Your career in the UK
UK Skilled Worker visa for education jobs
Two different systems in one category
For school teaching, your salary must be at least the national pay scale rate for the role, and that applies in the private sector too, not just state schools.
QTS: the answer most guidance gets wrong
In England, Qualified Teacher Status is legally required only in maintained schools and non-maintained special schools.
It is not legally required in:
- Academies
- Free schools
- Independent schools
Many of those schools ask for QTS anyway, as a quality filter. But the legal position and the hiring position are different things, and knowing the difference widens the number of employers who can sponsor you.
The other three nations are stricter:
Getting QTS from outside the UK
Four routes exist in England:
Assessment Only is the route most experienced overseas teachers miss. If you are already teaching to the required standard, it avoids a full retraining year.
Higher education is a different proposition
University teaching uses the standard going rate: £52,600 (UK Home Office, effective July 22, 2025) standard, £40,600 lower. No QTS. No teaching registration.
Academics should also look at the Global Talent visa, which requires no sponsor at all and leads to settlement faster. Researchers frequently qualify without realising it.
If a school post is not the right fit
- Higher education: university teaching uses the standard going rate of £52,600 (UK Home Office, effective July 22, 2025) and needs no QTS, so academics with a doctorate often have a simpler route than schoolteachers.
- Global Talent visa: academic and research endorsement, no sponsor, no job offer.
- Canada: Express Entry scores education heavily and a teaching qualification assessed at master's level scores well. Provincial nominations add 600 points. Check the current category list; IRCC's June 2026 page lists additional categories beyond those confirmed in February.
Our assessment checks you against every open UK and Canadian route in about three minutes and shows your score, where you stand and the first thing that would raise it. No card needed for that. Seeing every route in full needs a plan.
Salary rates for this category
| Job | Code | Standard rate | Lower rate | List |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary education teaching professionals | 2314 | National pay scale | None | None |
| Secondary education teaching professionals | 2313 | National pay scale | None | None |
| Further education teaching professionals | 2312 | National pay scale | None | None |
| Higher education teaching professionals | 2311 | £52,600 (UK Home Office, effective July 22, 2025) | £40,600 (UK Home Office, effective July 22, 2025) | None |
Check your own offer
Frequently asked questions
- Can I teach in the UK without QTS?
In England, yes, in academies, free schools and independent schools, which together are a large share of secondary schools. Not in maintained schools. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, registration is required.
- What salary do I need for a UK teaching visa?
The national pay scale rate for your role and nation, not a single figure. Higher education is different and uses £52,600 (UK Home Office, effective July 22, 2025).
- Does the pay scale apply to private schools?
Yes. GOV.UK states the national pay scale rates apply whether the work is in the public or private sector.
- Can I get QTS while working in my own country?
Yes, through iQTS, which is designed for teachers working outside the UK.
- Is teaching on the Immigration Salary List?
No teaching occupation appears on the current Immigration Salary List.
Rules last checked on September 14, 2026.