Head teachers and principals salary in Scotland
Full-time average annual pay in Scotland
£67,633
Based on ~9,000 employees · 2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£67,633
Mean
£64,542
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £67,633 |
| Mean | £64,542 |
Region-level range withheld by ONS — UK-wide, the middle half of head teachers and principals earn £56,666–£83,340. See full methodology →
Understanding Head teachers and principals pay in Scotland
The typical head teachers and principals in Scotland earns a median salary of £67,633 in 2025/26, based on around 9,000 employees — 4.7% (£3,344) below the UK-wide median of £70,977. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
Across the UK, Scotland ranks 6th of 11 regions for head teachers and principals pay. Regional medians run from £60,776 in East Midlands up to £82,282 in Yorkshire and the Humber, a spread of £21,506 (35%).
The mean (average) salary is lower, at £64,542, which points to a cluster of lower-paid roles dragging the average down — so the median is the better guide to typical pay here.
To see what £67,633 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments and Scottish Income Tax rates.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £5,636 | £67,633 |
| Income tax | £1,368 | £16,420 |
| National Insurance | £280 | £3,363 |
| Student loan (Plan 4 (Scotland)) | £262 | £3,140 |
| Total deductions | £1,910 | £22,923 |
| Take-home pay | £3,726 | £44,710 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How Head teachers and principals pay varies by region
Yorkshire and the Humber is the highest-paying region for head teachers and principals at £82,282 — 16% above the UK median. East Midlands is lowest at £60,776.
UK median £70,977
| Region | Median payUK median £70,977 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £82,282 | £82,282 | £83,939 | +16% |
| Wales | £76,119 | £76,119 | £78,448 | +7% |
| North West | £74,657 | £74,657 | £75,025 | +5% |
| North East | £71,526 | £71,526 | £72,099 | +1% |
| London | £71,111 | £71,111 | £77,967 | ±0% |
| Scotland (current region) | £67,633 | £67,633 | £64,542 | -5% |
| South East | £67,377 | £67,377 | £68,865 | -5% |
| East of England | £66,126 | £66,126 | £73,759 | -7% |
| South West | £65,735 | £65,735 | £75,302 | -7% |
| West Midlands | £65,291 | £65,291 | £63,431 | -8% |
| East Midlands | £60,776 | £60,776 | £68,895 | -14% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire and the Humber £82,282 | £82,282Mean £83,939 | +16% |
| Wales £76,119 | £76,119Mean £78,448 | +7% |
| North West £74,657 | £74,657Mean £75,025 | +5% |
| North East £71,526 | £71,526Mean £72,099 | +1% |
| London £71,111 | £71,111Mean £77,967 | ±0% |
| Scotland (current region) £67,633 | £67,633Mean £64,542 | -5% |
| South East £67,377 | £67,377Mean £68,865 | -5% |
| East of England £66,126 | £66,126Mean £73,759 | -7% |
| South West £65,735 | £65,735Mean £75,302 | -7% |
| West Midlands £65,291 | £65,291Mean £63,431 | -8% |
| East Midlands £60,776 | £60,776Mean £68,895 | -14% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£70,977); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
How head teachers and principals pay in Scotland has changed over time
Median annual pay for head teachers and principals in Scotland by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range — ONS does not publish percentile ranges at region level.
Scotland median
UK median
▪ UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
Compare with…
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)
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