How Much a Teaching Assistant Earns in the UK: Latest Figures

How much a teaching assistant earns is a question many people ask before stepping into this vital role. Most school TAs earn £24,400–£28,100 FTE, and Higher-Level TAs usually take home £28,600–£32,100 FTE. Additionally, pay rose by 3.2% in April 2025. Keep in mind, your real pay is usually pro-rata if you’re on a term-time contract.

This guide explains how teaching assistant pay works and the factors that affect your salary. It also gives practical tips to boost your earnings without overworking.

Who This Guide Is For

This guide is for anyone curious about teaching assistant pay, including:

• School TAs
• Higher-Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs)
• University Teaching Assistants (UTAs)

It’s also useful if you want to understand term-time vs. full-year pay, London pay uplifts, and tips for increasing your earnings.

What Changes Your Pay

Several factors can affect how much a teaching assistant earns, including:

• Location: London and some areas usually pay more.
• Hours per week: Working more hours generally increases pay.
• Term-time vs full-year: Term-time contracts are pro-rata, so total pay is lower.
• Extra duties: One-to-one support, SEN work, or covering lessons can boost pay.
• Qualifications: Higher-level certificates or training often lead to higher salaries.

How Much a Teaching Assistant Earns

Understanding Grade & Spinal Column Point (SCP)

In UK schools and local authorities, support staff pay is organised into a clear structure. Each job is given a Grade, which reflects the level of responsibility, skills, and experience needed for the role. Within that grade, pay is divided into steps called Spinal Column Points (SCPs). These points set out the pay scale for that grade and show how salaries can increase over time.

Staff usually move up the SCP scale through annual progression or by gaining experience, until they reach the top of their grade. This system makes pay fair and consistent, while also rewarding professional growth.

School TA Pay in 2025/26

In England, school TA salaries have increased by 3.2% under the National Joint Council (NJC) scales, effective April 1, 2025, and running until March 31, 2026. As a result, the national starting salary for school support staff, including TAs, is now £24,413.

Of course, earnings can vary depending on your experience, responsibilities, and location. Outside London, most TAs receive between £24,400 and £28,100 FTE, with entry-level roles starting around £24,413 and experienced TAs often reaching £27–28k FTE.

It’s important to know, spinal column points are the specific points on the NJC pay scale that determine your salary. Each TA role is assigned a spinal point based on experience, responsibilities, and qualifications.

Your take-home income also depends on term-time contracts, hours worked, and extra duties like one-to-one support, SEN work, or cover lessons. Furthermore, London schools usually offer higher rates to match living costs.

Higher-Level Teaching Assistant Pay 2025/26

Thinking about moving up to a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant role? If so, you could be looking at a salary between £28,600 and £32,100 FTE. As you might expect, schools in London tend to offer slightly higher pay. Moreover, many current job listings show salaries around £30–32k FTE, so it’s always worth checking the specific advert for the exact figure.

Term-Time Pay, Decoded

If you’re on a term-time school contract, you’re only paid for the weeks when school is open—usually about 39 weeks a year. However, your total pay is spread across 12 monthly payslips, so your monthly salary might look smaller than expected.

In short: You earn for 39 weeks of work, paid in 12 monthly instalments.

Simple Pay Calculator

Figuring out your yearly pay as a teaching assistant is actually pretty simple. All you do is multiply your Hourly pay × hours per week × paid weeks = annual pay. 

For example, if you earn £12.65 per hour, work 32.5 hours per week, and your contract pays for 39 weeks, your annual pay would be: £12.65 × 32.5 × 39 ≈ £16,034 a year.

Just remember, if your contract has more or fewer paid weeks, swap in the right number. Also, picking up extra duties, like covering lessons or helping students one-to-one, can give your pay a nice little boost.

London & Hotspots

London and some other busy areas pay more because the cost of living is higher. Therefore, schools add a location uplift to help staff cover things like rent and travel. For instance, a normal TA outside London might earn £24,400–£28,100 FTE, but in London the same job could pay £27,000–£31,000 FTE. Similarly, for Higher-Level TAs, pay outside London usually sits around £28,600–£32,100 FTE, while in London it can go up to £30,500–£34,000 FTE. Additionally, Inner and Outer London schools set their own rates.

In short, working in London or a hotspot area usually means more money, which helps make the higher living costs a little easier to manage.

