Ireland’s principals marked high in EU pay

IRELAND’S principals are among the best paid in Europe, with top-level secondary school heads taking home six-figure salaries.

A report reveals that school heads in Liechtenstein have the highest wages, earning up to €170,000 annually – just over 50% more than Irish secondary school heads who bring home up to €112,000.

Ireland ranks No.7 of nearly 40 countries for salaries of secondary school principals, who can earn twice as much as their counterparts in Spain or Italy and nearly four times as much as Greek principals.

The UK are No.4, with state school heads earning a top wage of just over €123,000 – in private schools this can be much more.

The new European Commission report also reveals that Ireland is No.8 for starting salaries for primary school teachers and 12th for secondary school teachers.

Along with the UK, Spain, and Greece, Ireland is among nine countries where salaries of new teachers are lower than in 2009 and 2010. However, changes in policy or pay scales has brought a hike of 4% or more here and in eight other countries.