EU teacher salaries show significant regional disparities

Data from the European Commission-funded Eurydice network highlights significant disparities in teacher compensation across the European Union. While salaries for educators and principals represent the largest single expenditure in formal education, many teachers remain lower-paid compared to other professionals with similar tertiary education levels. In some nations, starting salaries are approximately 40% lower than those of other tertiary-educated workers.

Luxembourg leads the EU in teacher remuneration for the 2024/2025 school year. Entry-level teachers in Luxembourg earn between €55,000 and €62,000 annually, with top-tier salaries reaching between €97,000 and €109,000. The Netherlands and Germany also rank among the highest-paying countries, though exact figures vary by education level and career stage.

Conversely, teachers in Central and Eastern Europe, specifically in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, report some of the lowest salaries at the peak of their careers.