SOC 2311 Teaching and other educational professionals

Higher education teaching professionals Salary

Median salary £46,494 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £46,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For higher education teaching professionals, £52,835 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +35% versus the national average. Experienced higher education teaching professionals (top 25%) earn over £62,547.

About this role

Higher education teaching professionals plan, deliver and assess teaching to students, developing subject knowledge, skills and capabilities. They create learning environments, track student progress and contribute to curriculum development and departmental activities.

Key responsibilities

Planning and delivering lessons, lectures or seminars
Assessing student work and providing constructive feedback
Developing curriculum content and learning materials
Supporting student welfare and pastoral care
Engaging in continuing professional development and, in higher education, research

Qualifications and entry routes

School teaching requires a degree plus QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) via PGCE or equivalent. Higher education typically requires a PhD and research track record. FE teaching requires a Level 5 teaching qualification.

Career outlook

Ongoing recruitment challenges, particularly in STEM subjects, languages and special educational needs. Retention is a significant sector concern.

Key skills

Subject expertise Communication and presentation Classroom management Assessment and feedback Adaptability

Common industries

Primary education
Secondary education
Further education
Higher education
Special educational needs

Data coverage

SOC code 2311

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 246,000

Median Salary

£46,494

Mean Salary

£46,955

Jobs (000s)

246k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £13kP25: £30kMedian: £46kP75: £63kP90: £75k

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£12,865

0-2 years

Mid Level

£30,275

3-7 years

Senior

£62,547

8-15 years

Leadership

£75,466

15+ years

Potential career growth: +487% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +4.7%Real growth: -24.2%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 18.1%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£46,494

Full-time Only

£52,835

Full-time premium: +£6,341

Higher education teaching professionals salary: common questions

How much do higher education teaching professionals earn in the UK?

Higher education teaching professionals earn a median of £52,835 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £30,275 and £62,547.

Is £52,835 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for higher education teaching professionals?

Entry-level higher education teaching professionals typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £30,275, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £12,865.

How much do the highest-paid higher education teaching professionals earn?

The best-paid 10% of higher education teaching professionals earn over £75,466 a year, and the top 25% over £62,547 (ONS ASHE 2025).

Have higher education teaching professionals salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median higher education teaching professionals pay has risen from £47,097 to £52,835 — +12% in cash terms, or -19% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for higher education teaching professionals?

Male higher education teaching professionals earn a median £51,514 and female higher education teaching professionals £42,186 — a gap of +18% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).