Higher level teaching assistants Pay Data UK — 2025

Higher level teaching assistants roles in the UK earn a median of £27,000 per year, equivalent to £17.41 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 10.0% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £21,000 in South West to £31,000 in London. Pay has risen over the past 4 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £25,434/yr (6% above our computed national average).

Labour Market

There is currently not sufficient data available for this occupation to say anything about the labour market.

Pay by Region

Annual pay for Higher level teaching assistants across UK regions. The bar shows the typical pay range (25th–75th percentile); the diamond marks the median.

Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).

How Pay Has Changed Over Time

Annual pay grew by +10.0% from 2024 to 2025.

National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot. Shaded band shows 25th–75th percentile range.

Year-on-Year Pay Change

Annual percentage change in median pay for Higher level teaching assistants.

Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.

About Higher level teaching assistants

Higher level teaching assistants (HLTA’s) assist teachers with their day-to-day classroom work, the provision and planning of and the creation of lesson materials. HLTA’s teach classes on their own and may be trained in relevant learning strategies such as literacy. They may support students with special/additional needs and work in special and additional needs schools.

Typical Tasks and Duties

• assists with development of lesson plans and materials
• assists teacher with preparation or clearing up of classroom
• gives lessons to classes and individual students independently of the teacher
• assess, record and report on pupils' progress
• manages and supports other teaching assistants
• listens to children read, reads to them or tells stories
• assists children with washing or dressing for outdoor and similar activities
• makes simple teaching aids and constructs thematic displays of educational material or children’s work
• helps with outings and other out-of-classroom activities

Entry Routes and Qualifications

Entrants must achieve Higher level Teaching Assistant status. Academic qualifications may be required by some employers and significant relevant experience is usually necessary. NVQs at level 4 are available. A DBS check is mandatory.

Related Occupations

Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.