Pay is the question every new supply teacher asks first — and it's the question agencies are often vaguest about. This guide gives you straight answers about what supply teachers actually earn in the UK in 2026, why rates vary, and how to maximise your take-home.
Typical day-to-day supply rates in 2026
- Primary class teacher: £130–£180 per day
- Secondary subject teacher: £140–£200 per day
- Shortage subject (Maths/Physics/MFL): £160–£220 per day
- SEN teacher: £150–£200 per day
- Cover supervisor: £90–£130 per day
- Teaching assistant: £80–£110 per day
What drives the variance?
Phase, key stage, subject, location and experience all matter. London weighting pushes rates up. Shortage subjects pay more. Schools with challenging behaviour profiles or specialist provision often pay above standard. And — this matters — teachers with a strong agency relationship and an excellent reputation get the best-paid work first.
Long-term and AWR-equivalent pay
If you stay in the same school for 12 weeks, Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) entitle you to the same basic pay as a comparable permanent teacher from week 13. For most teachers this is a meaningful uplift, especially in primary. Make sure your agency calculates AWR transparently and applies it without you having to chase.
PAYE vs umbrella
Most ethical agencies pay supply teachers PAYE — you're employed by the agency, tax and NI are deducted at source, and you accrue holiday pay. Umbrella arrangements add a layer of fees and can leave you worse off. GAC Education pays supply teachers PAYE as standard.
Holiday pay, pensions and sick pay
Holiday pay is built into your rate or paid separately — ask which. Workplace pension auto-enrolment kicks in once you meet eligibility thresholds. Statutory sick pay applies if you've earned enough over the previous 8 weeks. Reputable agencies are upfront about all of this.
Want a clear quote on rates?
Get in touch with our team for a transparent breakdown of what you'd earn through GAC Education in your phase and area.