Understanding FE Teacher Salaries and Benefits
When you change careers, your financial future is always a major consideration. In Further Education (FE) teaching, you can expect a competitive starting salary with excellent opportunities for progression.
Beyond your take-home pay, the sector offers one of the most generous pension schemes in the country, alongside flexible working options and exclusive financial incentives for teaching high-demand subjects.
Whether you’re looking for a full-time career or flexible part-time work, here we’ll look at what you could potentially earn in FE.
How much can you earn in FE?
Starting salaries for new teachers
One of the main benefits of switching to a career teaching in Further Education is that you can start teaching and earning immediately, even before you are fully qualified.
- Unqualified teachers: Salaries typically start from around £22,000 to £27,000. You will usually complete your teacher training on the job.
- Qualified teachers: Once qualified, or if you join with existing teaching qualifications, starting salaries typically rise to between £27,000 and £35,000 depending on your industry experience and location.
Experienced teachers and leadership
As you grow in your career, gaining more experience and taking on increased responsibility, there’s significant room for salary growth. Colleges and other FE teaching providers place a lot of value on both expertise and leadership.
- Experienced teachers: As you progress, salaries can rise to roughly £47,000, particularly for Advanced Practitioner roles, which involve mentoring other staff.
- Management and leadership: If you move into curriculum management, head of department roles, or senior leadership, salaries can range from £50,000 up to £100,000 for Principals and CEOs.
Part-time and sessional pay
Teaching in Further Education offers plenty of flexibility, making it ideal if you want to teach alongside your existing industry job. Many professionals teach in FE on sessional or hourly contracts.
- Hourly rates: Sessional pay typically ranges from £20 to £35 per hour, depending on the subject and location.
This route allows you to supplement your current income without leaving your industry, keeping your technical skills sharp while boosting your earnings in the process.
Location allowances
Salaries in Further Education are set by individual colleges rather than a national pay scale, meaning they can vary by provider. However, colleges in London and the fringes often offer weighted salaries or London Area Allowances to reflect the higher cost of living. This can add significantly to your annual package.
For certain high-demand subjects, you could receive a Targeted Retention Incentive Payment of up to £6,000. This is a tax-free payment made on top of your salary if you’re in the first five years of your FE teaching career. Eligible subjects include:
- Building and construction
- Computing and digital
- Engineering and manufacturing
- Maths, physics, and chemistry
- Early years
The incentive payment is designed to help industry experts transfer their skills into FE teaching, without facing a drop in their earnings.
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The Teachers’ Pension Scheme and other benefits
The monthly salary is just one of the financial benefits of becoming an FE teacher. The Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) is one of the most generous in the UK, with employer contributions significantly higher than most private sector schemes. They are currently around 28.7%.
You’ll also typically benefit from generous holiday allowances (often 37+ days plus bank holidays) and access to cycle-to-work schemes and technology discounts.