The table illustrates the salary structures for secondary school teachers in five countries during 2009, detailing starting pay, earnings after 15 years, maximum potential salary, and the duration required to reach that peak.
Overall, Luxembourg stands out as the most lucrative nation for teachers, providing the highest starting and maximum salaries. Conversely, Australia and Denmark exhibit a flatter salary progression, with teachers reaching their maximum earnings within a decade, whereas the other three countries require over three decades of service to achieve peak pay.
Luxembourg began with a salary of 80,000, which climbed to 119,000 after 15 years, eventually peaking at 132,000 after 30 years. Japan and Korea followed different trajectories; Japan started at 34,000 and rose to 86,000 over 37 years, while Korea started at 30,000 and reached 62,000 after 34 years.
In contrast, Australia and Denmark showed more rapid salary maturation. Australian teachers started at 28,000 and reached their maximum of 48,000 in just 9 years. Similarly, Denmark offered a higher starting salary of 45,000, which increased to 54,000 within 8 years, representing the shortest timeframe to reach maximum pay among the countries surveyed.