Teachers play a vital role in society by educating and shaping the minds of future generations. However, their pay often does not reflect the importance of their job. So how much does a full time teacher actually make in the UK? Let’s take a detailed look at teacher salaries.
Average UK Teacher Salary
According to the 2020 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) by the Office for National Statistics, the average annual pay for a full time teacher in the UK is £38,400. This is across primary, secondary and special education teachers.
Looking specifically at school type:
- The average salary for a primary school teacher is £37,700
- For secondary school teachers it is £40,800
- And for special education teachers £42,500
So secondary school teachers earn the most on average, while primary teachers have the lowest full time salary.
Starting Salaries
When first starting out as a teacher in the UK, the salary is quite a bit lower than the averages mentioned above.
According to the government teacher pay scales for 2022-23:
- A newly qualified teacher outside of London will start on a minimum salary of £28,000
- In inner London this rises to £34,000
- And in outer London and the London fringes the starting salary is £31,000
So while the average pay for experienced teachers is around £38,400, those just entering the profession can expect around £28,000-£34,000 depending on location.
Pay Scales
Teacher salaries in UK state schools are set by standardized pay scales. The scales have different bands according to experience and performance.
Here are the main classroom teacher pay scales for England outside of London for 2022-23:
| Pay Scale | Salary |
|---|---|
| Main Pay Range (MPR) | £28,000 – £43,000 |
| Upper Pay Range 1 (UPR1) | £39,406 – £44,489 |
| Upper Pay Range 2 (UPR2) | £44,490 – £51,121 |
| Upper Pay Range 3 (UPR3) | £51,122 – £57,890 |
So on the main pay range, teachers can earn between £28,000 up to £43,000 depending on experience. The upper pay ranges are for more senior teachers.
In Inner London, the pay scales are between 10-20% higher across the board due to the higher cost of living.
Factors Affecting Teacher Pay
There are several factors that account for the differences in teacher salary across the UK:
- Experience – The more years spent teaching, the higher up the pay scale
- Performance – Teachers can move up the pay scales faster if they receive excellent performance reviews
- Location – Inner London salaries are higher than the national average
- School type – Academies can set their own pay scales outside the national ones
- Subject – Specialist subjects like sciences can command higher pay
- Leadership – Heads of departments, heads of years etc get paid more
So while the standard pay scales provide a guide, there are many elements that can result in variances in teacher pay across the country.
Private School Salaries
Teacher salaries in private schools are set independently and are typically higher than in state schools.
According to Private School Guide, the average private school teacher salary in 2022 is:
- £44,000 for junior and prep school teachers
- £48,000 for secondary school teachers
- £76,000 for heads of department
- £93,000 for deputy heads
- £118,000 for head teachers
So at the top end, heads of private schools can earn triple figures. But even regular classroom teachers earn £6,000-£10,000 above their state counterparts.
The pay is higher to attract the best teaching talent. Private schools are also not limited by the state pay scales, and can pay more flexibly.
Long Term Salary Growth
Over the course of their career, how much can teachers expect their salaries to increase by?
Looking at the pay scales, classroom teachers have the scope to increase their earnings by around £15,000-£20,000 over a decade.
For example, a newly qualified teacher outside London starting on £28,000 could reach around £43,000 after 10 years on the main pay scale.
After that, progression to the upper pay scales and into leadership roles provides the opportunity for further pay rises later in a teaching career.
It is realistic for an ambitious classroom teacher to reach salaries of £50,000-£60,000 after 15-20 years if they take on leadership responsibilities.
Teacher Earnings in Wider Context
How does the pay for teachers compare to other jobs and the national average?
Some key numbers:
- The median UK salary for full time employees is approximately £31,285 (ASHE 2022)
- The average teaching salary is £38,400 – so around £7,000 higher than the national median
- Nurses earn approximately £35,600 on average
- Police officers earn approximately £41,100 on average
- Accountants earn approximately £42,500 on average
So teachers are paid above the overall UK average, on par with police officers, but still below some other professional salaries like accountants or solicitors. Given the importance of the teaching profession to society, some argue they should be higher up the pay scale.
Teacher Shortages
One of the most pressing issues around teacher pay is recruitment and retention.
Teacher training applications have fallen significantly in England. In 2022, just 40% of the government’s target number enrolled in postgraduate teacher training.
It is widely acknowledged that pay is one of the factors deterring people from entering the profession in sufficient numbers.
Higher pay rises could attract more graduates to teaching careers and address teacher shortage problems.
Pay Compared to Other Countries
Compared internationally, teacher pay in the UK is around the average for developed countries.
| Country | Starting Salary | Salary after 10 Years |
|---|---|---|
| UK | £28,000 | £43,000 |
| USA | $40,000 (£35,000) | $55,000 (£48,000) |
| Australia | A$70,000 (£37,000) | A$95,000 (£50,000) |
| France | €30,000 (£26,000) | €40,000 (£35,000) |
Salaries in the US, Australia and other countries are broadly similar in purchasing power terms. But some countries like South Korea and Germany pay teachers a premium compared to the UK.
Conclusion
The average salary for a full time teacher in the UK is around £38,400. Newly qualified teachers outside London can expect to start on £28,000, rising to £43,000 over their first decade.
More experienced teachers can reach £50,000-£60,000 with leadership responsibilities. Salaries are higher in London and the private sector.
While teacher pay is above the UK average salary, recruitment problems suggest it may need to increase to attract sufficient numbers to the profession.
Overall teachers earn a median wage that reflects the importance of their role educating the next generation. But higher salaries may be needed to address teacher shortages in the future.