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Where are teachers paid the most and the least compared to other professions in Asia?

Published

5 years ago

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by ValueChampion

How well are teachers paid in Asia? We’ve compiled data on teacher income as % of GDP per capita to compare how teachers in different Asian countries are paid relative to other people in their respective countries.

Asians are well known for their heavy focus on education. Naturally, one would expect this to translate into societal respect given to teachers. But does this also mean that teachers are paid well, and how do different Asian countries compare to one another in this regard?

In order to find out, we compiled data on the average income of secondary school and high school teachers in 14 countries in Asia-Pacific (plus the US and France for comparison with western countries). However, a simple comparison of income doesn’t quite capture how teacher income compares to the rest of society. Therefore, we compared the ratio between average teacher compensation to each country’s GDP per capita.

Key Findings

  • In most countries, teachers earn incomes that approximately equal their country’s GDP per capita.
  • In some countries like Korea, Thailand, India and Japan, teachers earned up to 175% of their country’s GDP per capita, signaling that they earn more than an average person.
  • In some other countries like Vietnam, China and Singapore, teachers earned 70-80% of their country’s GDP per capita, signaling that they earn less than an average person.

Top Countries Where Teachers Get Paid the Most

According to our research of 16 countries, teachers typically earned about their respective country’s GDP per capita. However, in certain countries, teachers earned meaningfully more than this level. Below, we explore some of the top countries in Asia for teacher income.

Korea

Korea, infamous for its education craze that sometimes makes teenagers spend 15 hours or more per day on studying, seems to be paying the most for its teachers compared to other countries in Asia. Studies estimate that an average high school teacher makes about KRW65 million per year (roughly US$55k), which is 175% of the country’s GDP per capita. However, this high level of teacher income may not necessarily be related to the country’s heavy emphasis on education.

In fact, a big chunk of students’ time is actually spent out of school; a lot of time is actually spent at extracurricular classes at cram schools (known as “hagwons”) or with private tutors and has nothing to do with the schools themselves. Instead, it seems like teachers get paid a lot because they are public servants; recently, there was a documentary in Korea that shed light on how public servants in Korea earn very high incomes and also enjoy solid job security.

Country Teacher Salary (USD) GDP Per Capita (USD) Salary as % of GDP Per Capita
KR 54,740 31,346 175%
Average 110%

India

According to sites like Indeed, Glassdoor and Payscale, teachers in India make about US$3.5k to US$5k per year on average, while teachers at public schools (i.e. government teachers) earn more at around US$8,000 per annum. While this may sound low compared to other countries, it’s actually about 2x the country’s GDP per capita.

India’s economy has been heavily reliant on upgrading its labour base to knowledge workers, and perhaps this high teacher income reflects the country’s efforts to invest in its population’s education. However, the average may be inflated due to government teaching jobs, as there have been many reports of heavily underpaid teachers in India’s private education sector that employs about 43% of the teachers in the country.

Country Teacher Salary (USD) GDP Per Capita (USD) Salary as % of GDP Per Capita
IN 3,525 2,036 173%
Average 110%

Thailand

Thailand ranked as #3 in our study in terms of paying the most to its teachers. According to Glassdoor & Payscale, teachers in Thailand earned about US$12,000 per year, roughly 1.7x the country’s GDP per Capita. This finding is also consistent with UNESCO’s finding in 2011, which found that teacher income was 2.6x higher than the nation’s GDP per capita.

Thailand has had a series of education reform in the past decade, and this high teacher pay may reflect some of that effort. However, according to UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report, Thailand’s education system still faces some major challenges, such an 85% completion rate for lower secondary education.

Country Teacher Salary (USD) GDP Per Capita (USD) Salary as % of GDP Per Capita
TH 11,850 7,187 165%
Average 110%

3 Countries Where Teachers Get Paid Below GDP Per Capita

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we found 3 countries where teacher salary was lower than the respective country’s average productivity. Below, we discuss some findings of each country one by one.

Vietnam

Vietnam ranked at the bottom of our study. Even its experienced teachers earned about US$1,800 per year on average, which is about 70% of the country’s GDP per capita.

According to news reports, underpaid teachers have been a problem in the country, where 40% of teachers said they would choose a different career if they had the chance. This is reportedly also leading to lower enrollment standards for teaching schools as well, possibly leading to a vicious cycle.

