# What can you do with a Primary Education degree?

> Source: https://coursetojob.co.uk/courses/primary-education/ — updated 2026-09-25. Published by CourseToJob (independent; not affiliated with UCAS, HESA or GOV.UK).

**Quick answer:** A Primary Education degree commonly leads to roles such as primary teacher (QTS path), teaching assistant and cover supervisor. Five years after graduating, Primary Education graduates had median earnings of £34,400 (middle half: £26,400–£37,000), and 91.7% were in sustained work or further study (DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year). The largest employer sector for Education and teaching graduates is education (59.8% of those in work).

Primary education degrees that include QTS are professional teacher-training routes. Placements in schools are central. Official figures appear when an extract is loaded.

## What jobs can you get with a Primary Education degree?

- **Primary teacher (QTS path)**: Plans and teaches a class under the school’s policies after QTS and induction rules. Skills often asked for: lesson planning, safeguarding, assessment.
- **Teaching assistant**. Skills often asked for: small groups, interventions, classroom prep.
- **Cover supervisor**. Skills often asked for: behaviour routines, set work, handover notes.
- **Learning support assistant**. Skills often asked for: EHCP awareness, personal care where trained, records.

## Where do Primary Education graduates work?

Education and teaching graduates in UK employment five years after graduating, by industry (DfE LEO industry data, tax year 2023–24; shares calculated by CourseToJob from DfE's rounded counts).

| Industry | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Education | 59.8% | £31,500 |
| Health and social work | 13% | £24,200 |
| Public administration and defence | 7.6% | £31,100 |
| Administrative and support services | 4.8% | £21,600 |
| Wholesale and retail | 2.7% | £22,700 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2.3% | £24,900 |
| Finance and insurance | 1.3% | £27,800 |
| Hospitality (accommodation and food) | 1.2% | £23,400 |

## How much do Primary Education graduates earn?

UK-domiciled first-degree graduates in Teacher training (CAH22-01-02). Source: DfE LEO CAH level 3 subject data, tax year 2023–24 (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/d8bc2906-419e-40ef-ad8e-9b2ccd3997dc). Each row is a different graduating cohort.

| Years after graduating | Graduated | Median earnings | Middle half | In work or further study | All-graduate median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021/2022 | £27,400 | £22,300–£27,800 | 94.5% | £26,400 |
| 3 | 2019/2020 | £30,700 | £25,300–£31,800 | 93% | £30,000 |
| 5 | 2017/2018 | £34,400 | £26,400–£37,000 | 91.7% | £33,700 |
| 10 | 2012/2013 | £33,300 | £22,300–£41,000 | 88.6% | — |

## Which universities have the highest-earning Education and teaching graduates?

Median earnings five years after graduating, universities with at least 50 graduates measured (DfE LEO provider-level data, 2023–24). Not a quality ranking.

| University | Median earnings | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| [University of Aberdeen](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-aberdeen/) | £44,300 | 135 |
| [University of Edinburgh](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-edinburgh/) | £44,300 | 145 |
| [University of Stirling](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-stirling/) | £42,500 | 80 |
| [University of Strathclyde](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-strathclyde/) | £42,100 | 200 |
| [University of the West of Scotland](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-the-west-of-scotland/) | £42,100 | 60 |
| [University of Dundee](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-dundee/) | £37,700 | 125 |
| [University of Glasgow](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-glasgow/) | £37,300 | 215 |
| [St Mary's University, Twickenham](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/st-marys-university-twickenham/) | £35,900 | 235 |
| [University of Roehampton](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-roehampton/) | £35,500 | 295 |
| [University of Brighton](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-brighton/) | £35,100 | 320 |

## Is Primary Education the right degree for you?

You may enjoy it if:
- You want to teach a class of children across the curriculum.
- You accept that behaviour, safeguarding, and assessment are core skills.
- You like planning lessons and then adapting them in the room.

It may not suit you if:
- You wanted a degree with no school placements.
- You dislike early starts, parents’ evenings, or marking.
- You expected to specialise in one academic subject only.

## Interview questions for Primary Education graduate roles

Teaching-assistant and teacher-training interviews usually test safeguarding, how you talk to children, and whether you can reflect on a lesson. These prompts are editorial illustrations, not a provider’s actual questions.

- A child tells you something that worries you after the bell. What do you do? (What it tests: Safeguarding: listen, record, report — do not promise secrecy.)
- The class is restless after lunch. How do you reset without shouting? (What it tests: Behaviour as a skill, not a personality trait.)
- How would you explain a simple maths idea two different ways? (What it tests: Adaptive teaching, which interviews for QTS routes look for.)
- A parent is unhappy about homework. How do you handle the conversation? (What it tests: Professional tone and knowing what you can and cannot change.)
- What would you want to know before covering a class you have not taught? (What it tests: Plans, medical/allergy information, and the school’s routines.)

## Frequently asked questions

### What jobs can you do with a Primary Education degree?

Common starting roles include primary teacher (QTS path), teaching assistant, cover supervisor and learning support assistant. Five years after graduating, the most common sectors for Education and teaching graduates in work were education (59.8%), health and social work (13%) and public administration and defence (7.6%). These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.

### How much do Primary Education graduates earn in the UK?

DfE Longitudinal Education Outcomes data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled Primary Education graduates of £27,400 one year after graduating, £30,700 three years after graduating, £34,400 five years after graduating and £33,300 ten years after graduating. Each figure describes a different graduating cohort, not one person's pay rise, and it is gross pay for those in sustained employment, not a starting salary offer.

### Is a Primary Education degree worth it?

It depends on what you want to do. On the official data, 91.7% of Primary Education graduates were in sustained employment or further study five years after graduating, with median earnings of £34,400. For comparison, the median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at the same point. That places Primary Education 70 of 146 subject groups by five-year median earnings. Earnings are only one factor: enjoyment of the subject, accreditation and the route into your target job matter too.

### Which universities have the highest-earning Education and teaching graduates?

Among universities in our index with at least 50 graduates measured, the highest five-year median earnings for Education and teaching were at University of Aberdeen (£44,300), University of Edinburgh (£44,300) and University of Stirling (£42,500). These figures reflect entry grades, subject mix and where graduates work, so they are not a measure of teaching quality.

### Can international students study Primary Education in the UK?

Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.


Apply for undergraduate courses on UCAS: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses?query=Primary%20Education