SOC 2313 Teaching and other educational professionals

Secondary education teaching professionals Salary

Median salary £44,246 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £44,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For secondary education teaching professionals, £47,632 is the typical (median) pay. That is above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +22% versus the national average. Experienced secondary education teaching professionals (top 25%) earn over £52,098.

About this role

Secondary 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 2313

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 466,000

Median Salary

£44,246

Mean Salary

£42,850

Jobs (000s)

466k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £22kP25: £33kMedian: £44kP75: £52kP90: £61k

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£21,640

0-2 years

Mid Level

£33,464

3-7 years

Senior

£52,098

8-15 years

Leadership

£60,615

15+ years

Potential career growth: +180% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +25.6%Real growth: -9.0%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 13.2%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£44,246

Full-time Only

£47,632

Full-time premium: +£3,386

Secondary education teaching professionals salary: common questions

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

Secondary education teaching professionals earn a median of £47,632 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £33,464 and £52,098.

Is £47,632 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for secondary education teaching professionals?

Entry-level secondary education teaching professionals typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £33,464, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £21,640.

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

The best-paid 10% of secondary education teaching professionals earn over £60,615 a year, and the top 25% over £52,098 (ONS ASHE 2025).

Have secondary education teaching professionals salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median secondary education teaching professionals pay has risen from £37,495 to £47,632 — +27% in cash terms, or -8.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

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

Male secondary education teaching professionals earn a median £48,135 and female secondary education teaching professionals £41,795 — a gap of +13% in 2025.

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