Country Teacher Salary (USD) GDP Per Capita (USD) Salary as % of GDP Per Capita
VT 1,799 2,551 71%
Average 110%

China

Despite China’s success in academia (China often ranks at the top of the world for math and science competitions), its teachers seem to be earning about 76% of the country’s GDP per capita. While teachers in China are paid similarly to other public servants, there actually has been some discrepancy in the two professions’ payout structure in recent years, causing some uproars and protests from teachers recently.

Country Teacher Salary (USD) GDP Per Capita (USD) Salary as % of GDP Per Capita
CN 7,273 9,608 76%
Average 110%

Singapore

Singapore was perhaps one of the most surprising parts of our study. While Singaporeans are known for both its enthusiasm for and success in education (Singapore spends 20% of its public spending on education and regularly tops the world ranking in various education-related awards and metrics), their teachers earn approximately 80% of the country’s GDP per capita.

Still, they are earning a relatively high income of US$50,331 on average, according to Varkey Foundation’s Global Teacher Status Index 2018. In fact, this rivals the highest levels around the world in terms of pure dollar amount and suggests that the low teacher income to GDP per capita ratio is a result of high productivity of the economy as a whole.

Country Teacher Salary (USD) GDP Per Capita (USD) Salary as % of GDP Per Capita
SG 50,331 64,041 79%
Average 110%

Methodology

For this study, we gathered average income data of high school or secondary school teachers in 16 different countries (14 in Asia plus the US and France). Most of this information came from career-related sites like Glassdoor, Jobsalary and Payscale.

In some cases where such sites didn’t have enough information, we also relied on other sources like news reports, and studies conducted by OECD, UNESCO and Varkey Foundation. For GDP per capita, we relied on IMF’s data for 2018.

Country Teacher Salary (USD) GDP Per Capita (USD) Salary as % of GDP Per Capita
KR 54,740 31,346 175%
IN 3,525 2,036 173%
TH 11,850 7,187 165%
JP 51,593 39,306 131%
PH 3,844 3,104 124%
NZ 47,589 41,267 115%
AU 59,568 56,352 106%
MA 11,120 10,942 102%
HK 48,531 48,517 100%
ID 3,834 3,871 99%
TW 23,846 24,971 95%
US 59,170 62,606 95%
FR 37,450 42,878 87%
SG 50,331 64,041 79%
CN 7,273 9,608 76%
VT 1,799 2,551 71%
Average 110%

This was first published at Value Champion’s website, “Where Are Teachers Paid the Most & the Least Compared to Other Professions in Asia?“.

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Education

Asian Economies: History, Institutions and Structure tops Singapore’s non-fiction bestsellers list

The book Asian Economies: History, Institutions and Structure by Associate Professor Jamus Jerome Lim has topped non-fiction bestseller lists in Singapore, according to The Sunday Times on 13 October. Lim, an economist and member of Singapore’s 14th Parliament, presents an in-depth analysis of Asia’s major and emerging economies, weaving together history, geography, and institutional structures.

Published

4 days ago

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14 October 2024

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Asian Economies: History, Institutions and Structure, authored by Associate Professor Jamus Jerome Lim, has been listed as the top-selling non-fiction book in Singapore, according to The Sunday Times’ bestseller compilation on 13 October.

The list, compiled from leading bookstores such as Kinokuniya, Epigram, Wardah Books, and Book Bar, highlights the book’s increasing popularity since its publication on 25 March 2024.

In the book, Lim, an Associate Professor of Economics at ESSEC Business School and a member of Singapore’s 14th Parliament, delivers an incisive analysis of the economies of Asia.

With a focus on the region’s three largest economies—China, India, and Japan—Lim contrasts these economic giants with the rapidly growing “Dragon economies” of East Asia and the resource-rich economies of West Asia.

His work is noted for offering a comprehensive approach that combines economic geography, institutional structures, and a comparative international perspective.

The book’s rise in popularity may be attributed to its unique angle. It fills a gap in existing literature by covering the broad spectrum of Asia’s economies, whereas most other books in the field focus on individual countries or specific regions.

According to Assoc Prof Lim, this was precisely his intention when he embarked on writing the book.

In a Facebook video posted in April, Assoc Prof Lim revealed that upon his return to Singapore and his role at ESSEC Business School, he found there was no existing textbook that covered the full range of economies in the region.

“Books on China or India or Japan were focused solely on those countries,” Lim explained, adding that broader texts were often confined to particular sub-regions like Southeast or West Asia.

Asian Economies takes a fresh, multifaceted approach, integrating historical, geographical, political, and institutional analyses to offer a clearer understanding of how these factors shape the economies of Asia.

