SOC 6112 Caring personal service occupations

Teaching assistants Salary

Median salary £18,024 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £18,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For teaching assistants, £21,239 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -46% versus the national average. Experienced teaching assistants (top 25%) earn over £21,468.

About this role

Teaching assistants support teachers in classrooms by helping pupils with learning activities, providing one-to-one or small group support, preparing materials and contributing to the management of the learning environment.

Key responsibilities

Supporting pupils with learning activities under teacher direction
Providing one-to-one and small group support for pupils who need it
Preparing classroom resources and displays
Supervising pupils during breaks, lunchtimes and activities
Supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities

Qualifications and entry routes

Level 2/3 Teaching Assistant qualifications (e.g., CACHE, NCFE) are standard. GCSEs in English and maths are typically required. DBS check is mandatory. Many progress to HLTA status or teacher training.

Career outlook

Steady demand across all school types. Teaching assistant roles provide a valuable pathway into teaching careers through assessment-only QTS or teacher training.

Key skills

Supporting learning Communication Patience Behaviour management Adaptability

Common industries

Primary schools
Secondary schools
Special schools
Pupil referral units
Academy trusts

Data coverage

SOC code 6112

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 255,000

Median Salary

£18,024

Mean Salary

£17,504

Jobs (000s)

255k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £9kP25: £14kMedian: £18kP75: £21kP90: £25k

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£9,046

0-2 years

Mid Level

£13,660

3-7 years

Senior

£21,468

8-15 years

Leadership

£25,152

15+ years

Potential career growth: +178% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +54.3%Real growth: +11.8%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 7.3%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£18,024

Full-time Only

£21,239

Full-time premium: +£3,215

Teaching assistants salary: common questions

How much do teaching assistants earn in the UK?

Teaching assistants earn a median of £21,239 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £13,660 and £21,468.

Is £21,239 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for teaching assistants?

Entry-level teaching assistants typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £13,660, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £9,046.

How much do the highest-paid teaching assistants earn?

The best-paid 10% of teaching assistants earn over £25,152 a year, and the top 25% over £21,468 (ONS ASHE 2025).

Have teaching assistants salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median teaching assistants pay has risen from £15,616 to £21,239 — +36% in cash terms, or -1.0% after CPIH inflation. That is roughly in line with inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for teaching assistants?

Male teaching assistants earn a median £19,229 and female teaching assistants £17,823 — a gap of +7.0% in 2025.

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