2026–27 guide
Teacher Pay Scales 2026-27: M1 to U3 After the 3.5% Rise
This guide covers England teacher pay from September 2026, after the 3.5% award accepted by the government on 1 July 2026. It lists every point on the Main Pay Range and Upper Pay Range for all four pay areas. The updated School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document has not been published yet, so check your contract and your school’s pay policy as well.
How teacher pay ranges work
Teachers in England may be paid on the Main Pay Range or Upper Pay Range, with points commonly identified as M1 through M6 and U1 through U3. The exact arrangements depend on the school, employer, contract and the relevant pay policy. Qualified teachers may move through a range over time, but progression is not automatically guaranteed by the calendar: performance criteria and local policy can matter.
The figures used here list a salary for each point. The Main Pay Range starts at M1, while the Upper Pay Range starts at U1. Use your payslip, contract or HR record to confirm the point that applies to you. Other roles, including leadership, unqualified teacher and teaching-and-learning responsibility posts, may use different scales or add separate allowances.
M1 to U3 salary figures from September 2026
For Rest of England, the Main Pay Range runs M1 £34,069; M2 £36,042; M3 £38,400; M4 £40,941; M5 £43,529; and M6 £46,940. The Upper Pay Range is U1 £49,134, U2 £50,956 and U3 £52,835. Fringe, Outer London and Inner London have their own scales, which the calculator uses when you choose a pay area.
A scale point gives a gross salary before income tax, National Insurance, pension contributions and student-loan repayments. It does not necessarily include extra responsibilities, recruitment or retention allowances, overtime, part-time adjustments or other contractual elements. The calculator shows the scale salary separately from an estimate of deductions to make that distinction clearer.
What a 3.5% rise means for take-home pay
A 3.5% increase to gross salary does not translate into a 3.5% increase in net pay. Income tax, National Insurance, pension contributions and student loan repayments can all reduce the amount of an increase that reaches a bank account. The effect depends on the teacher’s total income, pensionable pay, tax region and repayment plan.
The date matters, too. The new scales apply from 1 September 2026. If your school implements the new rate after that date, a later payslip may include a one-off adjustment for the earlier period. The timing and presentation of arrears are employer-specific. A change in working hours or a move to a different pay point can also make a simple comparison difficult.
London and fringe pay areas
The calculator uses the published scale for each pay area. M1 is £34,069 in the Rest of England, £35,602 in the Fringe, £39,196 in Outer London and £41,729 in Inner London. At the top of the Upper Pay Range, U3 is £52,835, £54,328, £58,120 and £64,684 in the same four areas.
Which area applies depends on where your school is located, so check with your school’s HR or payroll team. Academy trusts are not legally required to follow these scales, so your own contract is what counts.
Teachers’ Pension and other deductions
When the pension option is enabled, the estimate applies the Teachers’ Pension Scheme member contribution tiers from 1 April 2026: 7.4% up to £36,199, 8.9% up to £48,728, 9.9% up to £57,776, 10.5% up to £76,572, 11.6% up to £104,413 and 12% from £104,414. The rate for your salary band applies to your whole salary. Teachers’ Pension contributions receive income tax relief but not National Insurance relief, and the calculator treats them that way.
Student loans are estimated using the repayment plan selected and the threshold listed in the calculator. Payroll can withhold other items, including union subscriptions, childcare benefits, cycle schemes or salary-sacrifice deductions, none of which are included in this simple breakdown.
How to use the teacher pay calculator
Select your range and pay point, choose a pay area, and decide whether to include the pension and student loan deductions. The result is a useful starting point for comparing gross annual pay with an estimated annual, monthly and weekly amount after deductions. It is not a payslip generator.
If your salary is part-time, use the actual pro-rated annual salary rather than the full-time equivalent, or calculate the full-time estimate separately and adjust it yourself. Check any additional payments and your tax code independently. ClearPounds is an independent estimation tool and is not affiliated with HMRC or a government body.