Teaching Profession Report Roundup

International Comparisons

By Sarah D. Sparks — December 01, 2015 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Across the 34 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, education gives a strong return on investment for students in the workplace—unless you are a teacher.

According to the OECD’s annual benchmark analysis, preschool and elementary teachers earn on average 78 percent of the salary of a full-time worker with similar education. Middle school teachers have salaries on average 80 percent of their peers who did not go into education, and high school teachers make about 82 percent of the salaries of benchmark salaries, the OECD found.

“These uncompetitive salaries will make it that much harder to attract the best candidates to the teaching profession,” the study suggested.

A version of this article appeared in the December 02, 2015 edition of Education Week as International Comparisons

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Special Education Webinar
Bridging the Math Gap: What’s New in Dyscalculia Identification, Instruction & State Action
Discover the latest dyscalculia research insights, state-level policy trends, and classroom strategies to make math more accessible for all.
Content provided by TouchMath
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School Climate & Safety Webinar
Belonging as a Leadership Strategy for Today’s Schools
Belonging isn’t a slogan—it’s a leadership strategy. Learn what research shows actually works to improve attendance, culture, and learning.
Content provided by Harmony Academy
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
Too Many Initiatives, Not Enough Alignment: A Change Management Playbook for Leaders
Learn how leadership teams can increase alignment and evaluate every program, practice, and purchase against a clear strategic plan.
Content provided by Otus

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Teaching Profession The Nation's Top 5 Teachers in 2026 Focus on Community, Place-Based Education
This year's top teachers bring their communities into the classroom, and vice versa.
7 min read
The 2023 National Teacher of the Year award for Rebecka Peterson is displayed during a ceremony honoring the Council of Chief State School Officers' 2023 Teachers of the Year in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, April 24, 2023, in Washington.
The Council of Chief State School Officers will announce the 2026 National Teacher of the Year award later this spring. The crystal apple award is pictured in this photo from 2023.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Teaching Profession Teachers Say They Keep Getting New Duties. What Are They?
Educators say there are too many additional responsibilities that are now part of their jobs.
3 min read
Photo of teacher helping students with their tablet computers.
iStock
Teaching Profession The Odds Are Against Teachers' Fitness Resolutions. But Here's the Good News
Teachers struggle to honor fitness resolutions but rack up major movement during school days.
4 min read
Runners workout at sunrise on a 27-degree F. morning, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Portland, Maine.
Runners work out at sunrise on 27-degree F. morning on Jan. 9, 2026, in Portland, Maine. Nearly 50% of American adults make New Year's resolutions, and about half of resolution makers aim to improve physical health.
Robert F. Bukaty/AP
Teaching Profession 'I Try to Really Push Through': Teachers Battle Sleep Deprivation
Many teachers say they get less than the recommended amount of sleep a night.
5 min read
Tired female teacher sitting alone at the desk in empty classroom, relaxing after class. Woman feeling stress, burnout and exhaustion in educational environment, working in elementary school.
Education Week and E+