Study Teaching

BEd, 4 years (NQF 7), or a bachelor's degree plus a 1-year PGCE; SACE registration required to teach

Pay in South AfricaR300–430ka year · typical R360k Work abroad3.5 of 5best: Australia, New Zealand AI outlookEvolvingAI changes parts of the daily work

Getting inMediumcompetition for places · 4 years

R47 854 to R73 000 first-year fees 2 bursaries list Teaching

School subjects: Maths recommendedPhysical Sciences recommendedMaths Literacy accepted at some institutions

Entry details and typical minimums

Your teaching subjects must be matched by NSC subjects; Maths and Physical Sciences are required for FET maths and science specialisations.

Typical minimums: Varies; BEd is generally a moderate-APS bachelor's-pass programme, but FET Mathematics or Physical Sciences streams need those NSC subjects, often 50-60%.

Sources: SACE

Pay

Yearly gross pay, turned into rand at the exchange rate. The dot is the typical figure. How pay is measured

NetherlandsR1.2–1.7m
AustraliaR1.1–1.5m
GermanyR1.1–1.7m
IrelandR960k–1.7m
USAR1.1–1.7m
CanadaR980k–1.4m
UKR920k–1.3m
UAER720k–1.2m^~
New ZealandR650k–1.1m
South AfricaR300–430k

~ limited evidence

Working abroad 3.5 of 5

Score out of 5. Tap a country for steps and visas.

AI outlook

EvolvingAI changes parts of the daily work

Lesson preparation and marking are automatable, but managing and motivating a room of children in person is not, and teachers are registered.

Hands-on In-person care Licensed & accountable

How AI changes each field

Careers

Foundation or Intermediate Phase teacher
Senior Phase and FET subject teacher
Head of department or deputy principal
International school teacher
Learning support or remedial teacher
Education consultant or curriculum developer

Where to study 7

First-year tuition, as published. My Matric Map can check your results against each of these. Tap a university for its entry requirements and dates. Compare study costs

Country by country: steps, exams, visas and pay sources

A four-year BEd, or any degree plus a PGCE, then SACE registration. South African teachers are actively recruited abroad, but England restricts direct QTS for SA teachers to maths, science and language specialists.

Professional regulator: South African Council for Educators (SACE)

Where it can take you

Teaching → Germany

Overall 4/5 · Good prospects

German state schools need state recognition and fluent German; international schools are the practical option.

Recognition: 2/5 · Major requalification. Substantial re-study, long supervised practice, scarce posts or a hard language barrier.
Demand: High demand

Sources: Anerkennung in Deutschland portal · KMK - common guidelines on recognising foreign teacher qualifications (8 October 2015), pp. 3-4 · KMK - framework for upper-secondary teacher training (two subjects; 12-24 month Vorbereitungsdienst)

Qualification and licensing guide

Pay, in rand at the exchange rate

Typical gross pay in each country, turned into rand at the exchange rate. Compare salaries switches between the exchange rate, buying power and after tax, and says how each works.

Netherlands R1.2–1.7m4.1× SA

Australia R1.1–1.5m3.8× SA

Germany R1.1–1.7m3.8× SA

Ireland R960k–1.7m3.7× SA

United States R1.1–1.7m3.6× SA

Canada R980k–1.4m3.4× SA

United Kingdom R920k–1.3m3.1× SA

United Arab Emirates R720k–1.2m^*2.6× SA

New Zealand R650k–1.1m2.4× SA

South Africa R300–430k

South Africa · line: the South African figure · pay range · starting pay · hover or tap a bar for details · gross pay a year, low to high estimate; the bar ends at the typical figure · * weaker figure

