Head Teacher Salary UK 2026/27: Average Pay, Take-Home and How School Size Affects Earnings

Understanding Head Teacher Salary in the UK for 2026/27

If you are considering a career in school leadership or are a governor setting pay, you need a clear picture of head teacher salary in the UK. Unlike classroom teachers, head teachers are paid on a separate leadership spine that ranges from just over £53,000 to nearly £149,000 outside London. The actual figure you earn depends almost entirely on the size and complexity of your school.

This article uses the latest publicly available data from the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) for 2026/27, alongside ONS ASHE figures for context. We explain how pay is set, what you can expect to take home after tax and pension, and how head teacher pay compares with UK averages.

How Head Teacher Pay Is Structured

Head teacher salaries in England are governed by the STPCD, which assigns each school a group from 1 to 8. The group is calculated from a total unit score based on pupil numbers weighted by key stage – not simply the number of children on roll. Each group has an advisory pay range on the leadership spine, which runs from L1 (the minimum) to L43 (the maximum).

For 2026/27, the rest-of-England ranges are:

• Group 1 (small primary): L6–L12, £60,619–£70,275
• Group 2: L8–L14, £63,688–£73,827
• Group 3: L11–L17, £68,691–£79,460
• Group 4: L14–L20, £73,827–£85,547
• Group 5 (small secondary): L18–L24, £81,457–£94,349
• Group 6: L21–L27, £87,664–£101,540
• Group 7: L24–L30, £94,349–£109,291
• Group 8 (large secondary): L28–L34, £104,059–£120,532

The top of the leadership spine (L43) is £148,829, but this is rarely used except for very large or complex schools. London areas add a premium: London Fringe adds about £1,474 to each end, Outer London adds about £4,251, and Inner London adds about £10,123. So an Inner London head can earn up to £158,863.

What Is the Average Head Teacher Salary?

There is no single average because the spread is enormous. A head of a small rural primary and the head of a large London secondary can be more than £80,000 apart. According to the uk-teacherpaycalculator.co.uk guide, a typical primary head teacher earns £60,000 to £70,000, an average primary head £68,000 to £79,000, and a secondary head £87,000 to £109,000. The ONS does not publish a separate head teacher occupation code, so the teacher medians you see – £47,632 for secondary and £45,939 for primary – include all classroom teachers and some leadership roles. Head teachers are in a different league: even the lowest-paid head (Group 1) earns about 54% above the UK full-time median of £39,039, and a Group 8 head earns about 167% above it.

Take-Home Pay After Tax and Pension

Head teachers in maintained schools must join the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS). Contributions range from 9.9% at the bottom of the spine to 12% at the top. These are deducted before Income Tax, which reduces the taxable amount. Using tax code 1257L and England/Wales/NI bands, the salarytax.uk calculator provides these monthly take-home estimates:

• L1 (£53,586): Pension £5,305 (9.9%), tax and NI £10,225, net £3,171/month
• Group 1 (£60,619): Pension £6,365 (10.5%), tax and NI £12,357, net £3,491/month
• Group 4 (£73,827): Pension £7,752 (10.5%), tax and NI £17,349, net £4,061/month
• Group 8 (£104,059): Pension £12,071 (11.6%), tax and NI £28,319, net £5,306/month
• L43 (£148,829): Pension £17,859 (12%), tax and NI £50,126, net £6,737/month

These figures assume no student loan deductions. Scotland uses different income tax bands (starter, basic, intermediate, higher, top), so take-home will differ for Scottish head teachers.

How Head Teacher Pay Compares with UK Averages

The UK full-time median gross annual pay for 2025 (latest ONS data) is £39,039. A head teacher on the Group 1 minimum (£60,619) earns about 55% above that median. A Group 8 head (£104,059) earns about 167% above. Even the lowest leadership point (£53,586) is 37% above the median. This places head teachers firmly in the top 10% of UK earners – and those at the top of the spine are in the top 1%.

For context, the UK mean full-time gross annual pay is about £45,800. Head teachers far exceed that average. However, the responsibility is immense: heads are accountable for budgets, staff, pupil outcomes, and legal compliance. The pay reflects that burden.

Regional Variations and Academy Trusts

The figures above are for maintained schools in England. Academies and multi-academy trusts can set their own pay scales, though many follow the STPCD. Some trusts pay above the advisory range to attract leaders. Independent schools are entirely free to set salaries, and some pay significantly more, especially in London and the South East.

London weighting adds a substantial premium. For example, an Inner London head on L43 can earn £158,863 – nearly £10,000 more than the rest-of-England maximum. The fringe area (e.g., parts of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire) adds about £1,474.

What Governors Need to Know

If you are a governor setting a head teacher’s salary, you must first determine the school’s group using the STPCD formula. Then you choose a point within the group’s advisory range. You can pay above the range in exceptional circumstances, but you must justify it. The pay award for 2026/27 increased the spine by about 2.5% to 3%, consistent with the wider teacher pay award.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average head teacher salary in the UK? There is no single average because head teacher pay follows school group size. For 2026/27, a small primary head typically earns £60,000–£70,000, an average primary head £68,000–£79,000, and a secondary head £87,000–£109,000. Inner London adds roughly £10,000–£11,000. The ONS does not publish a separate head teacher median, but the full-time teacher median (all roles) is about £47,000.

How much take-home pay does a head teacher receive after tax and pension? Take-home depends on salary and pension tier. For a Group 8 head on £104,059, monthly take-home is about £5,306 after £12,071 pension, £28,319 tax and NI. For a Group 1 head on £60,619, take-home is about £3,491 per month. These figures use tax code 1257L and England bands; Scotland differs.

How is a head teacher's salary determined? The salary is set by the school’s group (1 to 8), calculated from pupil numbers weighted by key stage. Each group has an advisory pay range on the leadership spine (L1–L43). Governors set the actual point within that range. London fringe, Outer London and Inner London have higher ranges. Exceptional performance can justify pay above the range.

Further Reading

For more UK salary comparisons, visit our UK Average Salary, or explore salary data for other professions. You can also check our salary index to see how head teacher pay ranks against other roles.

Disclaimer

The figures in this article are based on the 2026/27 STPCD advisory pay ranges and publicly available calculators. Actual salaries may vary depending on the school’s group, region, academy status, and individual negotiations. Always check official pay documents and your employment contract. Tax and pension estimates are illustrative and not financial advice.