The table illustrates the salary structures for secondary school teachers across five distinct countries in 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 highest-paying nation, with salaries far exceeding those in the other four countries at every career stage. Conversely, Australia and Denmark exhibit the shortest timeframes for teachers to reach their maximum salary, whereas Japan and Korea require the longest periods of service to achieve peak earnings.
In terms of remuneration, Luxembourg began at 80,000, rising to 119,000 after 15 years and peaking at 132,000. In contrast, Australia and Denmark started at 28,000 and 45,000 respectively, with both countries plateauing at their maximum salaries after 15 years. Specifically, Australia reached its maximum of 48,000 in just 9 years, while Denmark hit its 54,000 peak in 8 years.
Japan and Korea show a more gradual progression. Japan started at 34,000, increasing to 65,000 after 15 years, and eventually reaching a maximum of 86,000 after 37 years. Korea followed a similar trajectory, starting at 30,000 and reaching a maximum of 62,000 after 34 years of service.