The National Education Union have revealed to RevisionCentre.co.uk that low salaries for teachers are causing “serious recruitment and retention problems” – so, it no surprise that many are considering careers abroad where they can boost their income.
RevisionCentre.co.uk found that that TES’s page for International Teaching & Education Jobs has a global monthly search volume of 210k, and discovered through Google Trends that between October 2021 and January 2022 searches for “working holiday visa” increased worldwide by 163% – highlighting that numerous teachers may be contemplating the move abroad to countries where they could double their salary – research reveals.
To investigate the state of teaching across Europe, RevisionCentre.co.uk sought to discover in which country teachers earn the highest, and lowest, salaries by utilising reliable salary data sources, Glassdoor and Salary Explorer.
Here are some of the key findings:
- Switzerland is the highest paying country for teachers in Europe with an average annual salary of €74,010. Teachers in countries, such as Italy, could quadruple their salary if they were to move here.
- Countries such as Spain, France and Italy are amongst the lowest-paying countries for teachers in Europe.
- Thirteen of the highest-paying countries offer working holiday visas – including Norway, Denmark and Germany.
- Searches for “working holiday visa” increased worldwide by 163% between October 2021 and January 2022.
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The Highest Paying European Countries for Teachers
In first place, Switzerland has been found to pay their teachers an impressive annual salary of €74,010 – 68% higher than Sweden – who currently have an average annual salary of only €36,227. With magnificent natural scenery, a strong work-life balance and high salaries for teachers, Switzerland may be an alluring choice for teachers in Italy looking to make the move abroad and potentially quadruple their salary.
The second highest paying European country is Luxembourg, paying its teachers on average, €62,600 per year. With an impressive €39,056 salary increase a year in comparison to France – they are earning 103% more than French teachers.
San Marino is next on the list as the third-highest paying country for teachers in Europe. A unique, mountainous microstate – San Marino pays its teachers 123% higher than Italy with an average annual salary of €57,800.
RevisionCentre.co.uk spoke exclusively to Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary, from the National Education Union who has revealed that:
“Pay cuts have already hit teacher living standards hard and contributed to the development of serious recruitment and retention problems. As part of our Value Education, Value Educators campaign the NEU is calling for teacher pay increases of at least 8% in 2022 and at least a further 8% in 2023.”
Countries that attract wide tourism such as Spain, Italy and France are amongst the lowest-paying countries for teachers in Europe. Teachers in these countries would have to undertake additional and more experienced roles to compete with the highest salaries for teachers in Europe – or make the move abroad through a working holiday visa.
