How much is a TA paid in the UK? There isn’t a single answer. Pay can change a lot depending on your experience, where you work, your contract, and the tasks you do. For example, TAs in London and other areas do the same job, but London roles usually pay more. With that in mind, let’s break down what TAs can earn. First, we’ll look at typical hourly and yearly rates. Then, we’ll compare new and experienced TA pay. Next, we’ll explain term-time effects and how qualifications or specialist roles can boost earnings. Finally, we’ll share tips to help you earn more.
What Does a Teaching Assistant Do Day to Day?
Teaching assistants play an important role in schools. They help teachers and support pupils every day. Their tasks usually include:
- Classroom Preparation: Arrive early to set up lessons, prepare materials, and organise resources.
- Supporting Learning: Work with pupils individually or in small groups to help with reading, writing, or maths.
- One-on-One Assistance: Support pupils with SEN or EAL, adapt activities to their needs, and follow personalised learning plans.
- Behaviour and Pastoral Support: Encourage good behaviour, manage minor issues, and provide emotional or first-aid support when needed.
- Admin and Supervision: Handle light admin, display pupils’ work, and supervise during breaks, trips or clubs.
- Collaboration: Talk with teachers to share feedback and plan future lessons.
Each day is hands-on and varied, giving TAs the chance to make a real difference in pupils’ lives.
How Much Is a TA Paid in the UK (Hourly and Yearly)?
Teaching assistant pay in the UK can vary a lot. It depends on your experience, where you work, your duties, and your contract. To start with, most support staff, including TAs, earn about £12.65 per hour under the 2024–25 NJC pay scales. That is roughly £24,000 per year for a full-time role. As you gain experience or take on extra responsibilities, hourly pay can go up to £14 or more, and yearly salaries can reach £28,000+. This gives a clear view of what TA salaries look like.
Starting Pay vs Experienced TA Pay
Teaching assistant pay changes as you gain experience and skills. At the start, entry-level TAs usually earn around £12–£13 per hour, which is about £19,000–£21,000 per year. As you gain experience or achieve higher-level qualifications like Level 3 or HLTA, your pay can rise to £25,000–£27,000 or more per year. Plus, taking on extra responsibilities, specialist roles or leadership duties can increase your earnings even further.
Does Location Change TA Pay? (London and High-Cost Areas)
Yes, location makes a difference to teaching assistant pay. For example, TAs in London and other high-cost areas usually earn more than those in other parts of the UK. Many London roles include higher hourly rates and extra allowances to help cover the cost of living. This means even though the job is the same, where you work can significantly affect your take-home pay.
Term-Time Only: How It Affects Real Take-Home Pay
Many teaching assistant roles are term-time only, usually around 38–39 weeks a year. This means that even if a salary looks like £24,000 per year, the actual take-home pay is lower because you work fewer weeks. In addition, schools often spread the pay across 12 months, so your monthly income is smaller than a full-year, full-time salary. Understanding this helps you see your real earnings and plan your money more easily.
Do SEN or One-to-One Roles Pay More?
Yes, SEN teaching assistant roles usually pay more than standard TAs because they involve extra responsibilities and specialist skills. One-to-one sessions are often part of these roles and can add slightly to your pay, but the base SEN role generally earns more. This higher pay reflects the additional work and expertise required to support students with diverse needs.
Several factors influence pay in SEN roles. Specialised skills and training, such as Makaton, British Sign Language (BSL) or behaviour management techniques make you more valuable. SEN work is also more demanding, as it involves supporting students with learning, behavioural, or physical difficulties. Experience, qualifications, allowances, responsibility level, and location can further increase your earnings.
Want to know how much SEN TAs usually earn and ways to increase pay? Check out our article: How Much Does a Special Needs Teaching Assistant Earn?
Do Qualifications (Level 2, Level 3, HLTA) Increase Pay?
