- Most teachers across the world get paid less than the local average cost of goods and services, according to a new report from UK-based educator job site Teaching Abroad.
- Teaching Abroad used 106 data sources to find teacher salaries in 100 countries, and then compared it to the per capita GDP (PPP), a measure of the total local cost of goods and services.
- China and the Ivory Coast pay teachers the highest relative to GDP, and educators in 93% of countries make less than the local per capita GDP.
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Teachers in the US recently spoke out against low pay— and the country's educators aren't alone.
Globally, K-12 teachers make 48% below the local average cost of goods and services, according to a new report from UK-based hiring firm Teaching Abroad.
Teaching Abroad analyzed 106 external sources to find local teacher salaries in 100 countries. It then converted those figures into dollars and compared it to the gross domestic product per capita at purchasing power parity, or GDP (PPP). That measure is used by economists to estimate the total level of goods and services per person produced by a national economy, and provides a good proxy for the overall cost of living in a country.
Ninety-three percent of teachers make below a country's local average price of goods and services, according to the study, meaning even teachers in the best-paying countries still earn less than an average share of the national economy.
Here are 20 countries that pay teachers the best when compared to the cost of living.
SEE ALSO: The 15 worst US states to be a teacher
20. Teachers in Iceland earn salaries 14% lower than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $47,283
How much less teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $7,469
19. Teachers in the US earn salaries 14% lower than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $53,609
How much less teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $8,908
18. Teachers in Costa Rica earn salaries 13% lower than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $15,311
How much less teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $2,336
17. Teachers in France earn salaries 12% lower than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $39,912
How much less teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $5,689
16. Teachers in Ecuador earn salaries 11% lower than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $10,608
How much less teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $1,257
15. Teachers in Canada earn salaries 10% lower than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $4,5181
How much less teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $4,754
14. Teachers in Iraq earn salaries 9% lower than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $15,325
How much less teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $1,601
13. Teachers in Australia earn salaries 9% lower than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $47,564
How much less teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $4,798
12. Teachers in Spain earn salaries 9% lower than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $36,730
How much less teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $3,641
11. Teachers in Vietnam earn salaries 8% lower than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $6,816
How much less teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $562
10. Teachers in Finland earn salaries 8% lower than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $ 42,607
How much less teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $3,952
9. Teachers in Mexico earn salaries 8% lower than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $18,922
How much less teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $ 1,723
8. Teachers in New Zealand earn salaries 7% lower than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $37,586
How much less teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $2,680
7. Teachers in South Africa earn salaries 2% lower than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $13,618
How much less teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $222
6. Teachers in Turkmenistan earn salaries 0% higher than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $19,572
How much more teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $46
5. Teachers in Germany earn salaries 1% higher than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $53,373
How much more teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $477
4. Teachers in Switzerland earn salaries 7% higher than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $69,471
How much more teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $4,484
3. Teachers in Morocco earn salaries 13% higher than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $10,092
How much more teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $1,156
2. Teachers in China earn salaries 44% higher than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $26,177
How much more teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $8,057
1. Teachers in Côte d'Ivoire earn salaries 62% higher than the GDP per capita.
Average teacher salary (USD): $6,723
How much more teachers make compared to GDP (PPP): $2,568