UPS3 Teacher Salary 2026/27
UPS3 is £52,835 a year in the Rest of England, rising to £64,684 in Inner London. Compare your basic salary, progression and part-time pay, then estimate what you take home.
Full-time gross basic pay, before deductions and additional allowances. Reviewed 12 October 2026.
UPS3 salary in England and London
Your school's pay area determines which salary applies. London pay is built into the regional rate below; it is not an extra amount to add to that figure.
| Pay area | Annual gross pay | Monthly gross pay |
|---|---|---|
| Rest of England | £52,835 | £4,402.92 |
| London Fringe | £54,328 | £4,527.33 |
| Outer London | £58,120 | £4,843.33 |
| Inner London | £64,684 | £5,390.33 |
UPS3 is also called U3 or UPS 3. These are the advisory upper pay points for England. The national framework applies to maintained schools; academies and independent schools may use different arrangements. Other UK nations have separate scales.
For M1–M6, UPS1–UPS3, leadership and allowance tables, use the complete teacher pay scales for 2026/27.
Moving from UPS1 to UPS3
UPS3 is the top advisory point on the Upper Pay Range for classroom teachers. The differences below show what moving up a point adds to annual basic pay, using the same year's salary rates.
| Pay area | UPS1 to UPS2 | UPS2 to UPS3 | UPS1 to UPS3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of England | £1,822 | £1,879 | £3,701 |
| London Fringe | £1,817 | £1,886 | £3,703 |
| Outer London | £2,000 | £2,073 | £4,073 |
| Inner London | £2,931 | £2,103 | £5,034 |
For example, moving from UPS2 to UPS3 in the Rest of England adds £1,879 a year, or £156.58 a month before deductions.
When can you progress?
Under the STPCD, pay is reviewed annually. The school's published pay policy sets out how progression is decided, including the criteria and timing. Annual progression on the upper range is possible; do not assume every teacher must wait two years between points.
Entry to the Upper Pay Range is a separate assessment. Any qualified teacher can apply under the relevant policy; reaching M6 does not itself guarantee entry. Once on the upper range, check your employer's progression arrangements and written pay determination.
Does UPS3 require a leadership role?
UPS3 remains a classroom teacher pay point. A TLR payment, a leading practitioner post or a move to the leadership range is a separate pay decision. See how teacher pay bands and progression work for the wider structure.
What is the 2026/27 UPS3 pay rise worth?
The 2026/27 upper pay figures reflect the 3.5% award from 1 September 2026. This compares the UPS3 rate in each area with its 2025/26 equivalent, keeping the pay point and working hours the same.
| Pay area | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Annual increase | Monthly increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of England | £51,048 | £52,835 | £1,787 | £148.92 |
| London Fringe | £52,490 | £54,328 | £1,838 | £153.17 |
| Outer London | £56,154 | £58,120 | £1,966 | £163.83 |
| Inner London | £62,496 | £64,684 | £2,188 | £182.33 |
This is the increase before deductions. A simultaneous move from UPS2 to UPS3 would also include the progression increase. Changes to allowances, working hours or pension contributions can further affect the amount on your payslip.
UPS3 part-time salary: 0.8, 0.6 and 0.5 FTE
For basic salary, multiply the full-time UPS3 rate by your agreed full-time equivalent (FTE). Use the FTE on your contract rather than counting working days, as timetables can differ.
| FTE | Rest of England | London Fringe | Outer London | Inner London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | £52,835.00 | £54,328.00 | £58,120.00 | £64,684.00 |
| 0.8 | £42,268.00 | £43,462.40 | £46,496.00 | £51,747.20 |
| 0.6 | £31,701.00 | £32,596.80 | £34,872.00 | £38,810.40 |
| 0.5 | £26,417.50 | £27,164.00 | £29,060.00 | £32,342.00 |
At 0.8 FTE in the Rest of England, the calculation is £52,835 × 0.8 = £42,268 a year, or £3,522.33 gross a month.
Take-home pay does not fall in a straight line with FTE: tax, National Insurance, pension and loan deductions can all change. Compare your current and proposed hours in the qualified teacher pay calculator.
UPS3 with a TLR or SEN allowance
UPS3 figures show basic salary. Eligible Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) payments, SEN allowances or other agreed payments can increase your total gross pay.
Example: full-time UPS3 plus the minimum TLR2
Rest of England UPS3 £52,835 + TLR2 £3,651 = £56,486 annual gross pay.
That is £4,707.17 gross a month before deductions, assuming the allowance is paid for the full year.
A TLR is attached to qualifying responsibilities and is not awarded automatically at UPS3. For a part-time role, confirm the actual TLR payable for the responsibilities you undertake; it may differ from applying your contract's FTE to a full allowance.
Check the 2026/27 TLR and SEN allowance ranges, then enter your agreed allowance in the calculator.
Calculate UPS3 take-home pay
The monthly figures above are gross pay. To estimate what reaches your bank account, use your pay area, UPS3 point, contracted FTE, allowances, tax code, Teachers' Pension status and student loan plan.
- Open the qualified teacher calculator and select the 2026/27 pay year and your region.
- Choose UPS3, set your FTE and enter any agreed allowances.
- Check the tax-year options, tax code, pension and student loan settings before reading the net monthly result.
The school pay year runs September to August and crosses two tax years. A payroll estimate may differ from an individual payslip because of tax-code adjustments, back pay or other deductions.
UPS3 teacher salary FAQs
What is the UPS3 teacher salary in 2026/27?
The full-time annual UPS3 salary is £52,835 in the Rest of England, £54,328 in the London Fringe, £58,120 in Outer London and £64,684 in Inner London. These are gross basic salaries before deductions or allowances.
What does UPS3 mean?
UPS3 is the highest of the three commonly used advisory points on England's Upper Pay Range. It is also written U3 or UPS 3. It is a classroom teacher pay point; holding a leadership post or receiving a TLR is a separate matter.
How much is UPS3 per month?
In the Rest of England, UPS3 works out at £4,402.92 a month before deductions. The amount paid into your bank account depends on Income Tax, National Insurance, pension contributions, student loans and any other payroll adjustments.
How long does it take to move from UPS1 to UPS3?
There is no single timetable that applies to every school in England. Pay is reviewed annually under the STPCD, but the employer's pay policy determines progression arrangements. Some schools use annual progression; others have different policies. Check the policy and your pay determination rather than assuming a fixed two-year interval.
What is UPS3 pay at 0.8 FTE?
At 0.8 FTE, UPS3 basic pay in the Rest of England is £42,268 a year, or £3,522.33 a month before deductions. Take-home pay is not simply 80% of full-time take-home pay because deductions change.
Can a UPS3 teacher also receive a TLR?
Yes, where the role qualifies for a Teaching and Learning Responsibility payment. A TLR is paid in addition to the basic salary and is not automatically included in UPS3. For a part-time post, confirm the actual allowance payment with your employer rather than assuming it matches your contracted FTE.
Do these UPS3 figures apply to every UK teacher?
This guide covers England's national pay framework. Academies may follow it or use their own pay arrangements, and independent schools can set different salaries. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate pay frameworks.