Yes, getting the right qualifications can really help you earn more as a teaching assistant. For example, Level 3, HLTA status, or SEN training can open higher-level roles. This means you can take on more responsibility and get a better salary. Plus, having these qualifications shows schools your skills and commitment. In short, the more you learn, the more opportunities and pay you can get in your career.
School Payroll vs Agency: Which Pays Better?
If you want to know which pays better, you first need to understand the details of each option.
Direct School Employment (School Payroll)
- Pays more in the long run with steady take-home money.
- Salary follows national pay scales with only standard amounts taken off for tax, NI, and pension.
- Comes with benefits like the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, sick pay, and maternity leave.
- Stable and predictable, which makes it easier to manage your finances.
Agency Employment
- Offers flexibility and the chance to work at different schools.
- Hourly pay may look higher, but daily rates are often lower.
- Provides fewer benefits and less financial security.
- Pay slips can be confusing, making it hard to see what is taken off.
The Clear Winner
In conclusion, agency work can be useful if you want flexibility and to try different schools. However, most teaching assistants benefit more from being employed directly by a school. It offers higher pay over time, better benefits like pensions and sick leave, and more financial security. Overall, if you want a steady income and long-term career growth, school payroll is the smarter choice.
How to Increase Your Pay as a Teaching Assistant
If you want to earn more as a teaching assistant, there are a few practical ways to boost your pay and advance your career. You can improve your skills, specialise in key areas, take on extra duties, and even move to higher-paid schools or regions.
Ways to increase your pay:
- Gain higher qualifications – Earning Level 3 TA, HLTA, or SEN training can open doors to higher-paid roles.
- Specialise in key areas – Focusing on SEN, behaviour management, or phonics makes you more valuable in school.
- Take on extra duties – Run clubs, cover lunch breaks, or help with after-school activities to earn more.
- Move to higher-paid schools or regions – Schools in high-cost areas or higher-grade schools often offer better pay.
By taking these steps, you can increase your earnings, take on more responsibility and grow your career as a teaching assistant.
TA Pay Rise: NJC Salary Update
Teaching assistants received a 3.2% permanent pay rise for 2025/2026, backdated to 1 April 2025. This increase applies to all NJC pay points, from entry-level to experienced staff. Unions noted that some members felt the rise did not fully match the cost of living.
Looking ahead, unions plan to claim higher pay for 2026/2027 and push for a £15/hour minimum wage. The National Living Wage is expected to rise to £12.55–£12.86, which could push starting salaries up. In Scotland, authorities plan a 3.5% rise to move closer to £15/hour. They will also remove pay point 2, raising the minimum starting salary for the lowest-paid TAs.
Final Thoughts: Understanding TA Pay in the UK
How much is a TA paid in the UK can vary widely. Firstly, your experience, location, contract type, duties, and qualifications all affect earnings. In addition, term-time roles, SEN responsibilities, and one-to-one sessions can increase pay. Therefore, it’s important to check job adverts carefully. Look out for the hourly rate, weeks paid, duties, and contract type. By doing this, you can understand the real value of the role and make smart choices about your career and income.
Excited to guide and support children as a teaching assistant? Enrol in our Level 2 Teaching Assistant Course at Unified Course today and gain the skills and confidence to support children effectively.
FAQs
- How much do TAs get paid in the UK?
Most TAs earn around £24,000 per year, but pay varies with experience, location, and responsibilities.
- How much is a TA per hour?
Hourly rates start at about £12.65 (2024–25 NJC minimum) and can go up to £15+ with experience or extra duties.
- Are TAs on minimum wage?
No, most TAs are paid above minimum wage, following NJC pay scales for support staff.
- Do TAs get paid during holidays in the UK?
Not usually; many TA roles are term-time only, so holidays are unpaid, though pay is often spread over 12 months.
- Do TAs get paid for lunch?
No, lunch breaks are typically unpaid.
- How many hours a week is being a TA?
Term-time TAs usually work around 30–35 hours per week, depending on the school.
- How many hours is a full-time TA?
A full-time TA generally works 37–39 hours per week.
