A teaching career can be rewarding, with starting salaries that match and in some cases outstrip those of other graduate professions.

Currently, all qualified teachers in maintained schools are paid according to the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document which is updated each September. Newly qualified teachers (NQTs) will start on the six-point main pay scale and progress through it each year, subject to completing a satisfactory year of employment, or move onto a scale associated with a different position or level of responsibility.

Academies and Free Schools are able to set to set their own pay rates for new employees.

Starting salary

After completing initial teacher training (ITT) and achieving qualified teacher status (QTS), NQTs in maintained schools can expect to start on a salary of £21,588 a year in England and Wales (or £27,000 in inner London).

Main pay scale (including NQTs):

  • London fringe: £22,626 to £32,588
  • outer London: £25,117 to £35,116
  • inner London: £27,000 to £36,387
  • rest of England and Wales: £21,588 to £31,552.

Upper pay scale salary

Qualified teachers who reach the top of the main pay scale may apply to be assessed against the post-threshold standards (see guidance).  If they meet the standards, they cross the ‘threshold’ to the first point on the three-point upper pay scale. 

Upper pay scale:

  • London fringe: £35,218 to £37,795
  • outer London: £37,599 to £40,433
  • inner London: £41,497 to £45,000
  • rest of England and Wales: £34,181 to £36,756.

Progression on the upper pay scale is performance based. Governing bodies make the decisions based on recommendations from heads. Teachers will not normally move through the upper pay scale more frequently than every two years.

Leadership and headship pay scales

After the first few years of a teaching career, progress can be made to a leadership pay scale. These include:

  • advanced skills teacher (AST) pay scale (a five-point range between £37,461 and £56,950 in the rest of England and Wales);
  • excellent teacher pay scheme (a ‘spot’ salary between £39,697 and £52,090 in the rest of England and Wales); and
  • leadership group pay scale (which includes assistant, deputy and headteachers) a headteacher could earn between £42,379 for a small primary and £105,097 for a large secondary in the rest of England and Wales.

Teaching benefits

In addition to the basic salary, there are a range of benefits and allowances, including:

  • teaching and learning responsibility (TLR) payments – additional money to take on additional responsibilities – which some schools may offer;
  • teachers' pension – the second largest public sector pension scheme in the country; and
  • holidays – more days than many people in other professions, though teachers work for 195 days per year in school, and do some work during the school holidays.

There is a wealth of information about joining the teaching profession. If you are interested in a career in teaching, find out more on the Teaching Agency pages. Further information about teachers’ salary and benefits is also available. We are currently reviewing how teachers are paid and you can find out more about this process.