M6 Teacher Salary 2026/27
M6 is £46,940 a year in the Rest of England, £52,241 in Outer London and £54,131 in Inner London. Find your pay scale figure, compare monthly gross pay and explore your next step after M6.
Full-time gross basic salary, before deductions or allowances. Reviewed 13 October 2026.
M6 teacher pay scale: annual and monthly salary
M6 is the highest of the six commonly used advisory points on England's Main Pay Range. Your school's pay area determines which rate applies; it is not chosen from where you live.
| Pay area | Annual gross salary | Monthly gross salary |
|---|---|---|
| Rest of England | £46,940 | £3,911.67 |
| London Fringe | £48,479 | £4,039.92 |
| Outer London | £52,241 | £4,353.42 |
| Inner London | £54,131 | £4,510.92 |
These figures cover England's national pay framework. Schools may have different arrangements, particularly academies and independent schools. Other UK nations have separate pay scales.
To compare M6 with M1–M5, UPS1–UPS3 and other roles, use the full 2026/27 teacher pay tables.
M6 Inner London and Outer London teacher pay
M6 Inner London teacher salary
£54,131 a year
£4,510.92 gross per month.
The annual basic rate is £7,191 higher than the Rest of England rate at the same M6 point.
M6 Outer London teacher salary
£52,241 a year
£4,353.42 gross per month.
The annual basic rate is £5,301 higher than the Rest of England rate at the same M6 point.
The London rate already includes the regional pay difference. Do not add a further London amount to the salary in the table. The London Fringe is a separate area with its own M6 rate of £48,479.
Confirm the school's pay area with the employer when comparing vacancies. Gross differences alone do not show the effect on your take-home pay or living costs.
M6 to UPS1: what changes after the main pay scale?
M6 and UPS1 are different pay points on different ranges. This table compares the basic salary difference in each area using the same 2026/27 rates.
| Pay area | M6 | UPS1 | Annual difference | Monthly difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of England | £46,940 | £49,134 | £2,194 | £182.83 |
| London Fringe | £48,479 | £50,625 | £2,146 | £178.83 |
| Outer London | £52,241 | £54,047 | £1,806 | £150.50 |
| Inner London | £54,131 | £59,650 | £5,519 | £459.92 |
In the Rest of England, M6 to UPS1 adds £2,194 a year, or £182.83 a month before deductions. The difference is larger in Inner London at £5,519 a year.
Is moving to UPS1 automatic?
No. Entry to the Upper Pay Range is assessed under the school's pay policy. Any qualified teacher can apply; reaching M6 does not itself guarantee entry. Check the application process, evidence requirements and deadline with your employer.
The assessment considers teaching competence and a substantial, sustained contribution. A TLR or leadership job is a separate matter, and is not automatically required because you are moving to the upper range.
For the wider pay structure, read Teacher Pay Explained. For the top of the upper range, see the UPS3 salary and progression guide.
M6 pay rise for 2026/27
The M6 pay scale figures reflect the 3.5% award from 1 September 2026. This comparison keeps the pay point, area and full-time working hours the same.
| Pay area | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Annual increase | Monthly increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of England | £45,352 | £46,940 | £1,588 | £132.33 |
| London Fringe | £46,839 | £48,479 | £1,640 | £136.67 |
| Outer London | £50,474 | £52,241 | £1,767 | £147.25 |
| Inner London | £52,300 | £54,131 | £1,831 | £152.58 |
Moving from M5 to M6 is a separate progression change. A payslip can include both a scale increase and progression, as well as changes to hours, allowances or deductions.
M6 part-time salary: 0.8, 0.6 and 0.5 FTE
Multiply the full-time M6 basic salary by your contracted full-time equivalent (FTE). Use the FTE on your contract; counting working days alone may not reflect your timetable.
| FTE | Rest of England | London Fringe | Outer London | Inner London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | £46,940.00 | £48,479.00 | £52,241.00 | £54,131.00 |
| 0.8 | £37,552.00 | £38,783.20 | £41,792.80 | £43,304.80 |
| 0.6 | £28,164.00 | £29,087.40 | £31,344.60 | £32,478.60 |
| 0.5 | £23,470.00 | £24,239.50 | £26,120.50 | £27,065.50 |
At 0.8 FTE in the Rest of England, M6 is £46,940 × 0.8 = £37,552 a year, or £3,129.33 gross a month.
Net pay is not simply the same percentage of full-time net pay. Compare your current and proposed hours in the teacher pay calculator because tax, pension, National Insurance and loan deductions may change.
M6 with a TLR or SEN allowance
Allowances for qualifying responsibilities are separate from your M6 basic salary. For example, full-time Rest of England M6 plus the minimum 2026/27 TLR2 is £46,940 + £3,651 = £50,591 annual gross pay.
Use your actual agreed allowance when calculating pay. For part-time posts, confirm the amount payable for the responsibilities you undertake rather than assuming every allowance follows the same FTE calculation. See the current TLR and SEN ranges.
Calculate M6 take-home pay
The monthly amounts on this page are gross pay. Your net monthly pay depends on your tax code, National Insurance, Teachers' Pension contributions, student loan plan and any other payroll adjustments.
- Open the qualified teacher calculator and choose the 2026/27 pay year and your school's pay area.
- Select M6, set your FTE and add any agreed allowance.
- Check the tax-year options, tax code, pension and loan settings before reading the net result.
The September-to-August pay year crosses two tax years. Back pay, tax-code corrections and other payroll deductions can make an individual payslip differ from an estimate.
M6 teacher salary FAQs
What is the M6 teacher salary in 2026/27?
The annual full-time M6 basic salary is £46,940 in the Rest of England, £48,479 in the London Fringe, £52,241 in Outer London and £54,131 in Inner London. These are gross figures before deductions and additional allowances.
How much is M6 teacher pay per month?
M6 in the Rest of England is £3,911.67 gross per month, calculated as annual basic pay divided by 12. Your take-home pay depends on tax, National Insurance, pension contributions, student loans and other payroll adjustments.
What is M6 Inner London teacher pay?
M6 Inner London teacher pay is £54,131 a year, equivalent to £4,510.92 gross per month. The Inner London rate already includes the regional pay difference; do not add it again as a separate London payment.
What is M6 Outer London teacher pay?
M6 Outer London teacher pay is £52,241 a year, equivalent to £4,353.42 gross per month. Use the pay area attached to your school when choosing the applicable rate.
Is M6 the same as UPS1?
No. M6 is the top commonly used advisory point on the Main Pay Range, while UPS1 is the first advisory point on the Upper Pay Range. In the Rest of England, their 2026/27 annual salaries are £46,940 and £49,134 respectively. Entry to the upper range requires the relevant assessment under the school pay policy and is not automatic on reaching M6.
What is M6 salary at 0.8 FTE?
At 0.8 FTE, M6 basic salary in the Rest of England is £37,552 a year, or £3,129.33 gross per month. Allowances are separate, and net pay is not simply 80% of full-time net pay because deductions can change.
What is the M6 pay rise for 2026/27?
The main pay figures reflect the 3.5% award from 1 September 2026. In the Rest of England, the published M6 annual rate rises from £45,352 in 2025/26 to £46,940 in 2026/27, an increase of £1,588 before deductions.
Does every school use these M6 pay scale figures?
The figures are England's national advisory pay points. Maintained schools use the statutory pay framework, while academies and independent schools may have different arrangements. Check your contract and employer's pay policy. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate pay frameworks.