From 1 September 2026
U3 teacher pay 2026/27
A teacher on U3 in most of England earns £52,835 a year — about £3,128 a month after pension, tax and National Insurance.
Take-home
£3,128
a month
Salary
£52,835
a year, before deductions
Before deductions
£4,403
a month
Where your U3 pay goes
| Each month | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pay before deductions | £4,403 |
| Teachers' Pension (9.9%) | −£436 |
| Income tax | −£584 |
| National Insurance | −£256 |
| Take-home | £3,128 |
Your school also pays about £1,263 a month into your pension on top. Figures use tax code 1257L and 2026/27 tax rates.
U3 pay in London
| Area | Salary | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| Rest of England | £52,835 | £3,128 |
| London Fringe | £54,328 | £3,215 |
| Outer London | £58,120 | £3,384 |
| Inner London | £64,684 | £3,667 |
Part-time on U3
| Days a week | Salary | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| 4 days (80%) | £42,268 | £2,579 |
| 3 days (60%) | £31,701 | £2,039 |
| 2.5 days (50%) | £26,418 | £1,748 |
| 2 days (40%) | £21,134 | £1,457 |
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 | £3,128 |
| Plan 2 | £176 | £2,952 |
| Plan 5 | £209 | £2,919 |
How U3 pay is changing
| Year | Salary | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | £51,048 | £3,023 |
| 2026/27 (now) | £52,835 | £3,128 |
| From Sept 2027 (+3%) | about £54,421 | about £3,220 |
The 3.5% rise from 1 September 2026 adds £1,787 a year to U3. Read what the 3.5% pay award means.
About U3
U3 is the top of the upper pay range — the highest classroom teacher pay point outside leadership.
U3 pay questions
How much is U3 a month after tax?
On U3 outside London you earn £52,835 a year, which is £4,403 a month before deductions. After the Teachers' Pension (9.9%), income tax and National Insurance you take home about £3,128 a month — or £2,952 if you also repay a Plan 2 student loan.
How much is U3 in London?
From 1 September 2026, U3 is £54,328 in London Fringe, £58,120 in Outer London, £64,684 in Inner London.
How much did U3 go up by in 2026?
U3 rose by 3.5%, from £51,048 to £52,835 a year outside London — about £104 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.