Average pay for teachers hits £38k

TEACHERS are now paid an average salary of £38,400 – and got a pay rise of almost 5 per cent last year, figures reveal.

Campaigners said their earnings far surpass the UK average salary of £28,600, despite claims they are underpaid.

It comes after the Left-wing National Union of Teachers demanded a pay rise for teachers, saying their salaries had been eroded.

But analysis by the TaxPayers’ Alliance suggests teachers are paid more than many other workers – with senior teachers earning more than £67,300 a year. Meanwhile, heads can earn up to £117,000 in inner Lon- don and £110,000 in the rest of England and Wales.

The research found teachers’ gross pay increased by 1.6 per cent in 2016-17. This was below the inflation rate for that year, however, when individual pay rises caused by people being promoted into higher pay bands were taken into account, average pay rose by 4.6 per cent.

The report, based on Department for Education figures, said: ‘Teachers have been enjoying a pay rise and so there is no need to increase their salary further at this point.’

But Geoff Barton, of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: ‘Teachers’ pay has fallen well behind inflation because it has been capped or frozen since 2010.’

‘No need for a further increase’