The book also focuses not just on retrospective analyses but also on future prospects for the region, informed by empirical data and cutting-edge economic theory.

Lim’s professional background lends credibility to his insights.

With two decades of experience in global macroeconomics, he has held several prominent positions.

He was previously the Chief Economist at Thirdrock Group, a wealth advisory firm, and the Lead Economist at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, where he guided investment decisions for a multi-hundred billion-dollar portfolio.

Assoc Prof Lim has also worked as a Senior Economist at the World Bank, specialising in international trade and finance for economies across East and West Asia. His deep understanding of the region’s economies is reflected in the meticulous research and comparative analyses presented in the book.

Since its publication by Wiley, Asian Economies: History, Institutions and Structure has garnered positive reception not only among academics but also among general readers interested in understanding the complex dynamics of Asia’s economic landscape.

With its top ranking on the non-fiction lists, Lim’s book stands out as a valuable resource for students, scholars, and professionals alike, as well as anyone with an interest in understanding the forces driving Asia’s economies.

You can get copies from local bookstores, as well as order it online: https://amzn.asia/d/9zDc5CL

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Police investigate assault on Qihua Primary School student after video surfaces online

The police are investigating an assault on a Qihua Primary School student after a video showing the attack emerged online. A teenager is seen repeatedly hitting the boy, prompting concerns about student safety. This is the second bullying video to surface within a week, with a similar incident involving Bukit View Secondary School reported earlier.

Published

3 weeks ago

on

24 September 2024

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SINGAPORE: The police are investigating a case involving a student from Qihua Primary School, who was repeatedly attacked by a teenager.

The investigation was launched after a video of the incident emerged online, the authorities confirmed on 23 September.

According to a report by CNA, a formal complaint has been lodged with the police, and the investigation is ongoing.

The video, which lasts approximately 43 seconds, has been circulating on social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram.

It shows a teenager, dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans, physically assaulting a smaller boy wearing a school uniform from Qihua Primary, located in Woodlands.

In the video, the victim is cornered in a stairwell, where the teenager punches, kicks, and hurls him to the ground.

The aggressor orders the boy to put his hands behind his back before delivering punches to his stomach.

At several points, the boy is grabbed by the neck and thrown to the floor, where he continues to endure kicks and punches.

Throughout the attack, the boy repeatedly says, “Sorry, sorry, I won’t do it again,” while being taunted by the teenager and another individual, who may have been filming the incident.

At one point, the teenager can be heard asking, “You want to fight? You sure?” as the victim, now in tears, continues apologizing and insisting he will not repeat his actions.

The exact timing of the incident remains unclear.

Video source: Telegram/sgfollowsall

Qihua Primary School has acknowledged the situation, confirming that it is under police investigation.

“The safety and well-being of our students is our priority. We have provided counselling to the affected students and are working closely with their parents to ensure the well-being of all involved,” the school stated.

They further emphasized the importance of students looking out for each other and reporting any incidents of bullying to their teachers.

Second Bullying Video Emerges Within a Week

This incident marks the second time a bullying video has surfaced online in a week.

A separate TikTok video, posted about a week ago, showed a student from Bukit View Secondary School being taunted and kicked to the ground by a group of teenagers.

Bukit View Secondary School’s principal, Jaswant Singh, told The Straits Times that the incident occurred in October 2023 outside of school premises and was not initially reported to the school. The parents of the victim have since lodged a police report.

Following the video’s circulation, the school immediately checked on the victim, who did not report any injuries.

Mr Singh emphasized the school’s serious stance on such behaviour, stating that the students involved would be counseled and face appropriate disciplinary actions.

The victim’s parents have since lodged a police report. The police have confirmed that investigations are ongoing regarding the bullying incident.

In response to a Parliamentary Question filed by Melvin Yong, Member of Parliament for Radin Mas SMC, in September 2022, the Education Minister noted that since 2013, the number of reported bullying incidents has remained consistent, with approximately two cases per 1,000 primary students and five cases per 1,000 secondary students each year.

He emphasised that the MOE takes a serious stance on bullying and collaborates with schools to send a clear message that hurtful behavior is unacceptable in any school environment.

Helplines

If you or someone you know is in need of support, the following helplines are available:

  • Samaritans of Singapore Hotline: 1767
  • Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
  • Institute of Mental Health (24 hours): 6389-2222
  • Tinkle Friend (for primary school-aged children): 1800-274-4788

You can discover a directory of global helplines on this page.

If someone you are aware of is facing an imminent threat, please dial 24-hour emergency services.

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