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Original poster

To ask how much a head of department earns?

80 replies

Weallknowfrogsgo · 26/04/2024 17:56

In a school just in case that wasn’t clear.

dm’s friends daughter just got a role as a head of department in Greater London. Fantastic.

Had one of those convos with dm, you know the kind when the relationship is fractious and toxic and every other comment is a dig lamenting how successful X was v me. I was going to go into teaching but changed my mind. Basis of the dig

i think I’m doing alright, mid 30s earning mid 50s. Out of idle curiosity how much does a head of department earn, google told me about 45k but DM was insistent she was earning around 100k because ‘that’s what head of department earn’

OP posts:
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TheCatIsInCharge · 18/01/2026 19:17

Think my friend earns about £60k as head of dept in large London secondary

Lids12345 · 16/01/2026 19:01

I can confirm as head of Welsh first langage- £63k + additional salary for around £5-7k for external exam boardwork as senior moderator / examiner for a gcse and a level unit.

PumpkinPie2016 · 25/06/2024 17:34

She's talking nonsense😂

I am a Head of Science in a secondary school.
Myself and heads of Maths/English are paid on the leadership scale.

I am near the top of my 'section' of the scale and earn 58k.

Heads of smaller subjects get less.

thestudio · 25/06/2024 17:00

Glad you got a satisfying answer OP😁 - but the question is, what are you going to do about your toxic DM?

spirit20 · 25/06/2024 16:56

If Heads of Department earn 100K then I am being very underpaid.....

OP - you say they've been teaching for 5 years, so let's assume they're on Point 5 of the main pay scale. In Outer London (as you said greater London), this is currently £42,654. This will go up to 46k next year if they go to the next step on the pay-scale, and could eventually go up to 51k after another 4 years.

This is their base salary, they will then get an additional allowance for being head of department. This will vary depending on the subject and size of secondary school and schools can basically choose themselves what to offer so there's no real way to know and it varies hugely. (e.g. I'm currently paid 11k for MFL, but that's on the higher end for that subject, most would probably be around 9k).

On average, if it's English/Maths/Science, it will probably be around 11k-13k extra (possibly 9k if it's a smaller school and/or doesn't have a sixth form).

If it's MFL/history/geography/business/other subjects that most students tend to choose, it's probably between 7-9k but possibly 11k if a large school. For other smaller subjects, especially those that are only taught at KS4 or Ks5, it could be could be as little as 4k in some cases.

Jmaho · 25/06/2024 16:46

Sounds like my mother in law who has told us now numerous times that her Nephew (DH's cousin) has just qualified as a secondary school History teacher and is on £80k. I was sure this couldn't possibly be the case but she is insistent that it's correct. Never taught before, first teaching job and not in London. Retrained in his early 40's

Buryyiirwhat · 25/06/2024 16:32

I have several HoD friends private and state school, the one on the most ( they were discussing it) was £60k - very experienced teacher - if she moves to deputy it’ll be about £80ish. The head of the whole school
is on just over £100 ish… and that a big state secondary.

Jobhunterteacher · 25/06/2024 10:40

Same just been appointed HOD UPS3 and TLR just under £52k

Spirallingdownwards · 27/04/2024 23:09

AppleKatie · 27/04/2024 17:26

Geographically where are you?

because HoDs at prestigious London independents are on 55-75k (and the vast majority are in the first half of that range)

Show quote history

If you wish to pm me then I will say but I so not want to say location publicly

Greywitch2 · 27/04/2024 18:34

Weallknowfrogsgo · 27/04/2024 18:03

Because they are greedy and lazy of course! (Her words not mine of course) whereas my role by contrast I barely do 9/5 in real terms (I definitely feel like the lazy one)

Show quote history

Bless!

You can't argue with stupid. I wouldn't even bother have a conversation with her. She's so utterly deluded about how the world of work actually operates.

She's presumably had a stellar career of her own? One that didn't require too many brain cells, perhaps? It's not difficult to see why your relationship is fractious and toxic with her.

Original poster
Weallknowfrogsgo · 27/04/2024 18:03

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 27/04/2024 17:45

Dm is convinced they just work 9/3

Surely nobody actually still believes this?! Maybe ask your DM if she knows why there is a massive retention and recruitment crisis in teaching, if teachers get paid £100k and work 9-3!

Because they are greedy and lazy of course! (Her words not mine of course) whereas my role by contrast I barely do 9/5 in real terms (I definitely feel like the lazy one)

OP posts:
AllProperTeaIsTheft · 27/04/2024 17:45

Dm is convinced they just work 9/3

Surely nobody actually still believes this?! Maybe ask your DM if she knows why there is a massive retention and recruitment crisis in teaching, if teachers get paid £100k and work 9-3!

AppleKatie · 27/04/2024 17:26

Spirallingdownwards · 26/04/2024 21:42

HODS at local independent school to me earn around £80k and potentially can earn more depending on what extra curricular they choose to take on.

Geographically where are you?

because HoDs at prestigious London independents are on 55-75k (and the vast majority are in the first half of that range)

dapsnotplimsolls · 27/04/2024 17:26

Weallknowfrogsgo · 27/04/2024 17:22

It sounds like a heck of a lot of actual work too. Dm is convinced they just work 9/3 but everything I’ve seen is teachers getting in at 7 and then doing work after school etc

She should have a conversation with an actual teacher.

PrivateSchoolTeacherParent · 27/04/2024 17:23

I'm just taking a break from marking at the moment!

Original poster
Weallknowfrogsgo · 27/04/2024 17:22

It sounds like a heck of a lot of actual work too. Dm is convinced they just work 9/3 but everything I’ve seen is teachers getting in at 7 and then doing work after school etc

OP posts:
craxy · 27/04/2024 07:54

It sounds like she is broadly in a similar pay level as you are Op

funasamum · 27/04/2024 07:25

Wonkywinky · 26/04/2024 18:32

Variable.
I'd think you were on the right lines.
A headteacher 100k+

Yes. In a huge school with thousands of kids on roll.

funasamum · 27/04/2024 07:24

Weallknowfrogsgo · 26/04/2024 17:56

In a school just in case that wasn’t clear.

dm’s friends daughter just got a role as a head of department in Greater London. Fantastic.

Had one of those convos with dm, you know the kind when the relationship is fractious and toxic and every other comment is a dig lamenting how successful X was v me. I was going to go into teaching but changed my mind. Basis of the dig

i think I’m doing alright, mid 30s earning mid 50s. Out of idle curiosity how much does a head of department earn, google told me about 45k but DM was insistent she was earning around 100k because ‘that’s what head of department earn’

This is fantasy land.

Teachers with additional responsibilities warn no-where near that.

TheCatIsInCharge · 26/04/2024 22:50

My friend is a HoD and earns 60k

Maddy70 · 26/04/2024 22:42

Depends on the size of the school and department plus whether its in London or outside but it can be anything from 2k to 10k more than a standard teacher

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 26/04/2024 22:25

It doesn’t bother me as such rather im wondering if I made a life error not teaching lol 😅

No, heads of department don't earn anything like £100k. More like half that. And did you make a life error not teaching? Maybe ask some of the 40,000 UK teachers who quit the profession last year.

Notellinganyone · 26/04/2024 22:17

I’m a second in Dept on 53k. Big London school could be 60-70 k.

WibblyCat · 26/04/2024 21:58

I'm a Head of Mathematics and earn £57000 in second year in the role - my pay scale goes up to a maximum of £63000.

Blahdymcblahdyface · 26/04/2024 21:51

Private schools often pay less and many are in a financial mess at the moment