Estimated monthly take-home
£2,678
M6 outside London, gross £46,940 a year.
| Gross salary | £46,940 |
| Teachers’ Pension (9.6%) | −£4,506 |
| Income tax | −£5,973 |
| National Insurance | −£2,750 |
| Student loan (Plan 2) | −£1,579 |
| Annual take-home | £32,132 |
Pension is deducted before income tax, so it lowers your taxable pay. Figures use HMRC 2026/27 rates and the 2026/27 Teachers' Pension tiers. Estimates only, not financial advice. Source: Teachers' Pensions
Teachers in England got a 3.5% pay award from 1 September 2026. Outside London the main pay range now runs from £34,069 at M1 to £46,940 at M6, and the upper pay range from £49,134 to £52,835. Most teachers move up one point a year on the main scale, though progression depends on your school's pay policy rather than being automatic.
| Point | Eng excl London | Inner London |
|---|---|---|
| M1 | £34,069 | £41,729 |
| M6 | £46,940 | £54,131 |
| U1 | £49,134 | £59,650 |
| U3 | £52,835 | £64,684 |
A teacher's biggest deduction usually isn't tax, it's the Teachers' Pension contribution. It's tiered by salary, so an M6 teacher on £46,940 pays 9.6%, about £4,506 a year. That feels steep on the payslip, but it buys a career-average defined benefit pension that's worth far more than the same money in a private scheme. And because it comes off before income tax, a chunk of it is effectively funded by tax you'd otherwise pay. The exact tier thresholds are reviewed each April, so check your rate on the Teachers' Pensions calculator.
An M1 teacher in Inner London earns £41,729, over £7,600 more than the same point outside London. That gap narrows in real terms once you account for London rents, but it's worth factoring in if you're weighing up a move. Use the region selector above to see the difference on your point. For the full take-home picture including any second income, try the main salary calculator.