M1 Teacher Salary 2025/26
Main Pay Range Point 1 — Early Career Teacher (ECT) Year 1
Gross (annual)
£32,916
Net (TPS on)
£25,271
Net (monthly)
£2,106
About this pay scale
M1 is the starting salary for newly qualified teachers (formally "Early Career Teachers" since 2021) in their first year of induction. It applies to anyone working their first full year in a state-funded school in England — primary, secondary, special, or sixth-form. M1 is the lowest point on the Main Pay Range (M1-M6).
Most teachers progress one point per year on the MPR (M1 → M2 → ... → M6) subject to successful annual performance review. By M6 (typically year 5-6 of teaching), basic pay reaches £45,352 in Rest of England — a £12,436 pay rise from M1 over 5 years.
Compared across regions
| Region | Gross (annual) | Net (annual, TPS on) | Net (monthly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of England | £32,916 | £25,271 | £2,106 |
| Fringe | £34,398 | £26,250 | £2,188 |
| Outer London | £37,870 | £28,090 | £2,341 |
| Inner London | £40,317 | £29,678 | £2,473 |
The four regions are separate tables, not one scale with a London weighting bolted on. An Inner London M1 out-earns a Rest of England M1 by over £7,400 before any allowance is considered.
Take-Home Pay After Tax, NI and TPS Pension
| Pay point | Gross | TPS | Tax | NI | Net | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of England | £32,916 | £2,436 | £3,582 | £1,627 | £25,271 | £2,106 |
| Fringe | £34,398 | £2,545 | £3,857 | £1,746 | £26,250 | £2,188 |
| Outer London | £37,870 | £3,370 | £4,386 | £2,024 | £28,090 | £2,341 |
| Inner London | £40,317 | £3,588 | £4,832 | £2,219 | £29,678 | £2,473 |
M1 is the first point of the Main Pay Range and the rate most newly qualified teachers start on. The four STPCD regions are separate scales, not uplifts of one another, so the region you teach in matters more than any other single factor. Figures assume 1.0 FTE with TPS on.
Check your own figure
FAQ
What's the difference between NQT and ECT?
NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher) was the historic term for teachers in their first year. Since September 2021, the induction period was extended to 2 years and rebranded as the Early Career Teacher (ECT) framework. ECT Year 1 (M1) and ECT Year 2 (M2) are now the standard entry points, with extra mentoring and reduced timetable provisions. The pay scale itself is unchanged — M1 in 2025/26 is £32,916 in Rest of England.
Am I on M1 if I switch schools?
Not necessarily. Teachers carry their pay point with them between maintained schools — moving from one Rest-of-England school to another mid-MPR keeps your point. Moving from a Rest-of-England school to an Inner London school keeps your M-point but uses the Inner London pay table (a meaningful uplift). Academies set their own pay rules, though most follow STPCD.
Do teachers in Wales / Scotland / NI also start at M1?
Wales uses STPCD but with separate Welsh figures (slightly different from England). Scotland uses SNCT (Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers) which is a different framework entirely. Northern Ireland has its own scheme. This calculator covers England STPCD only.
How much does an M1 teacher take home a month?
About £2,106 a month in Rest of England, £2,473 in Inner London, on 1.0 FTE with TPS on at the 7.4% tier. The table above gives every region. Part-timers keep proportionally more than their FTE suggests, because the Personal Allowance does not scale down.
Is M1 the same as the old NQT pay point?
Effectively yes. M1 is the first point of the Main Pay Range and is what most teachers in their first year of the Early Career Framework are paid. The terminology changed from NQT to ECT, but the pay point did not.
Do I automatically move from M1 to M2?
Progression through the Main Pay Range is annual and subject to satisfactory performance against your appraisal objectives. It is not automatic in the contractual sense, but in practice the large majority of teachers progress each September.
Try the calculator
Every figure here is 1.0 FTE. Most newly qualified teachers start full time, but if you are part time the calculator scales pay, pension and tax together rather than simply taking a fraction of net — which is why a 0.6 FTE teacher keeps proportionally more than 60%.