Country	Typical gross pay	Range and starting pay	Occupation and source
South Africa	ZAR 362 500 Middle of the pay scale, as gross pay 2026	ZAR 296 500 to 428 500 lowest and highest point of the pay scale, 2026 · DBE Government Notice 7536, Gazette 54758 (educator notches 1 Apr 2026) + PAM B.8.3.3.1 · Converted to gross like the typical figure. PUBLIC, basic notch x 13/12 (13th cheque) + housing allowance (excl. employer pension). PL1 REQV 14+ range = notch codes 85-168. Starting ZAR 296 500 Newly qualified, first year as Post Level 1 teacher with a 4-year B.Ed/degree+PGCE (REQV 14); no internship, 2026 · DBE Gazette 54758 notch code 85 + PAM (new PL1 REQV 14-17 educators start at notch 85) · R251,097 x 13/12 + housing R24,447 (only if permanent and owning/renting; temporary teachers may not get it: R272,000).	Teacher, post level 1, REQV 14+ (four-year qualification) - educator OSD notch codes 85-168 DBE Government Notice 7536, Gazette 54758 (educator notches 1 Apr 2026) with PAM B.8.3.3.1 salary ranges · Gross pay: basic notch midpoint R312,056 x 13/12 (13th cheque) + R24,447 housing allowance; excludes employer pension and medical subsidy. PUBLIC-SECTOR. Scale quoted as basic notches; amounts below are as quoted. Scale R251,097-R373,014. REQV 13 band = R219,630-R323,613. Notch bands from PAM 2016 (GG 39684) B.8.3.3.1.
United Kingdom	GBP 47 632 Median 2025	GBP 39 059 to 54 047 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional), Table 14.7a Annual pay - Gross, full-time · SOC 2313 Secondary teachers, full-time, April 2025. England main pay range from Sep 2026: M1 34,068 to M6 46,939 (outside London). Starting GBP 34 068 Newly qualified teacher (QTS), main pay range M1, England outside London, 2026 · School Teachers' Pay award 2026/27 (STRB 36th report, 3.5% from 1 Sep 2026) · M1 rises from 32,916 to 34,068 from 1 Sep 2026; London areas higher. Figure reported by Edapt; STPCD 2026 due Oct 2026.	SOC2020 2313 Secondary education teaching professionals ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional), Table 14.7a Annual pay - Gross, full-time · Median gross annual pay, full-time employees, April 2025. CV 1.1%.
Ireland	EUR 66 841 Middle of the pay scale 2026	EUR 47 417 to 86 265 lowest and highest point of the pay scale, 2026 · Dept of Education Circular 0056/2026, post-primary teacher salary scale (entrants from 1 Jan 2011), effective 1 June 2026 · 27-point scale (same as typical), excl. posts of responsibility. Top point reached after ~25 years. Starting EUR 47 417 Newly qualified post-primary teacher (after degree + 2-year PME, or concurrent B.Ed), 2026 · Dept of Education Circular 0056/2026, point 1 of post-2011 scale · Point 1 includes the PME allowance. Many new teachers start in part-time/fixed-term posts, so actual first-year pay can be lower.	Post-primary teacher, scale for entrants from 01 Jan 2011 Dept of Education Circular 0056/2026, post-primary teacher salary scale, effective 1 June 2026 · Midpoint of the 27-point basic scale EUR47,417-86,265 (incl. PME allowance, excl. posts of responsibility). Pre-2011 entrants: EUR43,925-78,476 plus qualification allowances.
Netherlands	EUR 73 632 Median 2024	EUR 57 200 to 86 320 25th to 75th percentile, 2024 · CBS StatLine 86355NED Werknemers; uurloon en beroep (p25/p75 gross hourly) · BRC 2014 0113 Docenten algemene vakken secundair onderwijs, employees, 2024: p25 27.50/h, p75 41.50/h x2080, excl. holiday pay (as typical). 2025 percentiles suppressed, as for the typical median. Starting EUR 43 980 Newly qualified secondary teacher, scale LB start (Cao VO 2025-2027), 2026 · Rijksoverheid: Wat verdien ik als leraar in het voortgezet onderwijs? (Cao VO, from Nov 2026) · LB start 3,665/mo full-time from 1 Nov 2026 (3,622 before) x12, excl. 8% holiday + 8.33% year-end (x1.1633 = 51,163). LB max 5,586; LD max 7,401.	BRC 2014 0113 Docenten algemene vakken secundair onderwijs CBS StatLine 86355NED Werknemers; uurloon en beroep · Median gross hourly x2080 (40h x52). Hourly excl. holiday pay, NL full-time ~36-38h; errors largely offset. 2024 figure; CBS has not yet published 2025 medians for education.
Germany	EUR 68 424 Median 2025	EUR 57 132 to 83 004 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · BA Entgeltatlas (Beschaeftigungsstatistik), Stichtag 31.12.2025, Vollzeit, all ages, Germany · KldB 84124, monthly p25-p75 x12. Salaried teachers only (Beamte excluded). Starting EUR 57 112 Salaried (non-Beamte) secondary teacher after degree and 18-24-month Referendariat, TV-L E13 Stufe 1, 2026 · TV-L Entgelttabelle 2026 (valid 1 Apr 2026-28 Feb 2027) · Most teachers are Beamte, paid by state: e.g. NRW A13 entry 5,221.48/mo (62,658) from 1 Apr 2026. Excludes Jahressonderzahlung.	KldB 2010 84124 Lehrkräfte in der Sekundarstufe - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten BA Entgeltatlas (Beschäftigungsstatistik), Stichtag 31.12.2025 · Median monthly gross full-time x12. Employees in social insurance only (no self-employed/Beamte); capped at 8,050 EUR/mo. Salaried teachers only; verbeamtete teachers (the majority) excluded.
