Teacher Pay Scales 2026/27: M1-M6, U1-U3 and Take-Home
Teacher pay scales for England from 1 September 2026 after the 3.5% award - every M and U point in all four pay areas, with take-home after tax, NI and TPS.
Which rates apply now
Teacher pay runs September to August, so two sets of figures are in circulation at any time and it is easy to quote the wrong one.
- In force from 1 September 2026 - set by the STRB's 36th Report, Appendix F, accepted in full. This is what is on a payslip today.
The review body recommends and the Secretary of State decides. These recommendations were accepted in full on 1 July 2026, so the September 2026 figures are confirmed rather than provisional. The scales in force from 1 September 2026: the 3.5% award the Secretary of State accepted in full. The STPCD 2026 that will restate them has not been published yet. Its timing varies: the 2023 and 2024 documents appeared in October and the 2025 one on 18 July 2025, each applying from 1 September.
What that is after tax
Rest of England scale, in force now, for a teacher in the Teachers' Pension Scheme. The TPS rate is banded, so it steps up as you move through the scale.
| Point | Gross | TPS | Take-home / year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | £34,069 | 7.4% | £26,032 | £2,169 |
| M2 | £36,042 | 7.4% | £27,336 | £2,278 |
| M3 | £38,400 | 8.9% | £28,434 | £2,369 |
| M4 | £40,941 | 8.9% | £30,082 | £2,507 |
| M5 | £43,529 | 8.9% | £31,761 | £2,647 |
| M6 | £46,940 | 8.9% | £33,974 | £2,831 |
| U1 | £49,134 | 9.9% | £35,005 | £2,917 |
| U2 | £50,956 | 9.9% | £36,213 | £3,018 |
| U3 | £52,835 | 9.9% | £37,530 | £3,128 |
Base pay only - TLR, SEN and leadership allowances are taxable on top. Excludes student loan repayments. Teachers resident in Scotland pay Scottish Income Tax rates.
Pay points by region, in force now
the STRB's 36th Report, Appendix F, accepted in full, effective 1 September 2026. M is the main pay range, U the upper pay range.
| Point | Rest of England | Fringe | Outer London | Inner London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | £34,069 | £35,602 | £39,196 | £41,729 |
| M2 | £36,042 | £37,647 | £41,246 | £43,713 |
| M3 | £38,400 | £39,979 | £43,403 | £45,787 |
| M4 | £40,941 | £42,513 | £45,673 | £47,961 |
| M5 | £43,529 | £45,070 | £48,438 | £50,666 |
| M6 | £46,940 | £48,479 | £52,241 | £54,131 |
| U1 | £49,134 | £50,625 | £54,047 | £59,650 |
| U2 | £50,956 | £52,442 | £56,047 | £62,581 |
| U3 | £52,835 | £54,328 | £58,120 | £64,684 |
The STRB also recommends 3% from September 2027 and indicates 3% from September 2028, which it says is subject to a future remit, to be confirmed or reconsidered.
Pay scales to 31 August 2026
The STPCD 2025 scales, which the award above replaced at the start of the autumn term. Kept for anyone checking a payslip from the last school year.
| Point | Rest of England | Fringe | Outer London | Inner London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | £32,916 | £34,398 | £37,870 | £40,317 |
| M2 | £34,823 | £36,373 | £39,851 | £42,234 |
| M3 | £37,101 | £38,627 | £41,935 | £44,238 |
| M4 | £39,556 | £41,075 | £44,128 | £46,339 |
| M5 | £42,057 | £43,545 | £46,800 | £48,952 |
| M6 | £45,352 | £46,839 | £50,474 | £52,300 |
| U1 | £47,472 | £48,913 | £52,219 | £57,632 |
| U2 | £49,232 | £50,668 | £54,151 | £60,464 |
| U3 | £51,048 | £52,490 | £56,154 | £62,496 |
TLR and SEN allowances
Ranges from 1 September 2026. Allowances are uplifted by the same headline rate as pay, and are taxable earnings on top of base salary.
| Allowance | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| TLR 1 (Teaching and Learning Responsibility) | £10,531 | £17,819 |
| TLR 2 | £3,651 | £8,913 |
| TLR 3 | £727 | £3,600 |
| SEN allowance | £2,885 | £5,690 |
Related
- School leadership pay: the leadership range and headteacher groups above these scales
- TLR payments: what the responsibility allowances are worth after tax
Frequently asked questions
What does a newly qualified teacher earn in England?
An early career teacher starts at M1: £34,069 in the Rest of England, £35,602 in the London fringe, £39,196 in Outer London and £41,729 in Inner London. Those are the rates in force from 1 September 2026, set by the STRB's 36th Report, Appendix F, accepted in full.
Has the 3.5% teacher pay rise been confirmed?
Yes. The School Teachers' Review Body recommended a 3.5% increase to all pay ranges and advisory points from 1 September 2026 in its 36th report, published 1 July 2026, which the Secretary of State accepted in full the same day - covering both this award and the 3% from September 2027. The teacher pay year runs September to August, so the 2025 scales remain the ones on a payslip until 31 August 2026 and the new figures apply from 1 September.
Why is the teacher pay year different from the tax year?
Teacher pay runs September to August, set by the STPCD, while Income Tax and National Insurance run April to March. A pay award taking effect in September therefore straddles two tax years, and the take-home figures here apply the current tax year rules to the salary in force.
How much do teachers pay into the Teachers’ Pension Scheme?
The TPS member contribution is banded by salary, from 7.4% at the bottom to 12% at the top. At M1 the rate is 7.4% and at U3 it is 9.9%. The TPS is a net pay arrangement: contributions get Income Tax relief but not National Insurance relief, so NI is charged on the full gross.
Do these scales apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
No. The STPCD covers England. Wales has its own School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document, and Scotland and Northern Ireland negotiate separately through their own machinery, so both the amounts and the effective dates can differ.