The two variables: step and differential
Every UFT-represented teacher sits somewhere on one grid. Step is years of teaching service and moves you down the schedule. Differential is your education level and moves you across it. Longevity milestones add further increases later in a career.
Because the schedule is contractual, two teachers with the same step and differential earn the same base salary regardless of which school or borough they work in. What differs is the cost of living around that school.
For the broader picture on DOE pay, including the pension and how teacher pay compares with the city’s cost of living, start with the NYC DOE teacher salary guide.
Contractual increases on the current agreement
The 2022-27 agreement applies these increases to every step on the schedule:
Starting points, and what 2026-27 looks like
The published 2025-26 starting salaries are shown alongside the 2026-27 figure the contractual 3.5% increase produces, applied to the same base. Treat the second column as a derived estimate from the contract rather than a published schedule row, and confirm the final figure against the official UFT schedule.
| Credential | 2025-26 published | 2026-27 estimate (+3.5%) | Net / check at 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree, no prior experience | $68,902 | $71,314 | $2,054.47 |
| Master's degree, no prior experience | $77,455 | $80,166 | $2,262.40 |
Take-home assumes a single NYC resident with standard deductions, bi-weekly pay and no pre-tax deductions, including no TRS contribution.
What a differential is worth after tax
Moving from a bachelor’s starting point to a master’s starting point is worth $8,553 of base salary on the 2025-26 schedule. After federal, New York State, New York City and FICA tax on a single filer, that extra base salary adds roughly $5,224 a year to take-home pay, which is about 74% of the raise kept.
How differentials work in detailUFT salary questions
How do you move up the UFT salary schedule?+−
Two things move independently. Step advances with each year of teaching service, and differential rises when you complete additional graduate credits or a higher degree. Across-the-board contractual increases are applied on top of both, so a teacher's base salary can rise for three separate reasons in the same year.
What is the difference between a step and a differential?+−
Step is time served. Differential is qualification held. Two teachers at the same school with the same years of service can be paid differently if one holds a master's degree and the other does not, and two teachers with the same degree can be paid differently if their years of service differ.
When does the next UFT increase take effect?+−
The 2022-27 agreement applies a 3.5% across-the-board increase effective September 14, 2026. It lifts every step on the schedule rather than only the starting rows, so every teacher on the schedule sees the same percentage rise on their base.
Does the schedule include the TRS pension contribution?+−
No. The figures on the salary schedule are gross base salary. The mandatory contribution to the NYC Teachers' Retirement System is deducted from pay before income tax, so your take-home figure is lower than a simple tax calculation on gross salary would suggest. Enter your own contribution in the calculator's pre-tax field to model it.
Where can I find my own step and differential?+−
Your step and differential appear on your pay stub and in the DOE payroll portal. Once you know both, enter the resulting base salary in the calculator above to see what it produces after federal, New York State, New York City and FICA tax.