Profession · 2026/27
Deputy Headteacher Salary 2026/27
Deputy heads sit on the Leadership Pay Range. The 2026/27 statutory minimum for any Leadership post is £51,773 (RoE) rising to £143,796 at the top of the range; schools set local ranges within that span based on size/ISR group. Inner London the statutory range is £61,554-£153,490. Specific pay depends on school size, ISR group and governing-body award.
Typical pay & take-home
- Median gross
- £72,000
- Typical range
- £60,000–£90,000
- Take-home at median
- £52,317
England, no pension applied — use the salary calculator for your scheme.
At the median for this profession, you earn about 92% above the UK full-time median (£37,430), placing you in the top 11% of UK earners.
What influences deputy headteacher pay
Leadership pay is governed by the school size (Individual School Range, ISR) and the governing body choosing a point on the Leadership Pay Range for the role. A deputy in a 2,000-pupil secondary earns materially more than in a 400-pupil primary.
All deputy pay is above the £50,270 higher-rate threshold (England). Teachers Pension at this salary tier sits in the top contribution band (around 11.3%) on net pay arrangement, so you get full 40% IT relief.
London inner deputies can earn £75,000–£120,000 at the top — crossing £100,000 triggers personal allowance taper (£1 of PA lost per £2 earned between £100k and £125,140). Effective marginal rate between those thresholds is 60%, making pension AVCs strongly advisable.
Career progression
- L11–L18: typical deputy range — £60,895–£76,067 rest-of-England.
- L19–L27: senior deputy / acting head range — £80,101–£107,617.
- Headteacher: L7 (small primary) to L43 (largest secondaries) — £55,000–£140,000+.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a £100k+ salary lose the personal allowance?
- Yes. Between £100,000 and £125,140 the PA tapers away at £1 lost per £2 earned. A £110,000 deputy loses £5,000 of PA, creating a 60% effective marginal rate in this band. Making a pension contribution to reduce adjusted net income below £100,000 claws back the full PA.
- Is Teachers Pension still worth it at deputy level?
- The TPS gold-plated DB promise is still excellent value - 1/57th accrual on CARE, 40% IT relief on contributions. It's among the most valuable perks of state-sector leadership roles and would cost materially more to replicate privately.