Higher education teaching professionals salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£46,494
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 76% of Higher education teaching professionals work full-time
- 3.1% are self-employed
- 92% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Higher education teaching professionals pay in the UK
The typical higher education teaching professionals in the UK earns a median salary of £46,494 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 higher education teaching professionals earnings fall between £30,275 and £62,547 a year. That is a wide range, a sign that pay climbs steeply with experience, specialism and employer, so the median is a starting point rather than a ceiling.
Where you work changes the picture: higher education teaching professionals pay ranges from £34,416 in North East up to £50,053 in North West, a difference of £15,637 (45%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see higher education teaching professionals pay in North West or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
North West is the highest-paying region for higher education teaching professionals at £50,053 — 8% above the UK median. North East is lowest at £34,416.
UK median £46,494
| Region | Median payUK median £46,494 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North West | £50,053 | £50,053 | £52,005 | +8% |
| London | £48,841 | £48,841 | £49,532 | +5% |
| Wales | £48,809 | £48,809 | £47,759 | +5% |
| Scotland | £48,035 | £48,035 | £49,502 | +3% |
| South West | £46,228 | £46,228 | £46,915 | -1% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £46,120 | £46,120 | £48,569 | -1% |
| West Midlands | £43,442 | £43,442 | £43,148 | -7% |
| East Midlands | £43,173 | £43,173 | £46,567 | -7% |
| East of England | £39,876 | £39,876 | £48,435 | -14% |
| South East | £39,131 | £39,131 | £40,243 | -16% |
| North East | £34,416 | £34,416 | £30,937 | -26% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| North West £50,053 | £50,053Mean £52,005 | +8% |
| London £48,841 | £48,841Mean £49,532 | +5% |
| Wales £48,809 | £48,809Mean £47,759 | +5% |
| Scotland £48,035 | £48,035Mean £49,502 | +3% |
| South West £46,228 | £46,228Mean £46,915 | -1% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £46,120 | £46,120Mean £48,569 | -1% |
| West Midlands £43,442 | £43,442Mean £43,148 | -7% |
| East Midlands £43,173 | £43,173Mean £46,567 | -7% |
| East of England £39,876 | £39,876Mean £48,435 | -14% |
| South East £39,131 | £39,131Mean £40,243 | -16% |
| North East £34,416 | £34,416Mean £30,937 | -26% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£46,494); ‘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 higher education teaching professionals pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow higher education teaching professionals pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for higher 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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