How Welsh teacher pay differs from England
Wales and England share the same pay scale structure but the figures, the governing body and the legal process are all separate. In England, the STRB advises the Secretary of State for Education; in Wales, the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body (IWPRB) advises the Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Education, which makes its own decision.
For 2025/26 the IWPRB recommended 4.8%, the Welsh Government decided 4%, matching England under the "no detriment" principle. That principle is a political convention, not a legal guarantee, and the two systems can and do diverge.
The governing document is the STPC(W)D 2025/26, given statutory effect by the STPC(W) Order 2026 (in force 6 March 2026, retrospective to 1 September 2025). From September 2025, the formal application process for moving to the upper pay scale has been removed, progression is now automatic subject to satisfactory performance. There are no regional pay zones in Wales, every teacher on the same point earns the same salary regardless of location.
Welsh teacher pay scales 2025–26
Main Pay Range and Upper Pay Range
| Point | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| M2 (min) | £32,433 | £33,731 | +£1,298 |
| M3 | £35,039 | £36,441 | +£1,402 |
| M4 | £37,739 | £39,249 | +£1,510 |
| M5 | £40,710 | £42,339 | +£1,629 |
| M6 (max) | £44,802 | £46,595 | +£1,793 |
| U1 (min) | £46,446 | £48,304 | +£1,858 |
| U2 | £48,168 | £50,095 | +£1,927 |
| U3 (max) | £49,944 | £51,942 | +£1,998 |
Wales starts at M2, there is no M1. The minimum for a newly qualified teacher is £33,731, higher than England's M1 (£32,916).
TLR & ALN allowances (Wales 2025/26)
| Type | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| TLR1 | £10,354 | £17,518 |
| TLR2 | £3,590 | £8,764 |
| TLR3 | £714 | £3,540 |
| ALN Allowance* | £2,838 | £5,595 |
*Wales uses Additional Learning Needs (ALN) terminology in place of England's SEN allowance, same purpose, different name.
Lead Practitioner Range (Wales 2025/26)
| Range | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Practitioner | £52,939 | £80,478 |
Schools set an individual Lead Practitioner's pay range within these limits based on the responsibilities of the post.
Unqualified Teacher Pay Range (Wales 2025/26)
| Point | 2024/25 | 2025/26 |
|---|---|---|
| U1 (min) | £21,812 | £22,685 |
| U2 | £24,348 | £25,322 |
| U3 | £26,884 | £27,960 |
| U4 | £29,419 | £30,596 |
| U5 | £31,959 | £33,238 |
| U6 (max) | £34,495 | £35,875 |
Source: STPC(W)D 2025. On obtaining QTS, an unqualified teacher moves onto the main pay scale at a salary at least matching their existing pay plus allowances.
No more UPS application process
From September 2025, Welsh teachers no longer formally apply to move from the main scale to the upper pay scale. Movement is now subject to satisfactory performance assessment only, handled through the normal review cycle, a meaningful simplification versus England, where the formal threshold assessment remains in place.
Tax, NI and pension for Welsh teachers
Welsh teachers pay the same income tax rates as England (Wales has no devolved income tax powers in practice) and the same NI rates. The Teachers' Pension Scheme, including the 28.68% employer contribution and tiered member rates based on actual salary, applies identically. For a full projection of your TPS contributions and retirement income, use our pension calculator.
TPS vs LGPS: the Teachers' Pension Scheme covers qualified teachers. Support staff in Welsh schools, teaching assistants, administrative and site staff, are generally members of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) instead, which has different contribution rates and benefits. This calculator is for qualified teachers on the TPS; LGPS members should use their own scheme's tools.
The Independent Welsh Pay Review Body
| Year | IWPRB recommendation | Welsh Govt decision | England award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | Not published | 5.0% | 5.0% |
| 2023–24 | Not published | 6.5% | 6.5% |
| 2024–25 | 4.3% | 5.5% (no detriment) | 5.5% |
| 2025–26 | 4.8% | 4.0% | 4.0% |
In 2025/26, Wales matched England (4%) rather than the IWPRB's own 4.8% recommendation, an annual shortfall against the full recommendation ranging from £259 (M2) to £399 (U3) depending on spine point. You can model the full 4.8% scenario using the custom % input in the pay rise calculator.
| Point | At IWPRB's 4.8% | Actual (4.0%) | Annual shortfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| M2 | £33,990 | £33,731 | £259 |
| M3 | £36,721 | £36,441 | £280 |
| M4 | £39,550 | £39,249 | £301 |
| M5 | £42,664 | £42,339 | £325 |
| M6 | £46,952 | £46,595 | £357 |
| U1 | £48,675 | £48,304 | £371 |
| U2 | £50,480 | £50,095 | £385 |
| U3 | £52,341 | £51,942 | £399 |
4.8% column calculated by applying the IWPRB's full recommendation to the 2024/25 scale values, rounded to the nearest pound. Gross figures before tax, NI and pension.
Part-time and supply pay in Wales
The calculation logic is identical to England, your full-time Welsh spine point salary is multiplied by your FTE fraction, with no regional zones to account for. For a fuller breakdown of how FTE affects your pension tier and TLR, see our part-time calculator.
Welsh supply teacher daily rates 2025/26 (÷195)
| Point | Annual (2025/26) | Daily rate |
|---|---|---|
| M2 | £33,731 | £172.98 |
| M3 | £36,441 | £186.88 |
| M4 | £39,249 | £201.28 |
| M5 | £42,339 | £217.12 |
| M6 | £46,595 | £238.95 |
| U1 | £48,304 | £247.71 |
| U2 | £50,095 | £256.90 |
| U3 | £51,942 | £266.37 |
Frequently asked questions
Why are Welsh teacher pay scales different from England?
Separate legal frameworks: England's STRB under the STPCD, Wales's IWPRB under the STPC(W)D. Both share the same structure but make independent award decisions each year.
Does Wales have M1 on its pay scale?
No. Wales starts at M2 (£33,731 in 2025/26). You cannot directly map Welsh points to English ones since the underlying figures have tracked different uplifts over time.
Do Welsh teachers pay Scottish income tax rates?
No. Wales has no devolved income tax powers in practice. Welsh teachers pay the same rates as England (personal allowance £12,570, 20% basic, 40% higher, 45% additional).
Do I still need to apply to move to the upper pay scale in Wales?
No, not from September 2025. Progression to UPS is now based on satisfactory performance assessment only, with no separate application.
Is the Teachers' Pension Scheme the same in Wales as England?
Yes, identical rules, contribution rates and employer contribution (28.68%). There's no Welsh-specific scheme equivalent to Scotland's STSS.
What is the ALN allowance in Wales?
The Welsh equivalent of England's SEN allowance (£2,838–£5,595 for 2025/26), working identically for tax and pension purposes.
Does Wales use London weighting?
No, there are no regional pay zones in Wales, unlike England's four zones with differences of up to £7,000 at entry level.
What will the 2026/27 pay award be in Wales?
Wales follows its own IWPRB process rather than England's STRB. For 2026/27 the IWPRB recommended 4.25%; on 13 July 2026 the Welsh Government announced it is consulting on a 3.5% award from September 2026 (5% for unqualified teachers), citing affordability. England's 2026/27 award is confirmed at 3.5%. The final Welsh decision follows the consultation, this page will be updated when it's confirmed.