United States	USD 72 040 Median 2025	USD 59 980 to 92 570 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · BLS OEWS May 2025 national (via BLS Public Data API) · OEWS May 2025 p25/p75; teacher annual wages reflect the school-year schedule. p10 $48,780, p90 $107,600. Starting USD 42 800 1 year after a bachelor's in subject-specific teacher education (CIP 13.13), newly certified teacher, 2022 · College Scorecard field-of-study data (Jun 2026 release), EARN_MDN_1YR · Grad-weighted median of program medians, earnings 1 yr after completion (2018-20 grads, CY2020-21, 2022 $; working & not enrolled, incl. part-time). Earnings are for a school-year contract; many new teachers enter via other degrees + certification.	25-2031 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 national · OEWS national median annual wage, May 2025. Annual wage for teachers reflects the school-year work schedule, not 12 months.
Canada	CAD 94 994 Median 2024	CAD 76 960 to 108 992 25th to 75th percentile, 2024 · Job Bank wage data 2025 release (LFS 2023-2024), national quartiles · Job Bank Q1/Q3 hourly C$37/C$52.4 x2080, NOC 41220, LFS 2023-24. Low/high (~p10/p90): C$60,008/C$124,301. Secondary teachers. Starting CAD 65 400 2 years after a B.Ed/education degree, early-career certified teacher, 2024 · Statistics Canada Table 37-10-0281 (ELMLP), graduates two years after graduation · Median employment income 2 yrs after graduation (2022 grads, measured 2024, 2024 $); excludes full-time students, includes part-time/part-year workers. Teacher grids are set per province/board (no single national entry step); many new teachers start as occasional/part-time, which lowers this median.	41220 Secondary school teachers Job Bank wage data (open data), Labour Force Survey · National median hourly wage C$45.67 x 2080 h. Job Bank/LFS reference period 2023-2024, published 19 Nov 2025.
Australia	AUD 120 744 Median 2025	AUD 92 882 to 133 422 lowest and highest point of the pay scale, 2026 · Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2024, Schedule 1A classroom teacher 7-step scale, rates from first full pay period on or after 9 Oct 2026 (Teach NSW page still shows Oct 2025 rates) · NSW classroom teacher scale, graduate to top step. Head teacher 153,531, principal 236,318 (Oct 2026 rates). Typical (ABS median) sits inside. Starting AUD 92 882 New graduate teacher, NSW public schools, step 1, 2026 · Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2024, Schedule 1A Step 1 (from first full pay period on or after 9 Oct 2026) · NSW public schools; other states differ. GOS 2025 primary/secondary teacher education median 83,500.	Secondary School Teachers (ANZSCO 2414) ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025 (customised report), via JSA Occupation Profiles · Median $2322/wk x52; FT non-managerial adult-rate employees, before tax.
New Zealand	NZD 82 207 Middle of the pay scale 2026	NZD 62 862 to 105 686 lowest and highest point of the pay scale, 2026 · Secondary Teachers' Collective Agreement 2025-2027, trained teachers base scale (Education Circular 2026/01), from 28 Jan 2026 · Steps 1-10. Typical 82,207 = midpoint of the Dec 2024 scale (61,329-103,086). Units/management allowances extra. Rises ~2% on 28 Jan 2027. Starting NZD 62 862 Newly qualified secondary teacher, G3 entry (degree + teaching qualification), step 1, 2026 · STCA 2025-2027 base scale, Education Circular 2026/01 · Higher entry for G3+ (65,685), G4/honours (68,251), G5/master's (72,548). Excludes units/allowances.	Secondary school teacher Tahatu Career Navigator (Ministry of Education / Tertiary Education Commission careers service) · Published range $61,329-$103,086, most common $71,768-$92,646. Bounds are the secondary teachers collective agreement base scale; this is the middle of the pay scale.
United Arab Emirates	AED 196 200 Middle of the advertised range 2026	AED 147 600 to 244 800 salary survey range, 2026 · Teach Away guide to teaching in Abu Dhabi public schools (teacher recruiter) · low confidence · Same page as typical: about AED 12,300-20,400/mth x12; same page elsewhere says 13k-22k. Housing usually extra. Most posts need 2+ yrs experience; no starting figure.	Teacher, Abu Dhabi public schools Teach Away guide to teaching in Abu Dhabi public schools (teacher recruiter) · Recruiter page, not an official scale. About AED 12,300-20,400/month x12, by credentials, experience and school type. Housing is usually extra. KHDA/ADEK publish no scale.

General information, not immigration or legal advice. Researched 2026-10-07.