Recent EU figures show that Luxembourg's secondary school teachers earn some of the highest salaries in Europe, although when adjusted for cost of living, German teachers have a slightly higher purchasing power.

While living costs do vary, the figures are nonetheless revealing: a teacher starting out in Luxembourg earns on average €89,794 gross per year, almost eight times more than a colleague in Bulgaria (€11,369).

According to the most recent data (2023/2024) published by Eurydice, an official European Commission platform, Luxembourg continues to stand out in terms of teacher pay. Figures confirmed by the Ministry of Education show that, as of 2025, a secondary teacher in the A1 career track earns €7,913.57 gross per month after completing a two-year induction period.

Looking at neighbouring countries, salaries also compare relatively well in Germany, where teachers earn €66,563 annually. Belgium presents a more complex picture, with pay differing by linguistic community: €51,165 in the German-speaking community, €44,894 in the French-speaking community, and €40,062 in the Dutch-speaking community. France, by contrast, lags significantly behind within the Greater Region, with an average of €34,838 per year, the equivalent of €2,903 gross per month.

The lowest salaries in Europe are concentrated in southern and eastern countries. Bulgaria (€11,369), Poland (€13,262), and Greece (€13,664) are at the bottom of the table, while Portuguese teachers also earn below the European average, at €24,249 per year.

Other comparisons are telling: Dutch secondary teachers see their salary double over the course of their career, while Croatian teachers experience only about a 20% increase. In Denmark, pay levels for secondary teachers are about 13% above GDP per capita (in purchasing power standards), while in countries such as the Czech Republic or Ireland they remain below this benchmark.

When living costs are taken into account, the comparison shifts slightly. Using purchasing power standards (PPS), which allow salaries to be compared independently of national price differences, German teachers have the highest adjusted income, at 56,787 PPS, compared with 55,550 PPS for Luxembourg. Even so, Luxembourg remains among the countries offering teachers the strongest relative earning potential in Europe.