Teachers Pay Scale London 2026/27
Reviewed by James Sheridan, CIPP-qualified payroll specialist · Last verified
Your results
- Annual salary (pro rata)
- £38,766.00
- Monthly gross
- £3,230.50
Estimates only, based on 2026/27 HMRC rates. Verify against GOV.UK before making payroll decisions.
London teachers receive higher pay than the rest of England through three area-based pay bands: Inner London, Outer London and the London Fringe. At M1, the uplift ranges from -£1,070 (Fringe) to £4,697 (Inner London) above the Rest of England rate. This page compares all three London bands with the national rate, explains which boroughs fall into each category, and links to the full [teachers pay scale calculator](/teachers-pay-scale-calculator/) for additional ranges.
How to use this calculator
- Check your school’s London band. Your school’s postcode determines whether Inner London, Outer London or Fringe rates apply.
- Find the correct pay table. Use the tables below for Main and Upper ranges in each London band.
- Compare with Rest of England. The final column shows the Rest of England rate for direct comparison.
How it is calculated
London teacher pay uses the same take-home formula: gross salary − TPS pension − income tax − NI. The higher gross salary pushes more income into higher tax and pension tiers, so the net uplift is smaller than the gross difference. An Inner London M1 teacher earning £38,766 takes home less of the uplift than the headline £4,697 difference suggests after pension and tax.
Main Pay Range: London rates 2026/27
| Pay point | Inner London | Outer London | Fringe | Rest of England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | £38,766 | £36,413 | £32,999 | £34,069 |
| M2 | £40,660 | £38,304 | £35,147 | £36,042 |
| M3 | £43,038 | £40,564 | £37,478 | £38,400 |
| M4 | £45,527 | £43,047 | £40,018 | £40,941 |
| M5 | £48,540 | £46,188 | £42,587 | £43,529 |
| M6 | £51,179 | £48,540 | £46,006 | £46,940 |
The Inner London M6 rate of £51,179 is £4,239 above the Rest of England M6 (£46,940).
Upper Pay Range: London rates 2026/27
| Pay point | Inner London | Outer London | Fringe | Rest of England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPS1 | £56,511 | £52,287 | £50,400 | £49,134 |
| UPS2 | £58,321 | £54,101 | £52,214 | £50,956 |
| UPS3 | £61,849 | £56,516 | £53,885 | £52,835 |
Inner London UPS3 at £61,849 is the highest classroom teacher salary in the STPCD, £9,014 above the national UPS3 rate.
Which boroughs are Inner London?
Inner London includes the boroughs of Camden, City of London, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster.
Schools in these boroughs automatically attract the Inner London pay band. If you work in one of these boroughs, your M1 starting salary is £38,766 rather than £34,069.
Which boroughs are Outer London?
Outer London includes Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston, Merton, Redbridge, Richmond, Sutton and Waltham Forest.
Outer London M1 is £36,413, an uplift of £2,344 above the Rest of England rate.
London Fringe areas
The Fringe band covers areas surrounding London that are not within the Greater London boundary but still have higher living costs. This includes parts of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey. The specific areas are defined in the STPCD.
Fringe M1 is £32,999, an uplift of -£1,070 above the Rest of England. The Fringe uplift is smaller than Outer London but still adds -£78 per month at M6.
London cost of living context
While London pay is higher, so is the cost of living. The Inner London M1 uplift of £4,697 is roughly £391 more per month before tax. After pension, tax and NI, the net monthly difference is smaller. London teachers also face significantly higher housing costs, transport costs and general cost of living.
Teachers considering a move to or from London should compare net take-home pay, not just gross salaries. The [take-home pay calculator](/take-home-pay-calculator/) can help model the difference.
Summary
London teachers earn more than the rest of England, with the largest uplift in Inner London. Check your school’s postcode to determine which band applies. For the full picture including Leadership and Unqualified ranges, use the [teachers pay scale calculator](/teachers-pay-scale-calculator/). For the [Main Pay Range detail](/teachers-main-pay-scale/) or [Upper Pay Range application process](/teachers-upper-pay-scale/), see the dedicated pages.
Key rates — tax year 2026/27
Source: GOV.UK, "Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027" (HMRC).
| Employer NI main rate | 15% |
|---|---|
| Secondary threshold (annual) | £5,000.00 |
| Employment Allowance | £10,500.00 |
| Employee NI main rate | 8% |
| Primary threshold (annual) | £12,570.00 |
| Personal Allowance | £12,570.00 |
| Basic income tax rate | 20% |
| SSP weekly rate | £123.25 |
| SMP weekly rate (flat weeks) | £194.32 |
| Auto-enrolment employer minimum | 3% |
| Auto-enrolment employee minimum | 5% |
| National Living Wage (21+, per hour) | £12.71 |
Frequently asked questions
How much more do Inner London teachers earn?
At M1, Inner London teachers earn £38,766, which is £4,697 more than the Rest of England rate of £34,069.
Which London band does my school fall into?
It depends on the school’s postcode. Inner London covers the central boroughs, Outer London covers the remaining Greater London boroughs, and the Fringe covers surrounding areas. The STPCD lists the specific areas.
Is there a separate London allowance on top?
No. London weighting is built into the pay scale itself. There is no separate London allowance for teachers as there is in some other public sector roles.
Does the London rate affect my pension?
Yes. Your TPS contribution is based on your actual salary, so London teachers pay more into the pension in absolute terms, which also builds a larger retirement benefit.
Can I keep London pay if I move to a school outside London?
No. Your pay is determined by your new school’s location and pay policy. There is no pay protection for geographical moves.
Do academies in London have to pay London rates?
Academies are not bound by the STPCD and can set their own pay. Many London academies do pay at or above STPCD London rates to remain competitive, but this is not guaranteed.
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