Teacher salary in Scotland 2026
From 1 August 2026, a fully registered class teacher in Scotland earns £43,383 to £54,453 a year. A probationer earns £36,159. Head teacher posts go up to £124,365.
Take-home pay
From a salary of £0 a year
Estimate for a full-time teacher with tax code 1257L and Scottish income tax for 2026/27, the teachers' pension at the tier for your salary, and National Insurance on an annual basis. Your payslip can differ slightly because tax and NI are worked out each month.
Main grade scale
Same scale for primary and secondary. Increments due 1 August: one point per salary year (1 Aug to 31 Jul) with 26 weeks or more of teaching service; part-time weeks count. Probationers move to Point 1 after full GTCS registration, from the first day of employment after 1 August.
| Point | From 1 April 2026 | From 1 August 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Point 0 (Probationer) | £35,022 | £36,159 |
| Point 1 | £42,018 | £43,383 |
| Point 2 | £44,400 | £45,843 |
| Point 3 | £46,977 | £48,504 |
| Point 4 | £49,959 | £51,582 |
| Point 5 | £52,740 | £54,453 |
Source: SNCT salary scales as published by the EIS. Checked 1 October 2026.
Teacher pay scales from 1 August 2026
| Post | SNCT points | Full-time salary |
|---|---|---|
| Probationer | Point 0 | £36,159 |
| Main grade teacher | Points 1 to 5 | £43,383 to £54,453 |
| Chartered teacher | Points 1 to 6 | £56,142 to £66,759 |
| Principal teacher | Points 1 to 8 | £59,367 to £76,617 |
| Lead teacher | Points 1 to 3 | £61,818 to £87,810 |
| Depute head and head teacher | Points 1 to 19 | £67,332 to £124,365 |
These scales are agreed nationally by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT). Every council pays the same figure for the same point. Each rate is rounded to the nearest £3.
The 2025 to 2027 pay deal
The SNCT Teachers' Panel accepted a two-year deal on 11 November 2025. It runs from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2027.
- 4% on every pay point from 1 August 2025, backdated.
- Rising to 4.25% from 1 April 2026.
- A further 3.25% from 1 August 2026.
From 1 April to 31 July 2026, the top of the main grade was £52,740. The August rise took it to £54,453.
The second year had a reopener clause. A pay review would have started if average CPI for the 12 months to April 2026 was above 3.75%. Otherwise the 3.25% went ahead automatically. The EIS and SNCT now publish the 1 August 2026 figures as the current scale.
The deal ends on 31 July 2027. Any rise after that needs a new SNCT agreement, so there are no official 2027 figures yet.
How progression works
Class teachers move up one point each August after a salary year with at least 26 weeks of service. A new teacher starts at point 0, then usually reaches point 5 in their sixth salary year.
Promoted posts work differently. Principal teacher, depute and head teacher posts are paid at a single point set by job sizing. There are no yearly steps within those posts. Pay changes through national uplifts or when a post is re-sized.
How take-home pay is worked out
Take-home pay is gross salary minus four deductions.
- Pension: the Scottish Teachers' Pension Scheme takes one rate on all pay, from 7.35% to 12.14%. It comes off before income tax.
- Income tax: Scottish rates from 19% to 48% apply above the £12,570 personal allowance.
- National Insurance: 8% on pay between £12,570 and £50,270, then 2% above that.
- Student loan: 9% of pay above your plan threshold. Borrowers who applied through SAAS are on Plan 4, with a 2026/27 threshold of £33,795.
Worked example: point 5
| Item | Per year |
|---|---|
| Gross salary | £54,453 |
| Pension at 9.90% | £5,391 |
| Income tax | £8,588 |
| National Insurance | £3,100 |
| Take-home | £37,374 |
That is about £3,115 a month. With a Plan 4 loan, it is about £2,960.
The example assumes a full year at the August 2026 rate and a standard tax code. Real payslips also show the August pay change, any back pay and your own tax code.
Who these scales cover
The SNCT scales apply to teachers employed by Scottish councils. Part-time teachers get the same point, paid in proportion to their hours. Independent schools sit outside the SNCT and set their own pay.
Quick answers
- How much does a teacher earn in Scotland in 2026?
From 1 August 2026, a probationer earns £36,159 and a main grade teacher earns £43,383 to £54,453. Promoted posts run from £59,367 for principal teachers to £124,365 at the top of the head teacher spine.
- When is the next teacher pay rise in Scotland?
The current deal covers pay up to 31 July 2027. The next change is due from 1 August 2027. It needs a new SNCT agreement, and no figures are agreed yet.
- Is teacher pay the same in every Scottish council?
Yes. Council teachers are paid on national SNCT scales. The same point pays the same salary in all 32 councils.
- What is a teacher's monthly take-home pay at the top of the main grade?
At point 5 (£54,453), take-home is about £3,115 a month with a standard tax code and no student loan. A Plan 4 loan brings it to about £2,960.
- Did the 3.25% teacher pay rise go ahead in August 2026?
The deal said it would go ahead automatically unless average CPI to April 2026 was above 3.75%. The EIS and SNCT publish the 1 August 2026 scale, with the 3.25% included, as current.