Teacher Salary Guide (Scotland) — 2026
Scotland’s national teacher pay scales, set by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT). Unlike England, there is one national scale— the same pay applies in every one of Scotland’s 32 council areas, with no regional or city weighting.
Figures in force from 1 April 2026 · a further 3.25% uplift takes effect 1 August 2026.
Main Grade pay scale
Most classroom teachers sit on the Main Grade scale. You start your probationer year on Point 0, move to Point 1 once fully registered with the GTCS, then progress one point a year to the top of the scale.
| Pay point | Stage | Annual salary |
|---|---|---|
| Point 0 | Probationer | £35,022 |
| Point 1 | Starting (newly qualified) | £42,018 |
| Point 2 | £44,400 | |
| Point 3 | £46,977 | |
| Point 4 | £49,959 | |
| Point 5 | Top of Main Grade | £52,740 |
Set nationally by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT), in force from 1 April 2026. Figures cross-checked against the EIS and NASUWT published scales. A further 3.25% uplift applies from 1 August 2026 (Main Grade then £43,383–£54,453).
Promoted posts
Above the Main Grade, leadership and specialist roles sit on their own national scales. Exact points depend on the size and remit of the post.
Principal Teacher
£57,498 – £74,205
8-point scale
Subject, faculty or pastoral leadership
Depute Head Teacher
Leadership scale
Below the Head Teacher rate
Senior leadership team
Head Teacher
Up to £120,000+
Scaled by school size
Largest schools reach six figures
Principal Teacher figures are the 1 April 2026 scale (8 points). Depute Head Teacher and Head Teacher posts sit on the leadership scale, placed by school size and complexity — the top of the Head Teacher scale exceeds £120,000 at the largest schools. Full leadership points are in the EIS salary tables.
Good to know
- One national scale: pay is the same in every Scottish council — there is no London-style regional weighting.
- Probationer year: newly-qualified teachers complete the Teacher Induction Scheme on Point 0 before moving to Point 1.
- GTCS registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland is required to teach.
- On top of the scale: promoted-post responsibilities, the remote schools allowance and other distant-island payments are additional.
- These are Scotland figures. England, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own pay scales.
Sources & further reading
Every figure on this page comes from the official national pay scales. Check the primary sources below.