Teacher M1 versus Police Constable entry take-home pay
A classroom teacher starting on Main 1 earns £30,000 gross and receives approximately £1,859 monthly take-home pay (£22,312 annually). A newly appointed Police Constable on pay point 0 earns £26,682 gross and takes home £1,641 monthly (£19,689 annually). Teacher M1 yields £218 more net pay per month.
Graduate starting pay in state education and policing in England and Wales is set under statutory pay circulars. Below is the side-by-side comparison of starting basic earnings and statutory payroll deductions.
| Pay element | Teacher M1 (Classroom) | Police Constable (Point 0) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross annual salary | £30,000 | £26,682 | +£3,318 (Teacher higher) |
| Employee pension contribution | £3,510 (11.70%) | £3,802 (14.25%) | -£292 (Police pays more) |
| Taxable pay after pension | £26,490 | £22,880 | +£3,610 |
| PAYE income tax | £2,784 | £2,062 | +£722 |
| National Insurance (Class 1) | £1,394 | £1,129 | +£265 |
| Total statutory deductions | £7,688 | £6,993 | +£695 |
| Annual take-home pay | £22,312 | £19,689 | +£2,623 (Teacher higher) |
| Monthly take-home pay | £1,859 | £1,641 | +£219 / month |
| Weekly take-home pay | £429 | £379 | +£50 / week |
Pension deductions compared: Teachers versus Police
Pension member contributions represent a major deduction from both public service pay packets:
- Teachers' Pension Scheme: Operates an 11.7% member contribution rate on basic earnings up to £46,525, deducting £3,510 annually from a starting teacher's pay.
- Police Pension Scheme 2015: Features a higher member contribution rate of 14.25% on all earnings, deducting £3,802 from an entry constable's salary.
- Net Pay Arrangement: Both schemes deduct contributions prior to income tax calculations. Consequently, each £100 contributed reduces taxable earnings by £100, saving £20 in basic rate income tax.
Long-term salary progression: Teaching versus Policing
Progression timescales and top basic salaries offer different financial trajectories across both public services:
- Classroom teaching progression: Teachers advance annually through points M1 to M6 (£30,000 to £41,333). Crossing onto the Upper Pay Range allows experienced teachers to reach £46,525 at UPR3. Full scales are on the Teacher M1 pay page.
- Police Constable progression: Constables progress through pay points 0 to 7, advancing from £26,682 to £46,044 after seven years of confirmed service. Further promotional ranks include Sergeant (£47,454 to £53,424) and Inspector (£58,332 to £63,051). All points are listed on the Police Constable pay page.