Teaching assistant salary 2026/27
How teaching assistants are paid from April 2026, why the advertised salary is higher than what you get, and what you take home.
How teaching assistant pay works
Most teaching assistants in council-run schools, and many academies, are paid on the NJC spine. Job adverts usually show two figures: the full-time equivalent salary for the spine point, and the actual salary. The actual salary is lower because it is cut for hours and weeks.
Full time on the spine is 37 hours a week for 52 weeks. A teaching assistant working 32.5 hours a week during term time, paid for 45.6 weeks, gets 32.5/37 × 45.6/52.143 of the full-time salary, about 77%. The pay is spread evenly over 12 months, so you are paid in the school holidays too.
Pay at common spine points
| Spine point | Full-time salary | Actual salary | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCP 3 | £25,614 | £19,676 | £1,398 |
| SCP 5 | £26,427 | £20,300 | £1,433 |
| SCP 7 | £27,274 | £20,951 | £1,469 |
| SCP 9 | £28,153 | £21,626 | £1,507 |
| SCP 12 | £29,542 | £22,693 | £1,567 |
| SCP 15 | £31,015 | £23,824 | £1,631 |
| SCP 18 | £32,578 | £25,025 | £1,698 |
| SCP 22 | £34,811 | £26,740 | £1,794 |
32.5 hours a week, 45.6 paid weeks, LGPS main section, tax code 1257L. Your school sets your grade, hours and paid weeks, so change them in the calculator above.
Three common contracts compared
| Contract | Hours a week | Paid weeks | Salary | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCP 7 | 27.5 | 39 | £15,162 | £1,147 |
| SCP 7 | 32.5 | 45.6 | £20,951 | £1,469 |
| SCP 7 | 37 | 45.6 | £23,852 | £1,632 |
The same spine point can produce very different pay depending on hours and paid weeks, which is why advertised full-time figures can mislead. The paid weeks figure for term-time staff is usually 39 weeks of teaching plus holiday entitlement and some training days, so check your contract.
Spotting the right figure on an advert
Look for the words “actual salary” or “pro rata”. The full-time equivalent is a scale rate, not what you will be paid. Work from the actual salary when you compare jobs.
What a teaching assistant does
Teaching assistants support teachers in the classroom and help pupils learn. The job ranges from helping a small group with reading to supporting one child with special educational needs all day.
Typical duties
- Working with individual pupils or small groups on reading, writing and maths.
- Supporting pupils with special educational needs or disabilities.
- Preparing resources and setting up the classroom.
- Helping with behaviour, playground duty and school trips.
- Feeding back to the teacher on how pupils are getting on.
Levels and progression
Many schools use levels from 1 to 4, with more responsibility and a higher grade at each level. Higher level teaching assistants (HLTAs) can plan and teach lessons and cover classes, and are usually paid at the top of the support staff scales.
How to become a teaching assistant
There is no set qualification. Many schools ask for GCSE English and maths, and a Level 2 or 3 certificate in supporting teaching and learning helps. You will need an enhanced DBS check. Volunteering in a school is a common way in.
Common questions
How much does a teaching assistant earn in 2026?
It depends on your spine point, hours and paid weeks. On SCP 7, working 32.5 hours a week for 45.6 paid weeks, you get about £20,951 a year, or £1,469 a month after deductions.
Do teaching assistants get paid in the holidays?
Yes, in the sense that pay is spread over 12 months. You are paid for the weeks you work plus your holiday entitlement, divided into 12 equal monthly payments.
What is a teaching assistant’s hourly rate?
The same as any NJC hourly rate for your point: £14.14 an hour at SCP 7 from April 2026. Term-time pay is based on that rate for the hours and weeks you are paid.
Did teaching assistants get a pay rise in 2026?
Yes. Support staff on the NJC spine got 3.3% from 1 April 2026, agreed in August and backdated.