From 1 September 2026
U1 teacher pay 2026/27
A teacher on U1 in most of England earns £49,134 a year — about £2,917 a month after pension, tax and National Insurance.
Take-home
£2,917
a month
Salary
£49,134
a year, before deductions
Before deductions
£4,095
a month
Where your U1 pay goes
| Each month | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pay before deductions | £4,095 |
| Teachers' Pension (9.9%) | −£405 |
| Income tax | −£528 |
| National Insurance | −£244 |
| Take-home | £2,917 |
Your school also pays about £1,174 a month into your pension on top. Figures use tax code 1257L and 2026/27 tax rates.
U1 pay in London
| Area | Salary | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| Rest of England | £49,134 | £2,917 |
| London Fringe | £50,625 | £2,998 |
| Outer London | £54,047 | £3,198 |
| Inner London | £59,650 | £3,450 |
Part-time on U1
| Days a week | Salary | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| 4 days (80%) | £39,307 | £2,419 |
| 3 days (60%) | £29,480 | £1,917 |
| 2.5 days (50%) | £24,567 | £1,646 |
| 2 days (40%) | £19,654 | £1,376 |
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 | £2,917 |
| Plan 2 | £148 | £2,769 |
| Plan 5 | £181 | £2,736 |
How U1 pay is changing
| Year | Salary | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | £47,472 | £2,860 |
| 2026/27 (now) | £49,134 | £2,917 |
| From Sept 2027 (+3%) | about £50,609 | about £2,998 |
The 3.5% rise from 1 September 2026 adds £1,662 a year to U1. Read what the 3.5% pay award means.
About U1
U1 is the first point of the upper pay range, for experienced teachers who apply and meet their school’s criteria.
U1 pay questions
How much is U1 a month after tax?
On U1 outside London you earn £49,134 a year, which is £4,095 a month before deductions. After the Teachers' Pension (9.9%), income tax and National Insurance you take home about £2,917 a month — or £2,769 if you also repay a Plan 2 student loan.
How much is U1 in London?
From 1 September 2026, U1 is £50,625 in London Fringe, £54,047 in Outer London, £59,650 in Inner London.
How much did U1 go up by in 2026?
U1 rose by 3.5%, from £47,472 to £49,134 a year outside London — about £57 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.