Teaching in and around London comes with higher pay through the London weighting system. The School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) defines three separate pay regions for London and its surrounding areas: Inner London, Outer London, and the Fringe. Each region has its own pay scale, with Inner London teachers earning the most. This guide explains which areas fall into each region, the exact salary uplifts at each pay point, and the impact on your pension and take-home pay.
The Three London Pay Regions
London weighting for teachers is not a simple flat-rate supplement added to a national salary. Instead, each pay region has its own complete pay scale with higher values at every pay point. The three regions are defined geographically:
Inner London
The Inner London pay area covers the 32 London boroughs within the inner zone plus the City of London. These boroughs include Camden, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, and Westminster, among others. Teachers in Inner London receive the highest pay rates to reflect the significantly higher cost of living, particularly housing costs.
Outer London
The Outer London pay area covers the remaining London boroughs that are not classified as Inner London. These include areas such as Barnet, Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton, and Waltham Forest. Outer London teachers earn more than teachers in the rest of England but less than their Inner London colleagues.
Fringe
The Fringe area covers parts of the counties surrounding London where the cost of living is elevated compared to the rest of England but lower than London itself. Fringe counties and districts include parts of:
- Berkshire — Bracknell Forest, Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead, and parts of Wokingham and Reading
- Buckinghamshire — South Buckinghamshire districts
- Essex — Basildon, Brentwood, Epping Forest, Harlow, Thurrock
- Hertfordshire — Most districts including Broxbourne, Dacorum, Hertsmere, St Albans, Three Rivers, Watford, Welwyn Hatfield
- Kent — Dartford, Sevenoaks
- Surrey — Most of the county including Elmbridge, Epsom, Guildford, Reigate, Woking
Check Your School's Pay Region
Salary Comparison by Pay Region
The following table shows the salary at each pay point across all four regions, highlighting the uplift that London and Fringe teachers receive:
Main Pay Range
| Point | Rest of England | Fringe | Outer London | Inner London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | £34,069 | £35,602 | £39,196 | £41,729 |
| M2 | £36,042 | £37,647 | £41,246 | £43,713 |
| M3 | £38,400 | £39,979 | £43,403 | £45,787 |
| M4 | £40,941 | £42,513 | £45,673 | £47,961 |
| M5 | £43,529 | £45,070 | £48,438 | £50,666 |
| M6 | £46,940 | £48,479 | £52,241 | £54,131 |
Upper Pay Range
| Point | Rest of England | Fringe | Outer London | Inner London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPR1 | £49,134 | £50,625 | £54,047 | £59,650 |
| UPR2 | £50,956 | £52,442 | £56,047 | £62,581 |
| UPR3 | £52,835 | £54,328 | £58,120 | £64,684 |
The Real Value of London Weighting
While the salary figures look significantly higher, it is important to consider whether London weighting genuinely compensates for the higher cost of living. For a teacher on M1, the difference between Rest of England (£34,069) and Inner London (£41,729) is £7,660 per year — approximately £638 per month before deductions.
However, average rents in Inner London can easily exceed £1,500 per month for a modest one-bedroom flat, compared with £600 to £800 in many parts of England. Transport costs are also higher, though teachers may benefit from the discounted annual Travelcard. After accounting for the higher cost of housing, transport, and general expenses, the real-terms benefit of London weighting is often marginal — and in some cases, teachers in the rest of England may have more disposable income.
Consider the Fringe
Impact on Pension Contributions
Higher London salaries mean higher pension contributions in absolute terms, but also a higher eventual pension. Teacher pension contribution rates are tiered based on salary, so a London teacher may fall into a higher contribution band than a colleague on the same pay point in the rest of England. For example, a teacher earning £41,729 (Inner London M1) would pay a contribution rate of 8.9%, while a teacher on £34,069 (Rest of England M1) would pay 7.4%. The higher contributions do result in a proportionally higher pension in retirement, but they also reduce take-home pay during your working years.
Impact on Take-Home Pay
London weighting increases your gross salary, but after accounting for higher tax (due to more income falling in the 20% and potentially 40% bands), higher National Insurance, and higher pension contributions, the net increase in take-home pay is less dramatic than the gross figures suggest. Use our take-home pay calculator to compare your exact take-home pay across different regions.
Whether you are considering a move to London or already teach there, understanding how London weighting works helps you make informed decisions about your career and finances. Explore the full pay scales on our pay scales page.