How much does a primary school teacher earn?
If you are considering a career as a primary school teacher, one of the most important factors to consider will naturally be your earning potential. By getting to grips with how much money you will start on, and how much you can make in the future, you will be able to determine whether this is the best career choice for you.
Primary school teachers salaries in the UK
The pay scale for primary school teachers can vary. There is natural progression for teachers so the more time you’ve spent in the classroom, the higher your salary will be. Your salary will increase incrementally depending on your experience. The average primary school teacher salary is £27,597 within the UK. Newly qualified teachers (NQTs or also known as ECT’s) can expect to earn at least £22,000 (or £28,000 in London). It is possible to increase your basic salary if you take on additional or new responsibilities such as Head of Year. As your experience builds, there will be more opportunities to gain expertise and apply for more demanding roles such as becoming a leading practitioner which could dramatically increase earning potential, seeing primary school teachers earn up to £70k a year. From September 2022, the government are planning a 3% (or 2% for UPS) pay rise.
So as you can see the pay scale range for primary school teachers is huge, and the earning potential quite impressive.
In 2021 the government implemented a long overdue pay rise for teachers across the board. This rise has helped make the teaching profession more attractive to many. The Department of Education hopes that the rise acknowledges the passion and commitment those heading into the profession demonstrate, and expects a boost in applicants to the profession as a result. With a 5.5% increase in salary, the teaching profession has never been better made and a more inviting prospect.
Checking out the primary school teaching pay scale
To find out more precisely the earning potential of a primary school teacher you can look at the pay scales for primary schools in more detail here. The position you wish to apply for combined with your own experience and qualifications will have an effect on the positions you can apply for and also which salary point you commence on.
Earning more as a primary school teacher
As with almost any role, the amount a primary school teacher can earn is dependent on many factors such as their qualifications, experience, and the responsibilities that the specific job demands. Job progression and therefore a higher salary is possible by clocking up more hours in the classroom as well as undertaking continuing education programs, or volunteering for additional responsibilities within the school setting.You may also consider becoming a specialist in your subject or particular area of teaching. Qualified Special Educational Needs (SEN) teachers and teachers who undertake Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) programmes can also expect a salary increase of thousands on top of their basic earnings.
