The table presents information on starting salaries, earnings after 15 years, and maximum salaries for secondary teachers in five countries in 2009, together with the number of years required to reach the top level. The data suggest two major patterns: Australia and Denmark allow teachers to reach the salary ceiling within the first decade of employment, whereas Luxembourg, Korea, and Japan follow a long, incremental progression lasting three decades or more. It is also notable that Luxembourg pays by far the highest salaries at every stage, while Japan and Korea offer the lowest starting figures.
In Australia and Denmark, teachers begin with moderate salaries of $34,600 and $47,000. In both systems, the maximum salary is reached relatively early—after 9 years in Australia and 8 in Denmark. Australia’s figure rises to $48,000 by that point, while Denmark’s increases to $54,000. Because these amounts are already the maximum, teachers in both countries receive no further salary growth beyond this point, including at the 15-year mark.
Luxembourg, Korea, and Japan show a contrasting long-term structure. Luxembourg offers an unmatched starting salary of $80,000, rising sharply to $112,000 after 15 years and eventually reaching $139,000 after 30 years. Korea and Japan start far lower, at $30,500 and $28,000, respectively, but provide steady increases over much longer periods. After 15 years, their salaries rise to $52,600 and $49,000, and teachers must work 37 and 34 years to reach the maximum salaries of $84,500 and $62,400.
