Teachers’ average salary increases to €1,208
At the end of last year the average teachers’ salary was higher than €1,200 for the first time, reaching €1,208. The best-paid teachers worked in the Sauga, Tori, Tahkuranna, Are, and Tähtvere municipalities as well as in the town of Narva-Jõesuu, where they earned more than €1,400 on average.
Teachers earned more than €1,200 in 54 municipalities, and more than €1,100 in 64 percent of municipalities. Almost two-thirds of local councils added 2.3 percent on average to the state-paid base salaries.
Measured by county, the area that paid teachers the most was Harjumaa, with the highest average reported for the profession at €1,265. Teachers on average earned the least in Hiiu County, where they were paid €1,104, the Ministry of Education and Research announced on Monday.
According to Minister of Education Mailis Reps (Center), raising teachers’ salaries will remain one of the ministry’s priorities throughout the year. “In addition we will pay greater attention to making the salaries of kindergarten teachers more competitive, for which we will give local councils additional support. At the same time we are also improving the availability of support specialists, which again supports teachers in their everyday work,” Reps said.
Local councils are to receive €211.7 million in financial support to top up teachers’ salaries this year, some 8 percent more than they received in 2016. This will make it possible to raise the minimum salary for teachers to €1,050, and considering current salary growth will take the average to €1,300. The minimum salary for teachers was raised from €958 to €1,000 in January.
Editor: Dario Cavegn
