SOC 3231 Health and social care associate professionals

Higher level teaching assistants Salary

Median salary £22,050 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £22,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For higher level teaching assistants, £25,434 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -35% versus the national average. Experienced higher level teaching assistants (top 25%) earn over £26,215.

About this role

Higher level teaching assistants (HLTAs) provide advanced teaching support in schools, planning and delivering lessons, assessing pupil work and covering classes under the direction of qualified teachers.

Key responsibilities

Planning and delivering lessons and learning activities
Assessing and recording pupil progress
Covering classes in the absence of the teacher
Supporting pupils with special educational needs
Contributing to curriculum planning and development

Qualifications and entry routes

Requires HLTA status, assessed against national standards. Typically builds on Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualifications with additional training. Many HLTAs hold degrees or foundation degrees in education.

Career outlook

Schools rely increasingly on HLTAs for cost-effective teaching support. The role can provide a pathway to qualified teacher status (QTS) for those wishing to progress.

Key skills

Teaching and instruction Behaviour management Assessment SEN support Curriculum knowledge

Common industries

Primary schools
Secondary schools
Special schools
Pupil referral units
Multi-academy trusts

Data coverage

SOC code 3231

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2021–2025

Estimated jobs 39,000

Median Salary

£22,050

Mean Salary

£21,629

Jobs (000s)

39k

Data Years

5 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £18,367Median: £22,050P75: £26,215

P10: --P25: £18kMedian: £22kP75: £26kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£18,367

0-2 years

Mid Level

£18,367

3-7 years

Senior

£26,215

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +43% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2021-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +21.1%Real growth: -2.0%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 13.1%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£22,050

Full-time Only

£25,434

Full-time premium: +£3,384

Higher level teaching assistants salary: common questions

How much do higher level teaching assistants earn in the UK?

Higher level teaching assistants earn a median of £25,434 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £18,367 and £26,215.

Is £25,434 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for higher level teaching assistants?

Entry-level higher level teaching assistants typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £18,367, though this varies by employer and region.

Have higher level teaching assistants salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2021, median higher level teaching assistants pay has risen from £21,710 to £25,434 — +17% in cash terms, or -5.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for higher level teaching assistants?

Male higher level teaching assistants earn a median £24,753 and female higher level teaching assistants £21,505 — a gap of +13% in 2025.

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