Teacher's Salaries in Comparison with Other Occupational Groups

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyse whether UBS provides internationally comparable information on how teachers' salaries stand in relation to the salaries of other occupational groups. On the basis of an overview of existing international data, UBS is identified as the only source that provides comparable information on teachers' salaries in relations to other occupational groups. This information is contained in Prices and Earnings Around the Globe, a study published every three years by the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS). This study has been conducted since 1971 and provides, among other things, information on the salaries of a number of professions, among them primary teachers.

The data from UBS make it possible to compare teachers’ salaries with those of other occupational groups in twelve cities in the EU, EEA and Candidate Countries during the period 1979 to 2006. The data do not reveal any specific trends in the relationship of teachers’ salaries to the salaries of other occupations. In the comparison of various occupational groups in 29 cities across the EU, EEA and Candidate Countries, it is found that while teaching is one of the best-paid occupations in some cities, it is one of the worst paid in others. Generally teachers are paid less than engineers and product managers, but in most cities they are better paid than building labourers and female factory workers.

This type of comparison opens up new angles in the debate on how to attract young people to the teaching profession. An example of the added value of this type of comparison is the case of teachers’ salaries in Turkey, which seem favourable when considered in relation to GDP. However, in Istanbul 9 out of 14 compared occupations in 2006 are better paid than teaching.

The present data from UBS have at least three weaknesses: 1) the UBS data have not been collected with the purpose of making this type of comparison; 2) it may be of greater interest to compare teaching solely with professions which require a similar length of education; 3) the UBS data have not been collected from an appropriate, randomly selected number of workplaces. In spite of these problems it may be of general interest to collect this type of information on regular basis. If there were an interest in continuing to collect this type of data, it could be done in two ways: either by using the existing UBS data, with its advantages and disadvantages, or by employing more formal channels to obtain the necessary information.