Teacher Starting Salary 2026: What You Need to Know

If you are considering a career in teaching or are already in the profession, understanding the teacher starting salary is essential. Pay varies by region, school type, and seniority. This guide uses the latest official data from GOV.UK, the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to give you a clear picture.

Minimum Starting Salaries from September 2026

From September 2026, the minimum starting salary for a qualified teacher in a maintained school in England is £34,069 (excluding London). If you work in a London fringe area, the minimum rises to £35,602. Outer London starts at £39,196, and Inner London at £41,729. These figures are from the GOV.UK Get Into Teaching service and reflect the government’s commitment to raising starting salaries above £34,000.

Average and Median Teacher Salaries

The average teacher salary in England is expected to be over £52,800 from September 2026, according to GOV.UK. The ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2025 provisional data gives median full-time annual pay for secondary teachers at £47,632 and for primary teachers at £45,939. These are UK-wide figures and include teachers at all stages of their careers. The corresponding hourly medians are £28.95/hr for secondary and £28.13/hr for primary teachers.

Regional Differences and London Weighting

London weighting significantly boosts pay. The table below summarises the main pay range (M1 to M6) for maintained schools in England from September 2026:

Area	Minimum (M1)	Maximum (M6)
England (excluding London)	£34,069	£52,835
London fringe	£35,602	£54,328
Outer London	£39,196	£58,120
Inner London	£41,729	£64,684

These ranges show that a teacher in Inner London can earn up to £64,684 on the main pay scale, before any leadership or responsibility allowances.

Seniority and Pay Progression

Most teachers move up the pay range annually, subject to performance management. After five years, a typical teacher could earn at least £46,960 (Rest of England) or more in London. The STRB’s 36th report recommends a 3.5% increase for September 2026, with further 3.0% increases in 2027 and an indicative 3.0% in 2028. This means starting salaries will continue to rise.

Converting Hourly Rates to Annual Salary

When comparing job offers, you may see hourly rates. A standard conversion uses 37.5 hours per week × 52 weeks. For example, the median secondary teacher hourly rate of £28.95 would give an annual salary of approximately £56,512 (28.95 × 37.5 × 52). However, teacher contracts often specify directed time of 1,265 hours over 195 days (about 32.5 hours per week for 39 weeks), plus additional reasonable hours for planning and marking. Therefore, the actual hourly rate based on total hours worked may be lower. Always check your contract’s definition of working time.

For a quick estimate, use our Hourly to Salary converter. You can also explore salary data for other occupations.

ONS Data vs Statutory Pay Scales

It is important to distinguish between ONS earnings data and statutory pay scales. ONS ASHE figures reflect what teachers are actually paid across the UK, including those in academies and independent schools. Statutory scales apply to maintained schools in England and are updated annually. The ONS medians are higher than the statutory starting minimum because they include experienced teachers and those with additional responsibilities.

What About Unqualified Teachers?

Unqualified teachers have a separate pay range. From September 2026, the minimum for unqualified teachers in England (excluding London) is £23,732, rising to a maximum of £36,494. The STRB recommended a 5% uplift for the unqualified teacher minimum to keep it above the National Living Wage.

Take-Home Pay Estimates

At the median secondary teacher salary of £47,632, estimated monthly take-home pay (after tax and National Insurance, before pension and student loan) is about £3,124. For primary teachers at £45,939, take-home is about £3,025. These estimates use the standard Personal Allowance and tax bands for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Scottish rates differ.

Further Reading

For more on UK salary benchmarks, see our topics page covering various professions. You can also use the hourly calculator to convert your own rate.

Summary

The teacher starting salary in England from September 2026 is at least £34,069, with higher rates in London. Salaries increase with experience and can reach over £64,000 in Inner London. Use official sources like GOV.UK and ONS to compare offers, and remember that actual working hours may extend beyond the standard week. Always check your contract for precise terms.