Higher level teaching assistants: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time higher level teaching assistants in the UK earned a median £25,434 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 35% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
It is in the lowest-paid third of the 382 occupations (30th from the bottom).
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £22,407 and £29,342.
Median full-time pay: women £25,294 a year, men £27,148 a year.
Full-time paid hours are shorter than usual, a median of 34.5 a week.
Most jobs here are part-time: 21,000 of about 43,000 are full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 17.2%, from £21,710, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 62,100 people in this line of work, 16% of them in North West.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | £456.00 | £13.46 | – | £231.50* | £13.44 |
| 20th percentile | £21,422 | £493.40 | £14.40 | £16,981 | £373.40 | £14.32 |
| 25th percentile | £22,407 | £502.30 | £15.35 | £18,367 | £393.70 | £15.06 |
| 30th percentile | £23,240 | £510.40 | £15.57 | £18,942 | £406.80 | £15.43 |
| 40th percentile | £24,591 | £544.90 | £16.18 | £20,511 | £452.50 | £16.09 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £25,434 | £588.40 | £16.86 | £22,050 | £488.60 | £16.58 |
| 60th percentile | £26,540 | £619.50 | £17.55 | £23,983 | £521.50 | £17.25 |
| 70th percentile | £27,949 | £636.20 | £18.22 | £25,154 | £567.20 | £18.32 |
| 75th percentile | £29,342 | £643.30 | £18.93 | £26,215 | £603.20 | £18.84 |
| 80th percentile | – | £690.00 | £19.46 | £27,278 | £631.00 | £19.35 |
| Mean | £25,883 | £591.10 | £17.25 | £21,629 | £483.30 | £17.14 |
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 | £21,710 | £427.30 | £12.44 | £18,203 | £361.10 | 47 |
| 2022 revised | – | £435.10 | £12.64 | – | £404.30 | 32 |
| 2023 revised | £22,741 | £483.40 | £14.08 | £21,077 | £431.60 | 38 |
| 2024 revised | £24,077 | £536.30 | £15.24 | £22,047 | £464.20 | 39 |
| 2025 provisional | £25,434 | £588.40 | £16.86 | £22,050 | £488.60 | 43 |
Higher level teaching assistants by region
UK: 62,100 (± 9,700), April 2025 to March 2026. 11 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| North West | 10,200* | ± 3,900 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What higher level teaching assistants do
Higher level teaching assistants (HLTA’s) assist teachers with their day-to-day classroom work, the provision and planning of and the creation of lesson materials. HLTA’s teach classes on their own and may be trained in relevant learning strategies such as literacy. They may support students with special/additional needs and work in special and additional needs schools. (ONS SOC 2020, 3231)
Also covers: advanced teaching assistant, HLTA, learning support practitioner, teaching assistant (qualified), sen hlta, TA (qualified), high level teaching assistant and higher level teaching assistant.
- Assists with development of lesson plans and materials
- Assists teacher with preparation or clearing up of classroom
- Gives lessons to classes and individual students independently of the teacher
- Assess, record and report on pupils' progress
- Manages and supports other teaching assistants
- Listens to children read, reads to them or tells stories
Entrants must achieve Higher level Teaching Assistant status. Academic qualifications may be required by some employers and significant relevant experience is usually necessary. NVQs at level 4 are available. A DBS check is mandatory.
Related
Teaching and childcare associate professionals (median £24,261) · Early education and childcare practitioners · Welfare and housing associate professionals n.e.c. · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026