After Tax Calculator

About the Teacher Take Home Pay Calculator

Teacher Pay in England and Wales

Teachers follow the STRB pay framework with Main Pay Range (MPR), Upper Pay Range (UPR), and Leadership scales.

Pay Scales 2025/26

MPR (M1-M6): £30,000–£41,333
UPR (UPR1-UPR3): £43,266–£46,525
Leading Practitioner: £47,417–£72,085
Leadership: £47,185–£131,056

London supplements: Fringe £2,000, Outer London £4,000, Inner London £5,000+.

Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS)

Compulsory career average DB scheme. Rates: 7.4% up to £32,947, 8.6% up to £43,945, 9.6% up to £51,583, 10.2% up to £67,789, 11.3% up to £92,697, 11.7% above. Employer contribution: 28.68%.

Other Deductions

Student loans (especially Plan 2 for post-2012 trainees), union subscriptions (NEU/NASUWT £150-£250/year), and salary sacrifice schemes.

Career Progression

NQTs reach M6 within 5-6 years meeting targets. UPR adds £2,000-£5,000. Head teachers at large secondaries: £80,000-£130,000+.

Financial Planning for Teachers

Teachers face unique financial considerations due to their pension structure, pay progression, and working patterns.

Understanding TPS vs Private Pension

The Teachers' Pension Scheme is a Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) scheme. Unlike private defined contribution pensions, TPS guarantees a specific retirement income based on your career average salary. With the employer contributing 28.68% (far above the private sector average of 3-6%), opting out is almost never financially sensible. Even if you leave teaching, your accrued TPS benefits remain valuable.

Tax-Efficient Pay Progression

Moving from M6 (£41,333) to UPR1 (£43,266) crosses no major tax thresholds, making it a clean increase in take-home. However, moving into Leadership roles above £50,270 triggers the Higher Rate band (40%), meaning each additional pound earned yields only 58p after tax and NI. Factor this into decisions about TLR payments and leadership positions — the gross increase may look larger than the net benefit.

Supply Teaching and Tax

Supply teachers often work through umbrella companies or agencies, which means employer NI (13.8%) and umbrella margins are deducted from the day rate before calculating gross pay. A supply rate of £180/day does not equate to £180 multiplied by working days — the effective gross salary after umbrella deductions is significantly lower. Always ask agencies for a clear breakdown before accepting assignments.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Teacher Take Home Pay Calculator work?

Enter your gross annual salary, select your tax region (England/Wales/NI or Scotland), and optionally add student loan and pension details. The calculator instantly applies 2025/26 tax rates to show your take-home pay.

Is this calculator accurate for 2025/26?

Yes. Our calculator uses the latest 2025/26 income tax bands and National Insurance rates published by HMRC. For pension deductions, enter your contribution rate in the Advanced Options.

What pension % for teachers?

7.4% up to £32,947, scaling to 11.7% above £92,697. Check your payslip.

London teacher pay?

Inner London supplement up to £5,000+, though higher costs often offset this.

NQT take-home?

M1 (£30,000): ~£24,361/year before pension. After 7.4% TPS: ~£1,845/month.

Supply teacher tax?

Same rates, but umbrella companies deduct employer NI and margin from your assignment rate first.

Can I claim teaching expenses?

Employed teachers cannot claim most expenses. Union fees and some professional subscriptions may qualify for tax relief through HMRC P87.

What happens to TPS if I leave?

Your accrued benefits remain in the scheme and grow with CPI inflation. You can claim them from age 67 or earlier with reduced value.