Education advisers and school inspectors: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time education advisers and school inspectors in the UK earned a median £44,549 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £5,510 above the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That ranks 100th of 382 occupations on this measure.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £37,377 and £54,486.
Median full-time pay: women £44,480 a year, men £45,392 a year.
About 79% of the roughly 24,000 employee jobs are full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 32.5% (from £33,633), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 39,000 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £30,974 | £574.20 | £16.02 | – | – | £15.17 |
| 20th percentile | £35,683 | £689.60 | £18.40 | £27,872* | £565.00 | £17.27 |
| 25th percentile | £37,377 | £722.00 | £20.19 | £31,141* | £600.20 | £19.16 |
| 30th percentile | £40,196 | £776.00 | £21.76 | £32,685* | £650.60 | £20.19 |
| 40th percentile | £41,495 | £852.50 | £23.22 | £39,179 | £765.10 | £22.80 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £44,549 | £920.00 | £24.88 | £41,535 | £851.00 | £24.37 |
| 60th percentile | £46,794 | £1,001.00 | £26.91 | £44,711 | £925.50 | £26.72 |
| 70th percentile | £52,614* | £1,048.20 | £30.24* | £50,221* | £1,020.00 | £29.32 |
| 75th percentile | £54,486* | £1,068.50* | £31.12* | £52,772* | £1,057.30* | £31.02* |
| 80th percentile | – | – | £32.64* | – | £1,108.70* | £32.64* |
| Mean | £46,883 | £951.90 | £26.11 | £42,317 | £864.80 | £26.33 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £33,633* | £688.30 | £18.91* | £29,526* | £584.10 | 19* |
| 2022 revised | £33,309* | £683.10 | £19.23 | £29,625* | £617.10 | 24* |
| 2023 revised | £36,965* | £749.40 | £20.36 | £31,794* | £665.70 | 21* |
| 2024 revised | £42,148 | £824.30 | £22.49 | £38,386 | £732.30 | 23* |
| 2025 provisional | £44,549 | £920.00 | £24.88 | £41,535 | £851.00 | 24* |
Education advisers and school inspectors by region
UK: 39,000 (± 7,700), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What education advisers and school inspectors do
Education advisers and school inspectors plan, organise and direct the educational activities and resources in a local authority education area, and undertake inspections of schools and other training establishments excluding universities. (ONS SOC 2020, 2323)
Also covers: advisory teacher, assessor (further, higher education), curriculum adviser, early years adviser, education officer, school inspector, academic adviser, education adviser, education assessor, education consultant, education inspector, educational adviser, educational assessor, educational consultant, inclusion manager, inclusion officer, module convenor and music coordinator (32 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Advises on all aspects of education and ensures that all statutory educational requirements are being met
- Plans and advises on the provision of special schools for children with physical or learning disabilities
- Appoints and controls teaching staff
- Verifies that school buildings are adequately maintained
- Arranges for the provision of school medical and meals services
- Observes teaching, assesses learning level and discusses any apparent faults with teachers, heads of department and head teachers
Job holders usually possess an education-related degree or relevant postgraduate qualification and have gained relevant experience in teaching and/or school management. Before being appointed, an inspector has to attend a course of training provided or approved by OFSTED. Most inspectors are or have been head teachers, deputy heads or heads of department. A DBS check may be required.
Related
Other educational professionals (median £49,164) · Education managers · Early education and childcare services managers · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026