From 1 September 2026
M2 teacher pay 2026/27
A teacher on M2 in most of England earns £36,042 a year — about £2,278 a month after pension, tax and National Insurance.
Take-home
£2,278
a month
Salary
£36,042
a year, before deductions
Before deductions
£3,004
a month
Where your M2 pay goes
| Each month | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pay before deductions | £3,004 |
| Teachers' Pension (7.4%) | −£222 |
| Income tax | −£347 |
| National Insurance | −£156 |
| Take-home | £2,278 |
Your school also pays about £861 a month into your pension on top. Figures use tax code 1257L and 2026/27 tax rates.
M2 pay in London
| Area | Salary | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| Rest of England | £36,042 | £2,278 |
| London Fringe | £37,647 | £2,329 |
| Outer London | £41,246 | £2,523 |
| Inner London | £43,713 | £2,657 |
Part-time on M2
| Days a week | Salary | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| 4 days (80%) | £28,834 | £1,881 |
| 3 days (60%) | £21,625 | £1,484 |
| 2.5 days (50%) | £18,021 | £1,286 |
| 2 days (40%) | £14,417 | £1,087 |
Part-time teachers often pay a lower pension rate, so take-home doesn't drop as much as salary.
With a student loan
| Loan | Repayment a month | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| No loan | £0 | £2,278 |
| Plan 2 | £50 | £2,228 |
| Plan 5 | £83 | £2,195 |
How M2 pay is changing
| Year | Salary | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | £34,823 | £2,211 |
| 2026/27 (now) | £36,042 | £2,278 |
| From Sept 2027 (+3%) | about £37,124 | about £2,300 |
The 3.5% rise from 1 September 2026 adds £1,219 a year to M2. Read what the 3.5% pay award means.
About M2
M2 is on the main pay range, usually reached after 1 years of successful appraisals.
M2 pay questions
How much is M2 a month after tax?
On M2 outside London you earn £36,042 a year, which is £3,004 a month before deductions. After the Teachers' Pension (7.4%), income tax and National Insurance you take home about £2,278 a month — or £2,228 if you also repay a Plan 2 student loan.
How much is M2 in London?
From 1 September 2026, M2 is £37,647 in London Fringe, £41,246 in Outer London, £43,713 in Inner London.
How much did M2 go up by in 2026?
M2 rose by 3.5%, from £34,823 to £36,042 a year outside London — about £67 a month more in take-home pay. A further 3% rise has been agreed from 1 September 2027.
Do academies pay the same?
Academies don’t have to follow the national pay scales, but most use them or something very close. Check your contract or ask your HR team.