University Teaching Assistants (UK)

Working as a University Teaching Assistant (TA) is a great way to gain teaching experience while supporting professors and undergraduate students. For example, you might help by running tutorials, supervising lab sessions, marking assignments, or giving feedback.

If, on the other hand, you’re a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), you’re usually studying for a master’s or PhD. In this role, GTAs often take on more responsibility, such as leading seminars, preparing materials, or supervising labs, and they usually earn a bit more than undergraduate TAs.

When it comes to pay, University TAs in the UK generally earn £16–£25 per hour, with many roles averaging £17–£22 per hour. Meanwhile, in London, the rate is often slightly higher, around £19–£20/hour. Of course, pay can also vary depending on your experience, university, and the complexity of your tasks.

Additionally, if you’re a funded PhD student, your stipend (starting at £20,780 from October 2025) is separate from any hourly teaching pay. Beyond the money, these roles give valuable teaching experience and professional skills, which can really help your future career.

What You Actually Take Home

If you’re a Level 1 Teaching Assistant, you might earn £24,400 a year on a term-time contract, working around 32.5 hours a week for about 39 weeks. But, this total is usually spread over 12 monthly payslips, so your monthly pay is smaller—around £2,033 before tax.

This happens because most school contracts are term-time only, which means you get paid only for the weeks school is open, usually around 39 weeks a year. By understanding this, you can clearly see what you’ll actually get each month and plan your money better.

Benefits & Extras That Boost Your Pay

Your basic pay is just part of the story—some extras can increase what you earn. These include:

• Paid training
• Paid lunch breaks
• After-school or breakfast clubs
• Extra cover or overtime
• Travel or parking money
• Pension contributions

All these add up, so it’s good to check your contract to see what you get.

Offer Checklist

Before accepting a TA job, make sure you check:

• Exact salary
• How many weeks you’ll be paid
• Weekly hours
• Is lunch paid?
• Any one-to-one or SEN allowance
• Notice period
• Who pays for required training

Checking these details helps you know exactly what to expect and avoid surprises.

Where to Check Today’s Numbers

To see the latest pay for teaching assistants, check:

• Your local council or academy trust support-staff pay table (2025/26)
• Live TA/HLTA job listings on GOV.UK
• The latest support-staff pay-rise updates
• Union websites (like UNISON or NASUWT) for official pay guidance
• School or academy HR departments for specific pay scales

Checking these sources helps you know the most accurate and up-to-date pay information for your area.

How to Earn a Bit More

You can increase your earnings without overworking yourself:

• Step up to HLTA roles when you’re ready
• Take paid club or cover sessions if you can
• Look for SEN support roles that come with small allowances
• Check nearby boroughs for higher pay rates

A few smart moves can boost your total pay while keeping your workload manageable.

FAQs

1. How much is a teaching assistant salary in the UK?
Most TAs earn £24,400–£28,100 FTE, while Higher-Level TAs earn £28,600–£32,100 FTE.

2. How much are TAs paid per hour?
Hourly rates are usually around £12–£15, depending on experience, duties, and location.

3. Do teaching assistants get paid well?
Pay is modest, but extras like London allowance, cover work, and SEN support can increase earnings.

4. What is a TA pay scale?
It’s a structured salary range set by councils or academies based on experience, responsibilities, and qualifications.

5. How many hours is full-time for a TA?
Full-time is usually around 32–37.5 hours per week, depending on the school.

6. Is a TA position a good job?
Yes, it’s rewarding, especially if you enjoy helping children learn and want teaching experience.

7. Do I need qualifications to be a teaching assistant?
Basic entry may not need formal qualifications, but Level 2 or 3 in supporting teaching boosts your chances.

8. Where do teacher assistants get paid the most?
London and hotspot areas pay more, often £2,500–£4,000 higher than outside London.

Final Thoughts

So, how much a teaching assistant earns in the UK depends on a few things—first, your experience, next, where you work, and also the duties you take on, as well as whether your contract is term-time only. Generally, most school TAs earn around £24,400–£28,100 FTE, while Higher-Level TAs can reach £28,600–£32,100 FTE. In addition, extras like cover lessons or SEN support can give your total earnings a helpful boost. By understanding all this, you can plan better, feel confident, and make the most of your career as a teaching assistant.

And if you want to take it further, boosting both your skills and earning potential, the Open Learning Academy’s Teaching Assistant Course is the perfect place to start. Get qualified, confident, and ready to take your career to the next level—enrol today.