Salary guide
Headteacher salary in England
What headteachers are advertised at in England, based on live vacancies.
Headteacher pay range
From 1 September 2026, headteachers in England outside London are paid within the leadership range of £53,586 to £148,829. Where a head sits in that range depends mainly on the size of the school: each school has a headteacher group based on pupil numbers, which sets the pay range for its head. London heads are paid on higher ranges, and academy trusts can set their own pay for heads and executive heads.
Advertised pay in live headteacher jobs
- Median advertised salary midpoint
- £78,903
- Middle 50%
- £73,208–£81,664
- Listings used
- 18 from 18 employers
- Live vacancies
- 101
Each vacancy is counted once using the midpoint of its advertised full-time salary range. We then take the median across eligible vacancies, so this describes advertised pay, not what employees currently earn. Listings whose pay text suggests pro-rata, actual or unqualified-scale pay, reversed ranges and duplicates are left out; figures far outside national pay scales are held back for review rather than counted (academies, independent schools and London weighting can legitimately differ). Part-time and term-time jobs pay a pro-rata share of FTE, so actual pay can be lower. How advertised pay works · See live headteacher jobs
Advertised salary evidence
£75,664 per year – £91,158 per year
Median advertised range in England · Leadership pay framework (England)
Midpoint of advertised salary ranges: £83,411 per year
Limited evidence
Based on salary information published in live vacancy adverts on SchoolJobs.
Based on 23 live public vacancies · Last refreshed 6 Nov 2026
Statistics are derived from live public vacancies at the time of the last refresh. They are a snapshot of advertised pay, not a historical earnings series.
How we calculate salary informationLeads a school, sets strategy and is accountable for standards, safeguarding and staff.
Advertised pay by unit and nation
Annual, monthly, weekly, daily and hourly adverts are measured separately, and each nation is measured on its own evidence.
| Nation | Unit | Median advertised range | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | per year | £75,664 per year – £91,158 per yearMidpoint of advertised ranges: £83,411 per year | Limited evidence23 live vacancies · 23 employers |
| Nation not identified | per year | £78,702 per year – £91,158 per yearMidpoint of advertised ranges: £84,930 per year | Limited evidence9 live vacancies · 9 employers |
Headteacher job openings
Headteacher
Acresfield Academy · Chester
Headteacher
Bingley Grammar School · Bingley
Headteacher
St Charles' Catholic Academy · Liverpool
HEADTEACHER
The Nettleham Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior School · NETTLEHAM, LINCOLN
Headteacher
Rushwick CofE Primary School · Worcester
Headteacher
Co-op Academy Leeds · Leeds
Schools hiring headteachers
Ranked by live vacancy volume. We do not publish employer-level pay figures.
Where headteachers are being advertised
Areas with the most live headteacher vacancies.
Similar roles to Headteacher
Assistant Head of Sixth Form
Leadership pay framework (England)
See assistant head of sixth form salary guide
Assistant Head of Year
Leadership pay framework (England)
See assistant head of year salary guide
Assistant Headteacher
Leadership pay framework (England)
See assistant headteacher salary guide
Assistant Principal
Leadership pay framework (England)
See assistant principal salary guide
Associate Assistant Headteacher
Leadership pay framework (England)
See associate assistant headteacher salary guide
Associate Headteacher
Leadership pay framework (England)
See associate headteacher salary guide
Career advice for headteacher roles
Frequently asked questions
How much does a headteacher earn in England?
Across live headteacher vacancies advertised in England on SchoolJobs, the median advertised range is £75,664 per year – £91,158 per year. That is advertised pay, not pay received — individual salaries depend on experience, pay point, phase and contract.
Does headteacher pay vary by area?
It can, but we only publish area differences where we have enough evidence for that area — we never apply a regional multiplier to invent a local figure.
What pay framework applies to a headteacher?
School leadership posts in maintained schools in England are normally paid on a leadership pay range determined under the STPCD, with the individual range set by the governing body. Academies may set their own leadership pay. Other UK nations have their own arrangements.
Find your next headteacher job
Live UK headteacher vacancies from schools, trusts and agencies.
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