Head teachers and principals: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time head teachers and principals in the UK earned a median £72,192 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 85% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 11th of 382 occupations on this measure.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £59,307 and £83,623.
Median full-time pay: women £68,400 a year, men £78,183 a year.
Full-time paid hours are shorter than usual, a median of 32.5 a week.
About 76% of the roughly 70,000 employee jobs are full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 9.3%, from £66,054, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 46,000 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 | £46,905 | £977.90 | £29.30 | £41,346 | £918.60 | £29.83 |
| 20th percentile | £56,219 | £1,195.00 | £34.14 | £53,947 | £1,147.50 | £34.69 |
| 25th percentile | £59,307 | £1,248.70 | £36.51 | £56,666 | £1,223.00 | £36.83 |
| 30th percentile | £61,748 | £1,303.00 | £37.71 | £60,125 | £1,255.10 | £37.81 |
| 40th percentile | £67,665 | £1,361.60 | £40.23 | £66,555 | £1,328.70 | £41.38 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £72,192 | £1,440.90 | £43.00 | £70,977 | £1,404.30 | £44.31 |
| 60th percentile | £77,137 | £1,521.90 | £45.74 | £75,500 | £1,490.10 | £47.19 |
| 70th percentile | £80,854 | £1,599.60 | £48.01 | £80,761 | £1,599.60 | £50.92 |
| 75th percentile | £83,623 | £1,663.10 | £49.37 | £83,340 | £1,639.20 | £53.08 |
| 80th percentile | £86,825 | £1,721.60 | £51.42 | £86,910 | £1,721.50 | £55.25 |
| Mean | £73,342 | £1,493.80 | £43.59 | £71,776 | £1,448.90 | £45.60 |
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 | £66,054 | £1,291.00 | £38.33 | £65,959 | £1,291.00 | 61 |
| 2022 revised | £66,376 | £1,291.10 | £39.07 | £64,033 | £1,290.40 | 61 |
| 2023 revised | £65,677 | £1,361.00 | £39.11 | £65,367 | £1,354.70 | 54 |
| 2024 revised | £71,008 | £1,411.20 | £41.55 | £69,293 | £1,378.00 | 71 |
| 2025 provisional | £72,192 | £1,440.90 | £43.00 | £70,977 | £1,404.30 | 70 |
Head teachers and principals by region
UK: 46,000 (± 8,300), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What head teachers and principals do
Head teachers and principals plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the running of schools, colleges and other educational establishments. (ONS SOC 2020, 2321)
Also covers: head master (secondary school), head teacher (primary school), principal (further education), rector (university), president (college) and head of school.
- Sets the school's values, provides leadership to staff and helps create an encouraging environment for learning
- Considers staffing, financial, material and other short- and long-term needs
- Leads or contributes to decision making processes regarding curricula, budgetary, disciplinary and other matters
- Monitors schools performance and sets goals for student's academic achievements
- Liaises with parents and pupils
- Assists with recruitment, public relations and marketing activities
Entrants usually possess a degree or equivalent qualification and have gained significant relevant experience in the field of education. Specialist training courses to become a head teacher are available. A DBS check may be required.
Related
Other educational professionals (median £49,164) · Education managers · Education advisers and school inspectors · salary percentile · UK real pay growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026