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 generous pension schemes, flexible working options, and financial incentives for teaching high-demand subjects.
How much can you earn in FE?
One of the main benefits of teaching in Further Education is that you can start teaching some subjects immediately, while working towards getting qualified.
Salaries in Further Education are set by individual colleges rather than a national pay scale, meaning they can vary by provider. On average, a full time FE teacher earns a salary of £37,000.
As you grow your career, gaining more experience and taking on increased responsibility, there’s room for salary growth. Colleges and other FE teaching providers place a lot of value on both expertise and leadership. Management roles can earn on average £46,000 per year, while leadership roles earn £72,000 on average.
Part-time and sessional teaching
Many Further Education providers make use of guest lecturers, ideal if you want to gain teaching experience alongside your existing industry job. Many professionals teach in FE on sessional or hourly contracts.
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.
Search for jobs training others in FE
Search for a job training others in FE
Targeted Retention Incentives
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.