Primary School Teacher Salary in South West
Official ONS earnings for South West, covering 28,000 jobs.
Median salary — South West
£40,552
gross, per year, all employees
▲ 7.2% change on the previous year
Mean
£38,624
Jobs measured
28,000
What a typical primary school teacher takes home
On the median of £40,552, 2026/27 tax year, England, Wales and Northern Ireland rates, no pension or student loan.
Take-home a month
£2,726
Take-home a year
£32,717
Income Tax
£5,596
National Insurance
£2,239
What most primary school teachers actually earn
Half of primary school teachers in South West earn between £30,916 and £51,048. Earning above £51,048 puts you in the top quarter of the profession.
ONS suppresses the detailed spread for this occupation at regional level, so this range describes the wider “Teaching Professionals” group in South West.
The full pay range
Each bar is the salary at that percentile — the 25th means a quarter of primary school teachers earn less than this.
How South West ranks for primary school teacher pay
8th
of 10 GB regions with a published figure
Scotland tops the table on £48,455 and East Midlands sits at the bottom on £39,612. South West is £7,904 short of the top.
Ranking compares published regional medians for the same occupation. It says nothing about cost of living — a higher median doesn't survive contact with rent. The cost of living calculator is the honest next step.
Where this figure comes from
- ONS occupation group
- Primary education teaching professionals
- SOC 2020 code
- 2314
- Measure
- Gross annual pay, all employees
- Edition
- ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2026 provisional
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures are estimates from a survey of PAYE jobs and are not financial advice.
Primary School Teacher salary FAQs
What is the average Primary School Teacher salary in South West?
The median is £40,552 a year and the mean is £38,624, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. Those cover all employees; ASHE publishes no full-time split at regional level.
How much does a primary school teacher earn per hour?
Across the UK the median hourly rate is £30.10 excluding overtime. ASHE publishes hourly pay by occupation nationally only, so there is no separate rate for South West.
What is a good Primary School Teacher salary?
Half of primary school teachers earn between £30,916 and £51,048. Anything above £51,048 is in the top quarter for the role.
What is the starting salary for a primary school teacher?
ASHE does not record experience, so there is no official starting salary. What it does show is that the lowest-paid 10% of primary school teachers earn under £17,711 and the lowest quarter under £30,916 — the range a new entrant is most likely to be offered.
How much do the highest-paid primary school teachers earn?
The top 10% of primary school teachers earn more than £61,201 a year, and the top quarter more than £51,048. ASHE does not publish figures above the 90th percentile.
Do primary school teachers in South West earn more than the UK average?
The median in South West is £40,552 against £43,814 across the UK, 7.4% lower, which places it 8th highest of the 10 GB regions with a precise estimate.
Has primary school teacher pay gone up in the last year?
ASHE puts the year-on-year change in the median at +7.2% for this occupation in South West. That compares the latest survey with the one before it and is not adjusted for inflation.
How many primary school teachers are there in South West?
ASHE counts around 28,000 employee jobs in “Primary education teaching professionals” (SOC 2314) in South West. Self-employed work is not included.
Is this figure official?
Yes. It comes from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, an accredited official statistic based on employer PAYE records.
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