About UPS3 (Upper Pay Scale 3)
Top of upper pay scale. Highest classroom teacher salary.
These are England & Wales rates outside London. Inner London, Outer London, and London Fringe areas have higher pay scales.
All Teacher Pay Points
| Scale Point | Salary | Take Home/Month |
|---|---|---|
| M1 (Main Scale 1) | £31,650 | £2,192 |
| M2 (Main Scale 2) | £33,483 | £2,302 |
| M3 (Main Scale 3) | £35,389 | £2,417 |
| M4 (Main Scale 4) | £37,322 | £2,533 |
| M5 (Main Scale 5) | £39,483 | £2,662 |
| M6 (Main Scale 6) | £41,333 | £2,773 |
| UPS1 (Upper Pay Scale 1) | £44,870 | £2,986 |
| UPS2 (Upper Pay Scale 2) | £46,525 | £3,085 |
| UPS3 (Upper Pay Scale 3) | £48,532 | £3,205 |
| Leadership L1 | £50,122 | £3,301 |
| Leadership L10 | £60,488 | £3,803 |
| Leadership L20 | £74,283 | £4,470 |
| Leadership L30 | £90,773 | £5,267 |
Teachers' Pension
Teachers contribute 7.4% to 11.7% to the Teachers' Pension Scheme depending on salary. This reduces take home pay but provides one of the best defined benefit pensions available.
Teacher Pay: Upper Pay Scale 3
UPS3 is the highest point on the Upper Pay Scale — the maximum classroom teaching salary before moving into leadership roles. Teachers at UPS3 are highly experienced professionals. With TLR2 payments (up to £7,847), total salary can reach approximately £49,000. With TLR1 (up to £15,690), it can exceed £57,000.
Total Compensation at £41,604
The headline salary of £41,604 does not capture the full value of a teaching package. The Teachers' Pension employer contribution adds approximately £11,932/year. Combined with term-time working (13 weeks holiday versus 5.6 weeks minimum for other workers), the effective value is substantially higher than comparable private sector salaries. See £41,604 salary after tax for the take home breakdown.
Calculate exact take home with pension deductions
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