful pay threshold application demonstrating sustained performance.
Pay point
Gross salary
TPS pension
Est. take-home
U1
£45,877
9.7% (£4,450)
£2,675/mo
U2
£46,394
9.7% (£4,500)
£2,702/mo
U3
£47,185
9.7% (£4,577)
£2,743/mo
London Pay Ranges 2024/25
Teachers working in London receive higher pay on the Inner London, Outer London, or London Fringe pay ranges. These are separate pay ranges (not supplements added to the national scale).
Pay range
M1 (entry)
M6 (top MPS)
U3 (top UPS)
M1 est. take-home
Inner London
£44,419
£56,316
£60,462
£2,640/mo
Outer London
£38,766
£49,539
£53,482
£2,341/mo
London Fringe
£36,745
£47,290
£51,234
£2,235/mo
Rest of England
£31,650
£43,607
£47,185
£1,997/mo
Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS) — Key Facts
Scheme type: Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) defined benefit — you build up 1/57th of your pensionable pay each year as pension.
Revaluation: Each year’s pension entitlement is revalued by CPI inflation each April until you draw it.
Normal pension age: 65 (or State Pension age if higher). Early access from age 55 with actuarial reduction (currently approximately 4% per year early).
Employer contribution: 28.68% of your pensionable pay (paid by your school/LA — not shown in your payslip, but a huge additional benefit).
Tax relief: All employee contributions reduce your taxable income — a 20% taxpayer effectively pays only 80p in the pound on pension contributions.
Lump sum: No automatic lump sum in the 2015 Career Average scheme (unlike the pre-2015 final salary schemes). You can commute up to 25% of pension for a lump sum at retirement.
Salary range
TPS contribution rate
Up to £32,135
7.4%
£32,136 – £43,259
8.6%
£43,260 – £51,292
9.7%
£51,293 – £67,431
10.2%
£67,432 – £84,816
11.7%
£84,817 and above
12.4%
Teaching Allowances
Allowance
Rate (2024/25)
Notes
TLR1
£3,391 – £8,706
Significant additional responsibility, permanent
TLR2
£781 – £2,873
Specific teaching responsibility
TLR3
Up to £781
Fixed-term, time-limited project
SEN Allowance
£2,679 – £5,541
Special educational needs roles
Leading Practitioner
Within MPS/UPS + allowance
Promoting excellent teaching beyond own school
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the starting salary for a teacher in England in 2025?
Following the 5.5% pay award for 2024/25, newly qualified teachers (NQTs/ECTs) in England start on M1 of the Main Pay Range: £31,650 outside London, £36,745 in the London Fringe, £38,766 in Outer London, and £44,419 in Inner London. These are the minimum pay point salaries set by the STRB.
What is the difference between MPS and UPS for teachers?
The Main Pay Range (MPS, M1–M6) is for teachers working towards qualified teacher status and newly qualified teachers building experience. The Upper Pay Range (UPS, U1–U3) requires a performance threshold assessment — you apply to your headteacher to move to UPS once you have been on the maximum of MPS. UPS salaries range from £43,607 to £47,185 outside London for 2024/25.
How much do teachers contribute to their pension in 2025?
Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS) contributions for 2024/25 in England and Wales are tiered: 7.4% on salary up to £32,135; 8.6% on £32,136–£43,259; 9.7% on £43,260–£51,292; 10.2% on £51,293–£67,431; 11.7% on £67,432–£84,816; 12.4% on £84,817 and above. Employer contributions are 28.68%. All member contributions attract tax relief.
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What take-home pay does a teacher on M6 receive?
A teacher at M6 in England (outside London) earns approximately £43,607 gross in 2024/25. After Income Tax (£6,207), National Insurance (£2,477), and Teachers Pension (£3,750 at 8.6%), take-home is approximately £31,173 per year or £2,598 per month.
What allowances do teachers receive on top of basic pay?
Teachers can receive various allowances: Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) payments for additional responsibilities (TLR1: £3,391–£8,706; TLR2: £781–£2,873; TLR3: up to £781 fixed-term). SEN allowances of £2,679–£5,541 for special educational needs roles. Recruitment and retention factors in high-cost areas. These are pensionable.
Do Scottish teachers follow the same pay scale?
No. Scottish teachers follow a separate pay scale negotiated by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT). In 2024/25, main grade classroom teachers in Scotland earn from approximately £33,291 (probationer) to £46,867 (top of main grade) to £55,576 (Principal Teacher). Scottish Income Tax rates differ from England and Wales.
How is headteacher pay determined?
Headteacher pay is set by the governing body within eight Leadership Groups (L1–L50) based on school size and complexity. Leadership Group pay ranges in 2024/25 run from £49,085 (L1) to £136,814 (L50) outside London. The STRB sets the minimum and maximum of each group, and governing bodies must use individual school ranges within those limits.
What is the Teachers Pension Scheme and how does it benefit me?
The Teachers Pension Scheme is a defined benefit (Career Average) public sector scheme. From April 2022, all members build up 1/57th of their pensionable pay each year as pension (revalued by CPI). Normal pension age is 65 (or State Pension age, if higher). The employer contributes 28.68% on top of your contributions. This makes TPS one of the most generous UK pension schemes.
What is the Personal Allowance taper and does it affect Teachers?
Yes, once total taxable income for the tax year passes GBP 100,000, the GBP 12,570 tax-free Personal Allowance is reduced by GBP 1 for every GBP 2 earned above that threshold, and it is fully withdrawn by GBP 125,140. This creates an effective marginal tax rate of around 60% on income in that band (62% for Scottish taxpayers in the Higher/Advanced bands), which particularly affects senior or self-employed Teachers whose earnings climb into that range. Increasing pension contributions to bring adjusted net income back under GBP 100,000 is the most common way to avoid the trap.
Do student loan repayments reduce a Teacher's take-home pay?
Yes, if you have an outstanding student loan. Plan 1 loans are repaid at 9% of income above GBP 26,900, Plan 2 at 9% above GBP 29,385, Plan 4 (Scotland) at 9% above GBP 33,795, Plan 5 (post-2023 England starters) at 9% above GBP 25,000, and Postgraduate Loans at 6% above GBP 21,000. These deductions are taken automatically through PAYE for employees or via Self Assessment for the self-employed, and are calculated independently of, and in addition to, Income Tax and National Insurance.
