You've done the maths. Now get the insights.
Based on a £24,000 salary and £20,801 take-home, here's what most people miss
Based on a £24,000 salary and £20,801 take-home, here's what most people miss
Get My Insights →Teaching Assistant Pay UK 2025/26
Teaching assistants are typically employed term-time only (39 weeks per year) and paid at NJC Local Government pay scales, which means actual take-home pay is roughly 80% of the full-time equivalent figures shown here. HLTAs, who can cover classes, lead interventions, and mentor other TAs, earn more and have a distinct professional identity within the school workforce. The role is an important pipeline for school workforce development, and many TAs go on to qualify as teachers through school-based routes.
Based on typical teaching assistant salaries, here is what you can expect to take home after income tax and National Insurance:
- Level 1 / Unqualified TA: £17,921 take-home (£20,000 gross, outside London) / £20,801 take-home (£24,000 gross, London)
- Level 2–3 TA: £20,801 take-home (£24,000 gross, outside London) / £24,401 take-home (£29,000 gross, London)
- Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA): £23,681 take-home (£28,000 gross, outside London) / £27,281 take-home (£33,000 gross, London)
Key facts about teaching assistant pay:
- Most TAs work term-time only (39 weeks); actual annual pay is approximately 80% of the FTE figure; for example an FTE of £24,000 equates to around £19,200 actual annual pay
- NJC 2024/25 pay scales: Grade 3 starts at £24,294 FTE; HLTA sits at NJC Grade 5, starting at £27,711 FTE nationally
- Inner London weighting adds £5,135; outer London adds £3,298; fringe adds £951 (NJC 2024/25 rates)
- Special needs TAs providing 1:1 support for EHC plan children are in high demand and can negotiate slightly above NJC rates
- Teaching assistants are auto-enrolled into the LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme), a defined benefit scheme
- HLTA status requires a formal assessment process (approximately £800–£1,200) and is the main route to higher TA pay without retraining as a teacher
Your taxes (2025/26)
| Year | Month | Week | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | £37,500 | £3,125 | £721 |
| Pension Contributions£375 Saved! | £1,875 | £156 | £36 |
| Employer Pension ContributionsPot Increased | £1,125 | £94 | £22 |
| Taxable Income | £35,625 | £2,969 | £685 |
| Personal allowance | £12,570 | - | - |
| National Insurance | £1,843 | £154 | £35 |
| Income Tax | £4,611 | £384 | £89 |
| Take Home Pay | £29,171 | £2,431 | £561 |
| Added to Pension | £3,000 | £250 | £58 |
| Opportunities Found | View My Opportunities → | ||
Teaching Assistant Salary Breakdown UK 2025/26
The table below shows typical teaching assistant salaries across experience levels and regions, alongside estimated take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance. Click any salary figure to open it in the calculator.
How Teaching Assistant Pay Works in the UK
- Most TAs work term-time only (39 weeks); actual annual pay is approximately 80% of the FTE figure; for example an FTE of £24,000 equates to around £19,200 actual annual pay
- NJC 2024/25 pay scales: Grade 3 starts at £24,294 FTE; HLTA sits at NJC Grade 5, starting at £27,711 FTE nationally
- Inner London weighting adds £5,135; outer London adds £3,298; fringe adds £951 (NJC 2024/25 rates)
- Special needs TAs providing 1:1 support for EHC plan children are in high demand and can negotiate slightly above NJC rates
- Teaching assistants are auto-enrolled into the LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme), a defined benefit scheme
- HLTA status requires a formal assessment process (approximately £800–£1,200) and is the main route to higher TA pay without retraining as a teacher
Income Tax and National Insurance in 2025/26
Like all UK workers, teaching assistants salaries are subject to income tax and National Insurance (NI) contributions. In the 2025/26 tax year:
- Up to £12,570: 0% (Personal Allowance)
- £12,571 to £50,270: 20% (Basic Rate)
- £50,271 to £125,140: 40% (Higher Rate)
- Above £125,140: 45% (Additional Rate)
Employee National Insurance contributions for 2025/26:
- 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270
- 2% on earnings above £50,270
Use the calculator above to see your exact take-home pay after all deductions, including pension contributions and student loan repayments if applicable.
Related Pay Guides
- Educational Psychologist Pay UK 2025/26
- University Lecturer Pay UK 2025/26
- Social Worker Pay UK 2025/26
- Speech and Language Therapist Pay UK 2025/26
- Occupational Therapist Pay UK 2025/26
Explore Your Finances
Model your expenses, project your wealth, and find your path to financial independence.
Your Monthly Outgoings
Projected Pension
Wealth & Financial Independence More Info
- In today's money, you'll have at least £21,600 / year (£1,800 / month) when you retire at 66 - just from your savings
- In real terms (where inflation is not removed), that's £38,340 / year (£3,195 / month)
- That means all your outgoings are covered without having to make any further contributions!
- All your expenses are covered for your retirement, but your wealth may start to decrease towards old age
Projected Wealth
- FI Target = Annual outgoings (£21,600) * Years needed for 4.00% SWR (25.00) = £540,000
- Invested annual pension = £3,000
- Invested annual surplus = £2,171
- Inflation of 2.5% / year
- Assumes New State Pension, payments increasing with inflation (2.5% / year)
- Assumes student loans last 30 years max
- Assumes a flex-drawdown pension for illustration purposes
- Assumes you draw down pension up to the higher rate bracket (£50,270), then draw down your S&S ISA
- Pension lump sums are not included