Teacher salary guide for Wales 2025/26
The statutory pay ranges for teachers in Wales from 1 September 2025, set by the Welsh Government. Wales sets its own scales — they differ from England.
Since 2018/19, teacher pay in Wales is devolved — set by the Welsh Government through the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document, on the advice of the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body. The 2025/26 figures below reflect a 4% upliftand are the statutory minima and maxima; individual schools set a teacher’s actual pay within the relevant range.
Main pay range (qualified teachers)
| M2 (minimum) | £33,731 |
| M3 | £36,441 |
| M4 | £39,249 |
| M5 | £42,339 |
| M6 (maximum) | £46,595 |
Upper pay range
| U1 (minimum) | £48,304 |
| U2 | £50,095 |
| U3 (maximum) | £51,942 |
Unqualified teachers
£22,685 – £35,875
Range minimum to maximum (2025/26)
Leadership pay range
£52,680 – £146,313
Range minimum to maximum (2025/26)
Note: Wales’s main pay range begins at M2 — there is no M1 point. Teachers may also receive allowances (e.g. TLR and SEN allowances) on top of the figures above.
Source: School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document 2025 (gov.wales) →Frequently asked questions
- What is the starting salary for a teacher in Wales?
- For 2025/26, the statutory minimum for a qualified teacher in Wales is £33,731 (point M2 of the main pay range). Wales does not have an M1 point — its main pay range runs from M2 to M6. Schools may pay above the minimum.
- How is teacher pay in Wales different from England?
- Since 2018/19, teacher pay in Wales is devolved and set by the Welsh Government through the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document, on the advice of the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body. The pay ranges and structure differ from England — for example, Wales’s main pay range begins at M2.
- Do schools in Wales have to pay these exact rates?
- The figures are statutory minima and maxima for each range. Schools and local authorities set an individual teacher’s actual pay within the relevant range, and may also award allowances (such as TLR and SEN allowances) on top.
- When do Welsh teacher pay scales change?
- Pay is reviewed each year, with new figures normally taking effect from 1 September. The 2025/26 figures reflect a 4% uplift applied by the Welsh Government.
Figures as published in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document 2025 (statutory ranges from 1 September 2025). Provided for general guidance only — confirm current figures in the official document and with the employer. Not financial or contractual advice.
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