The Top 5 Countries Where it Pays to Be a Teacher

Everyone who has had the privilege of going through the school system has met a teacher that has made an impact on their lives. When we’re kids, and even when we’re adults, it’s hard to think about our teachers in terms of all the hefty workload they have inside and outside the classroom. Teachers famously spend hours outside of the classroom grading papers, speaking to parents, and creating engaging lesson plans.

Even though they clock in these extra hours, many countries pay their teachers less than they deserve. We recently came across research outlining the at the average salaries from various professionals from countries across the world. In light of these findings, we thought it would be valuable to find the top five countries with the highest teacher salary.

So, where does it really pay to be a teacher? See the countries below:

Switzerland

Topping the charts is Switzerland with an impressive $62,080 annual teacher salary. If we think about this number in relation to the cost of living and the minimum wage that is present, that would place this salary in a very livable range. Switzerland has one of the highest standards of living in the world, so if you’re a teacher and are looking to move, we’d recommend you move here.

Israel

Have you ever thought of going to Israel to teach? If not, we’d recommend reconsidering. Teachers can make an average of $56,970 a year, which is well above the cost of living for the country. Israel is a beautiful country with a rich history, a wonderful culture, and, oddly enough, one of the highests counts of sushi restaurants per capita. What’s not to love?

Norway

Norway is often considered one of the happiest places to live in the world, but is that true for its educators? Teachers make an average of $48,152 per year. So when you look at the average household income of Norway, $35,739, we’d say that educators are pretty happy there too.

Australia

In the land of kangaroos and Vegemite, how do teachers do in terms of salary? In Australia, teachers earn an average of $47,967 per year. Compared to the national cost of living, you can make a decent life for yourself in the land down under. Sunny beaches, awesome wildlife, AND a great salary? Sign us up!

Canada

Representing the North American continent is our neighbor to the north, Canada. The average salary for their teachers is $46,603, which, when compared to the cost of living, is a respectable salary in either a single or multi-income household. And with this salary, you can afford to partake in some of the best parts of Canadian culture like hockey games, smoked meat sandwiches, and, of course, confections covered in maple syrup.

 

Teachers have a heavy hand in building the next generation of people who are going to change the world. No matter what the vocation, politician, doctor, and writer, etc., everyone’s lives have been touched by a teacher. And, thankfully, the countries above reflect the vital role they play.

We loved finding the countries with the highest salaries for teachers. Did any of this results surprise you? Let us know down in the comments!