Teaching assistants salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£18,024
Typical Annual pay range
Understanding Teaching assistants pay in the UK
The typical teaching assistants in the UK earns a median salary of £18,024 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 teaching assistants earnings fall between £13,660 and £21,468 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced teaching assistants.
Where you work changes the picture: teaching assistants pay ranges from £15,458 in South West up to £21,070 in London, a difference of £5,612 (36%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see teaching assistants pay in London, Teaching assistants vs Headteacher or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for teaching assistants at £21,070 — 17% above the UK median. South West is lowest at £15,458.
UK median £18,024
| Region | Median payUK median £18,024 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £21,070 | £21,070 | £19,736 | +17% |
| North East | £20,256 | £20,256 | £19,127 | +12% |
| North West | £19,258 | £19,258 | £18,742 | +7% |
| West Midlands | £18,939 | £18,939 | £17,989 | +5% |
| East Midlands | £18,523 | £18,523 | £18,562 | +3% |
| Wales | £18,002 | £18,002 | £17,164 | ±0% |
| Scotland | £17,529 | £17,529 | £17,378 | -3% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £17,293 | £17,293 | £16,706 | -4% |
| South East | £16,505 | £16,505 | £16,345 | -8% |
| East of England | £15,988 | £15,988 | £15,646 | -11% |
| South West | £15,458 | £15,458 | £15,416 | -14% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £21,070 | £21,070Mean £19,736 | +17% |
| North East £20,256 | £20,256Mean £19,127 | +12% |
| North West £19,258 | £19,258Mean £18,742 | +7% |
| West Midlands £18,939 | £18,939Mean £17,989 | +5% |
| East Midlands £18,523 | £18,523Mean £18,562 | +3% |
| Wales £18,002 | £18,002Mean £17,164 | ±0% |
| Scotland £17,529 | £17,529Mean £17,378 | -3% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £17,293 | £17,293Mean £16,706 | -4% |
| South East £16,505 | £16,505Mean £16,345 | -8% |
| East of England £15,988 | £15,988Mean £15,646 | -11% |
| South West £15,458 | £15,458Mean £15,416 | -14% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£18,024); ‘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 teaching assistants pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow teaching assistants pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for teaching assistants by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
Compare with…
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