Special needs education teaching professionals salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£40,363
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 70% of Special needs education teaching professionals work full-time
- 8% are self-employed
- 92% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Special needs education teaching professionals pay in the UK
The typical special needs education teaching professionals in the UK earns a median salary of £40,363 in 2025/26. 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.
The middle half of special needs education teaching professionals earnings fall between £29,753 and £50,831 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced special needs education teaching professionals.
Where you work changes the picture: special needs education teaching professionals pay ranges from £26,168 in North West up to £46,945 in South East, a difference of £20,777 (79%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see special needs education teaching professionals pay in South East or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
South East is the highest-paying region for special needs education teaching professionals at £46,945 — 16% above the UK median. North West is lowest at £26,168.
UK median £40,363
| Region | Median payUK median £40,363 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South East | £46,945 | £46,945 | £45,299 | +16% |
| Wales | £45,462 | £45,462 | £46,215 | +13% |
| Scotland | £44,338 | £44,338 | £41,878 | +10% |
| South West | £35,787 | £35,787 | £37,690 | -11% |
| East Midlands | £34,784 | £34,784 | £34,052 | -14% |
| West Midlands | £34,398 | £34,398 | £35,128 | -15% |
| London | £33,824 | £33,824 | £32,457 | -16% |
| East of England | £33,382 | £33,382 | £37,958 | -17% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £30,101 | £30,101 | £32,771 | -25% |
| North East | £29,883 | £29,883 | £32,114 | -26% |
| North West | £26,168 | £26,168 | £28,887 | -35% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| South East £46,945 | £46,945Mean £45,299 | +16% |
| Wales £45,462 | £45,462Mean £46,215 | +13% |
| Scotland £44,338 | £44,338Mean £41,878 | +10% |
| South West £35,787 | £35,787Mean £37,690 | -11% |
| East Midlands £34,784 | £34,784Mean £34,052 | -14% |
| West Midlands £34,398 | £34,398Mean £35,128 | -15% |
| London £33,824 | £33,824Mean £32,457 | -16% |
| East of England £33,382 | £33,382Mean £37,958 | -17% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £30,101 | £30,101Mean £32,771 | -25% |
| North East £29,883 | £29,883Mean £32,114 | -26% |
| North West £26,168 | £26,168Mean £28,887 | -35% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£40,363); ‘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.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local special needs education teaching professionals pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow special needs education teaching professionals pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for special needs education teaching professionals by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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