The Pay Packet

Teacher take-home pay calculator 2026/27

Choose your region and pay point. We set out exactly what reaches your bank account — Income Tax, National Insurance and your tiered Teachers’ Pension — using the 2025/26 pay scale and 2026/27 tax.

Show figures per

2025/26 STRB pay scale (the current confirmed award). Standard tax code.

Rest of England · M6

2026/27
Gross salary
£3,779
Teachers’ Pension (8.9%)
−£336
Income Tax
−£479
National Insurance
−£219

Monthly take-home

£32,944 a year

£2,745

Your take-home is 73% of your gross. Rounded to the nearest pound.

Verified · 2026/27
21 June 2026

How teacher take-home pay works

Teachers in England are paid on statutory ranges — the Main Pay Range (M1–M6) and the Upper Pay Range (UPS1–3) — with higher scales for Inner London, Outer London and the Fringe. The figures here are the confirmed 2025/26 scale (a 4% award from September 2025); we will update them the day the 2026/27 award is announced.

Your Teachers’ Pension is tiered — from 7.4% up to 12% of your salary. As a net-pay arrangement it comes off before Income Tax, so you get tax relief automatically, but it does not reduce your National Insurance. After that come Income Tax (a £12,570 Personal Allowance, then 20% and 40%) and National Insurance (8%, then 2% above £50,270).

Figures are traced to source and checked for 2026/27 — the Teachers’ Pension tiers and gov.uk for Income Tax and National Insurance. For any salary, use the main take-home calculator.

Teacher pay questions

How much is the teachers’ pension contribution?
It is tiered from 7.4% to 12% of your salary, set by the band your pay falls in (from 1 April 2026). An M6 salary, for example, contributes 8.9%.
Is the pay 2025/26 or 2026/27?
The pay points are the confirmed 2025/26 scale (a 4% STRB award from September 2025) — the 2026/27 award is not settled yet. Your take-home is worked out for the 2026/27 tax year, and we update the scale the day the new award lands.
What is M6 take-home pay?
Rest of England M6 (£45,352) leaves about £32,944 a year — roughly £2,745 a month — after Income Tax, National Insurance and the 8.9% pension (no student loan).
Does the teachers’ pension reduce my tax?
Yes. The Teachers’ Pension Scheme is a net-pay arrangement, so your contribution comes off before Income Tax (automatic tax relief). It does not reduce your National Insurance.
Which London band do I use?
Use Inner London, Outer London or Fringe if your school is in those areas; otherwise use Rest of England.