Will teachers get a pay rise 2022? Average UK annual salary, how much wages will go up, what unions have said

Experienced teachers will receive a 5% pay rise for the next academic year, the Government has announced after recommendations from the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB).

It comes as the Government unveils its plans for pay rises across the public sector.

This is more than the 3% that the Department for Education (DfE) had originally proposed in March, but falls short of the “fully funded, inflation-plus pay increase” demanded by teaching unions.

Both the NASUWT and NEU unions, which have threatened strike action in autumn over pay, have said the proposed increase of 5% for more experienced staff is too low.

The NEU has said it will now consult its members on strike action in the autumn.

NASUWT previously said it would hold a national strike ballot if the Government fails to “deliver pay restoration for teachers”.

It comes as the UK is hit by the worst inflation rates in 40 years.

The UK has seen strike action across the country in recent months from sectors including the rail industry, post offices and Royal Mail.

The rising cost of living crisis is having a significant impact on employees who are struggling with soaring prices and high inflation.

Here’s everything you need to know about the pay rise for UK teachers.

What is the pay rise for teachers?

The Government announced the starting salary for newly qualified teachers outside London will rise by 8.9%, with salaries reaching £28,000 for the 2022/23 academic year.

It said this meant it had made “good progress” towards a manifesto commitment for starting salaries rising to £30,000.

“Those in the early stages of their careers will also benefit from significant increases, ranging from 5% to 8% depending on experience,” the Government said.

The DfE said the government had decided to confirm teachers’ salaries for the next academic year only, rather than the two years initially proposed, and return to the usual timeframe for the pay setting process for 2023-24.

In an interview after he was made Chancellor, the former Education SecretaryNadhim Zahawi said that he would honour his pledge to raise the salaries for new teachers by 9% - hence the 8.9% rise.

However, this pay rise will only apply to those who are just entering into the profession and will not be allocated to those already in teaching.

Senior teachers will instead be offered a 5% pay rise, an increase on the previous proposal of 3%.

Neither of these pay rises will meet the growing rate of UK inflation, which currently sits at 9.4%.

What is the average UK wage for teachers?

The average salary for a teacher will depend on how long you have been qualified and where in the UK you are based.

For a newly qualified teacher in England and Wales the average salary you can expect is between £25,714 to £32,157, with the higher end of the spectrum being offered in London.

The average salary for a teacher in England and Wales excluding London is between £25,714 to £41,604.

In London teaching wages are higher, with the average wage depending on how close you are to the centre.

If you are on the fringes of London your average salary is between £26,948 to £42,78.

If you are in outer London the average salary is between £29,915 to £45,766 and for inner London you can expect to earn from £32,157 to £50,93.

What has the government said?

Reflecting on the proposed pay rise Education Secretary James Cleverley said: “Teachers are the fabric of our school system and it is their dedication and skill that ensures young people can leave school with the knowledge and opportunities they need to get on in life.

“We are delivering significant pay increases for all teachers despite the present economic challenges, pushing teacher starting salaries up towards the £30,000 milestone and giving experienced teachers the biggest pay rise in a generation.

“This will attract even more top-quality talent to inspire children and young people and reward teachers for their hard work.”

The UK inflation rate has risen to its highest in 40 years, currently at 9.1%, with the Bank of England predicting it will peak at 11% this autumn.

This makes the possibility of further strike action across the public sector likely, with teaching unions already threatening strike action.

Why do teachers want a pay rise?

Teachers, like many other sectors in the UK, have been requesting a pay rise to meet the demands of the cost of living crisis.

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU, said the Government had been “forced” by members to drop a previous proposal of 3% for experienced teachers, but added it had not “moved far enough”.

He said a 5% increase would mean “yet another huge cut” to the real value of pay against inflation, and that this would mean members were consulted over strike action in autumn.

“With RPI inflation at 11.7% according to the latest figures, experienced teachers would see a bigger pay cut than the one inflicted by last year’s pay freeze and even the increase to starting pay is below inflation so is a real-terms pay cut,” he said.

He added that the 8.9% rise for beginner teachers did not “really shift the dial” on the recruitment crisis.

“Given this very poor pay proposal, we will look towards consulting our members in the autumn. This will be the largest ballot of teachers for a generation.

“Teachers don’t want to strike – they want to be in the classroom teaching our pupils.

“But we cannot stand by and watch the biggest real-terms decline in teacher pay this century. This pay offer will do nothing to recruit, retain and value teachers and protect our children’s education.

“We want James Cleverly to engage with us directly and negotiate. We remain ready and stand ready to do that.

“But if it continues on this course into September, we will have no hesitation in recommending that our members take action.”