How part-time teacher pay is calculated
There is no separate part-time pay scale. Your full-time salary is established first, based on spine point and region, exactly as if you were full-time — then multiplied by your FTE fraction, the proportion of a full-time role you work. Pension, tax, NI and student loan are all then calculated on that reduced actual salary.
FTE (full-time equivalent) is your working time as a proportion of the standard 32.5-hour teaching week. 3 days = 0.6 FTE (3÷5). 4 days = 0.8. Half-time = 0.5. You don't need to know your FTE to use the calculator — enter days or hours and it converts automatically.
Worked example: an M4 teacher outside London has a full-time gross of £39,556. Working 3 days (0.6 FTE), actual gross is £23,734. TPS pension at 7.4% is £1,756/year. The result: a monthly take-home of approximately £1,660 before student loans — on full-time equivalent the same teacher would take home ≈£2,555/month. The part-time figure isn't simply 60% of that; it's slightly higher proportionally because less of the lower salary falls into higher tax and pension bands.
What FTE actually means for your pay and pension
Your pension accrual is proportional to actual salary — 1/57th of your actual pensionable pay each year. On 0.6 FTE at £23,734, that's £416/year of accrual, versus £694 full-time.
Your TPS contribution rate is based on actual salary, not full-time equivalent — a detail that catches many part-time teachers out. A 0.6 FTE teacher on M5 outside London has an actual gross of £25,234, sitting in the 7.4% band, while the £42,057 full-time equivalent would sit in the 8.9% band. Our calculator applies this correctly; many others incorrectly use the FTE salary, overstating the deduction.
Unlike support staff on term-time-only contracts, qualified teachers on standard contracts receive salary across 12 equal monthly payments regardless of FTE, including through school holidays.
Common part-time fractions — what they mean in practice
Based on M4 outside London (£39,556 full-time, 2025/26):
| Pattern | FTE | Full-time equiv. | Actual gross | Approx. monthly take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day/week | 0.2 | £39,556 | £7,911 | ~£620 |
| 2 days/week | 0.4 | £39,556 | £15,822 | ~£1,175 |
| Half time | 0.5 | £39,556 | £19,778 | ~£1,430 |
| 3 days/week | 0.6 | £39,556 | £23,734 | ~£1,660 |
| 4 days/week | 0.8 | £39,556 | £31,645 | ~£2,150 |
| 4.5 days/week | 0.9 | £39,556 | £35,600 | ~£2,380 |
Estimates based on tax code 1257L, TPS included, no student loan, 2026/27 HMRC rates. Use the calculator above for your exact spine point and region.
Are TLR payments pro-rated for part-time teachers?
TLR3 is always pro-rated — the STPCD requires it. TLR1 and TLR2 may or may not be — there's no national requirement, and it's a school-level decision that should be in your contract. Before accepting a part-time role with a TLR, ask specifically whether it will be paid in full or pro-rated. Our calculator defaults to pro-rating TLR1/2, with a toggle to override.
Moving from full-time to part-time — what actually changes
Your gross drops proportionally, but take-home drops by slightly less than your hours, since a lower gross means less tax and pension. Going from full-time to 0.6 FTE typically reduces take-home by ≈58–59%, not a clean 60%.
Pension accrual falls proportionally but doesn't stop, and a part-time year still counts fully toward retirement eligibility. Spine-point progression continues as normal, and the pay award applies to your full-time equivalent salary even while working part-time.
If you reduce hours via flexible working (rather than a new contract), you retain the right to request a return to full-time — document any agreement carefully.
Returning from maternity leave on part-time hours
Future maternity pay is calculated on your actual part-time salary, not previous full-time earnings. If you're weighing up a part-time return, use the maternity pay calculator to see your income week by week across the full 52 weeks first, then this calculator to model the part-time take-home that follows. If your school reduces your TLR on return, get any change in writing before you go back.
If your school has just confirmed the STRB award, the pay rise calculator shows your current and new take-home side by side. Moving to supply work instead of a fractional contract is a different calculation — see the supply teacher calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the take-home pay for a 0.6 FTE teacher in 2025–26?
It depends on spine point, region and student loans. On M3 outside London, a 0.6 FTE teacher has an actual gross of £22,261. After TPS at 7.4% (£1,647), income tax (≈£1,538) and NI (≈£762), take-home is around £1,527/month with no student loan. On M5, actual gross is £25,234 and take-home is ≈£1,710/month.
Does the pension contribution rate change if I work part-time?
Yes, in your favour. The TPS tier is based on actual salary, not full-time equivalent. A 0.6 FTE teacher on M5 outside London (actual gross £25,234) sits in the 7.4% band, while the £42,057 full-time equivalent would sit in 8.9%. Our calculator applies this correctly.
How do I calculate my FTE if I work a different number of hours?
Divide your contracted hours by the standard 32.5 directed hours. 26 hours ÷ 32.5 = 0.8 FTE. If your school uses sessions, divide your sessions by 10 (a full-time week). Or just enter your hours directly and let the calculator work it out.
Can I work part-time on the upper pay range?
Yes — part-time applies to all ranges: Main, Upper, Lead Practitioner, Leadership and Unqualified. Your actual gross is simply your UPS salary multiplied by FTE.
What happens to my TLR if I go part-time?
TLR3 is always pro-rated. TLR1 and TLR2 may be paid in full or pro-rated depending on school policy — ask before agreeing to a change of hours.
Does going part-time affect my pay scale progression?
No. You continue progressing up the main pay range normally, and the annual award applies in full to your full-time equivalent, with your actual gross adjusted proportionally.
I work part-time across two schools — how do I calculate my pension?
Each contract is treated independently for TPS purposes, with your contribution tier assessed separately per contract based on its own actual salary. If combined hours exceed full-time, contact Teachers' Pensions for guidance.
How does part-time pay work in Wales or Scotland?
The same logic applies — your full-time spine point salary (Welsh or Scottish) is multiplied by FTE. Use our Wales calculator or Scotland calculator for the correct underlying figures.