Teachers’ salaries in Cyprus are worth their weight in gold

Teachers’ salaries in Cyprus are at very high levels, both compared with the wider Cypriot labour market and with those in other European Union countries.

At the same time, the entire education sector in Cyprus is in turmoil over reforms to the appointment system being prepared by the Cypriot government. Recently, teachers have even held protest demonstrations, testing the patience of Cypriot society as a whole, which does not enjoy any of the benefits available to educators.

The salaries of Cypriot teachers appear to be worth their weight in gold, with the Cypriot state spending very large and significant amounts on the payroll of teachers and educators across all levels of schooling.

According to the latest data from the Eurydice Network, Cypriot teachers rank among the highest-paid educators in the entire European Union in terms of their salary scales.

The amounts they receive as annual salaries are beyond the reach of most other workers in Cyprus and also exceed the earnings of many of their European counterparts.

According to the latest updated data from the Eurydice Network for the 2024–2025 school year, newly appointed teachers in Cyprus receive an annual salary of €29,000, placing the country among the top 11 positions in the European Union.

The countries ranking above Cyprus in terms of teachers’ salaries include nations with much stronger economies and generally higher wages, such as Luxembourg, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and Denmark.

While Cyprus ranks eleventh for newly appointed teachers, salaries rise dramatically as teachers progress in their careers. Specifically, after ten years of service, teachers in Cyprus receive salaries reaching €43,000 per year. Cyprus ranks sixth in the salary scale for teachers with ten years of experience. The only countries in a better position are Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark—countries with generally stronger economies and higher wages than Cyprus.

As years of service increase, teachers’ salaries rise in all countries. However, in Cyprus, salaries make particularly significant leaps. Specifically, teachers with 15 years of experience earn approximately €54,000 per year. According to Eurydice Network data, this salary scale places Cyprus in third place in the entire European Union. The only countries offering higher salaries to teachers are Luxembourg and the Netherlands. All other countries follow at a considerable distance.

Meanwhile, at the highest level of their careers, Cypriot teachers can earn up to €71,000 per year, with Cyprus continuing to rank among the top three countries in the European Union, behind Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

What About School Principals’ Salaries?

When it comes to the salaries of school principals in Cyprus, the situation is even more remarkable, with Cyprus ranking between first and third place.

Specifically, the Republic of Cyprus pays school principals approximately €59,000 during the initial stages of their leadership careers, while their salaries can reach as much as €84,000 per year at the highest level. The only European Union countries that offer higher salaries in this category are Belgium and the Netherlands.

What Does the Education Budget Look Like?

It should also be remembered that the Cypriot state spends a significant portion of its annual budget on education.

According to the latest data from the Statistical Service for 2023, expenditure in the education sector amounted to €1.5992 billion, representing 12.1% of the State Budget.

Additionally, in 2023, public expenditure per student in public education amounted to €6,413 for pre-primary and pre-school education, €8,975 for primary education, €13,232 for general secondary education, €15,692 for technical secondary education, and €15,084 for tertiary education.

Therefore, based on the above data, it is clear that teachers in Cyprus enjoy substantial salaries, particularly at a time when employment benefits and working conditions continue to remain at relatively low levels.

It is worth mentioning, however, that the teaching profession is one of the most difficult and demanding professions.