Teaching Assistant Salary 2026/27: Pay Scales, Pro-Rata and Age Band Eligibility

Understanding Teaching Assistant Salary in 2026/27

If you’re looking for a clear picture of the teaching assistant salary for 2026/27, you’ve come to the right place. This guide covers the official NJC pay scales, explains why your actual pay is lower than the headline figure, and shows how age bands and minimum wage rules apply. Whether you’re a new TA or an experienced higher-level teaching assistant, knowing what you should be earning helps you check your payslip and negotiate with confidence.

NJC Pay Scales and Full-Time Equivalent Rates

Teaching assistant pay in England is set by the National Joint Council (NJC) pay spine. For 2026/27 the NJC agreed a 3.3% uplift, backdated to 1 April 2026. The full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries for the most common TA grades are:

• Level 1 / Level 2 TA (SCP 3–6): £25,614 to £26,847 FTE
• Level 3 TA (SCP 7–11): £27,274 to £29,071 FTE
• Senior TA / HLTA entry (SCP 12–13): £29,542 to £30,023 FTE
• HLTA upper range (SCP 24–25): £36,581 to £37,563 FTE

These figures come from the NJC pay spine data published after the 2026 award. Hourly rates, using the standard divisor of 37 hours and 52.14 weeks, range from £13.28 (SCP 3) to £19.47 (SCP 25). You can compare these with the UK Minimum Wage rates: the National Living Wage for age 21+ is £12.71, so even entry-level TA roles pay above the legal minimum.

Why Your Actual Pay Is Lower: Pro-Rata Explained

Almost every teaching assistant job in England is term-time only. That means you work around 39 weeks of the year plus statutory holiday entitlement. Your annual salary is the FTE figure multiplied by a fraction: (term weeks + holiday weeks) ÷ 52. For a typical 39-week term with 5.6 weeks’ holiday, the fraction is 44.6 ÷ 52 ≈ 0.857. So an FTE of £25,614 becomes an actual salary of about £21,950. Many adverts show the FTE salary, so always check the “actual salary” line.

Your payslip will show a monthly figure that is the same every month, even during school holidays. That’s because the annual salary has already been pro-rated. If you see a figure that seems low, ask your school business manager for the three inputs: term weeks, holiday weeks, and the FTE salary. For more detail on checking your payslip, see our pay guides.

Age Bands and Minimum Wage Eligibility for Teaching Assistants

Age bands matter for minimum wage but rarely for TA salaries because NJC scales are well above the statutory minima. From April 2026:

• 21 and over: National Living Wage £12.71 per hour
• 18–20: National Minimum Wage £10.85 per hour
• Under 18: £8.00 per hour
• Apprentices: £8.00 per hour

If you are a TA aged 18–20 and your school places you on the NJC scale, your hourly rate will be at least £13.28 (SCP 3), comfortably above the £10.85 minimum. However, if you work in a role that is not on the NJC spine (rare in maintained schools but possible in some academies), you must still be paid at least the age-appropriate minimum wage. Always check your contract and ask for your spinal column point if it’s not shown.

For younger TAs (under 18), the same principle applies: your pay should meet or exceed the £8.00 rate, but most schools will place you on a scale point above that.

How to Check Your Payslip

Your payslip should clearly state your SCP and the FTE salary. Look for separate lines for:

• Basic pay (pro-rated annual salary)
• HLTA allowance (if you are a higher-level teaching assistant)
• SEN or inclusion supplement (if you support a pupil with an Education, Health and Care plan)
• Additional hours (parents’ evenings, INSET days, lunchtime duties)
• Acting-up pay (if you cover a higher role temporarily)

If any of these are missing or seem wrong, speak to your school business manager. You can also use the hourly rate formula: FTE ÷ 52.14 ÷ contracted weekly hours. For example, an FTE of £27,274 at 32.5 hours per week gives an hourly rate of £27,274 ÷ 52.14 ÷ 32.5 ≈ £16.10. Compare this with the NJC rate for your SCP to spot errors.

Summary

The teaching assistant salary for 2026/27 is based on NJC pay scales with a 3.3% increase. Full-time equivalent figures range from £25,614 for entry-level TAs to £37,563 for experienced HLTA. Actual take-home pay is typically 80–85% of the FTE due to term-time-only contracts. Age bands affect minimum wage but most TA roles pay well above the statutory rates. Always check your payslip for your SCP and any separate allowances. For more resources on pay and conditions, visit our topics page.

Disclaimer: Figures are public reference values for orientation only. Actual pay depends on age band, role, region, hours, overtime, and contract terms. Always check your contract and current statutory rates.