NJC pay spine 2026/27 for school support staff
Updated 31 Oct 2026 · Reviewed by SchoolJobs
In short
Most school support staff in council-maintained schools, and many in academies, are paid on the NJC pay spine. From 1 April 2026 it starts at £25,614 a year (£13.28 an hour) at spine point 3 and rises to £56,293 at point 43, after a 3.3% pay award. Spine point 2 was removed, so point 3 is now the lowest.
Key facts
- SCP 3 (lowest point): £25,614 a year, £13.28 an hour
- SCP 43 (top point): £56,293
- 2026 pay award: 3.3% from 1 April 2026
- Figures are full-time (37 hours), all-year
Important: these are full-time, all-year figures
The spine shows pay for 37 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. Most teaching assistants work fewer hours and term-time only, so they receive less. See "What term-time staff actually earn" below.
NJC pay spine from 1 April 2026
| Point | Annual (full-time) | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | £25,614 | £13.28 |
| 4 | £26,016 | £13.48 |
| 5 | £26,427 | £13.70 |
| 6 | £26,847 | £13.92 |
| 7 | £27,274 | £14.14 |
| 8 | £27,709 | £14.36 |
| 9 | £28,153 | £14.59 |
| 10 | £28,608 | £14.83 |
| 11 | £29,071 | £15.07 |
| 12 | £29,542 | £15.31 |
| 13 | £30,023 | £15.56 |
| 14 | £30,515 | £15.82 |
| 15 | £31,015 | £16.08 |
| 16 | £31,525 | £16.34 |
| 17 | £32,046 | £16.61 |
| 18 | £32,578 | £16.89 |
| 19 | £33,119 | £17.17 |
| 20 | £33,673 | £17.45 |
| 21 | £34,237 | £17.75 |
| 22 | £34,811 | £18.04 |
| 23 | £35,570 | £18.44 |
| 24 | £36,581 | £18.96 |
| 25 | £37,563 | £19.47 |
| 26 | £38,510 | £19.96 |
| 27 | £39,481 | £20.46 |
| 28 | £40,444 | £20.96 |
| 29 | £41,177 | £21.34 |
| 30 | £42,123 | £21.83 |
| 31 | £43,149 | £22.37 |
| 32 | £44,253 | £22.94 |
| 33 | £45,529 | £23.60 |
| 34 | £46,579 | £24.14 |
| 35 | £47,665 | £24.71 |
| 36 | £48,738 | £25.26 |
| 37 | £49,817 | £25.82 |
| 38 | £50,908 | £26.39 |
| 39 | £51,928 | £26.92 |
| 40 | £53,051 | £27.50 |
| 41 | £54,143 | £28.06 |
| 42 | £55,224 | £28.62 |
| 43 | £56,293 | £29.18 |
What term-time staff actually earn
Actual pay = full-time salary × (your hours ÷ 37) × (your paid weeks ÷ 52.143).
Example: a teaching assistant on point 5, working 32.5 hours a week on a 39-week contract paid for 43.6 weeks (including holiday pay), earns about £19,410 a year. After pension (5.8%), tax and National Insurance, that's about £16,594 a year, or £1,383 a month, paid in 12 equal instalments.
Paid weeks vary between councils and trusts, so check your contract.
Grades and spine points
Councils and trusts group spine points into their own grades (for example "Grade 3: points 5–7"), so the same job title can be paid differently in different areas. Some London councils and academy trusts add London weighting or use their own scales.
Live jobs and pay right now
From live adverts on SchoolJobs. Pay comes from our salary guide; it's hidden when there isn't enough evidence.
2026/27 advertised pay £22,098 per year – £25,583 per year · midpoint £23,841 per year (based on 209 adverts)Salary guide · Pay calculator
Latest teaching assistant jobs
£25,614–£26,427 FTE
Part time· Closes 23 Nov
Posted 1 day ago
£19,222 a year (actual)
Full time · Part time· Closes 26 Nov
Posted 1 day ago
£9,028 a year (actual)
Part time· Closes 30 Nov
Posted 1 day ago
Support staff pay calculator
Turn any NJC spine point into real term-time, part-time pay.
Open the tool →Frequently asked questions
How much does a teaching assistant earn per hour in 2026?
Many TA posts are graded in the lower part of the spine. Points 3–8 pay £13.28 to £14.36 an hour; the advert shows the grade.
When did the 2026 support staff pay rise start?
The 3.3% award applies from 1 April 2026, so arrears may be backdated.
Do academies use the NJC spine?
Many do, but academies can set their own pay. Check the advert.
Why is my pay lower than the spine figure?
The spine is full-time and all-year. Fewer hours or a term-time contract reduce it.
Sources
Related pages
Guides and pay pages
Pay tools
Free calculators with 2026/27 figures and the maths shown.