What does a high school teacher earn in 2025?

What does a teacher in high school earn in 2025?

The role of a high school teacher involves more than just teaching – it also includes student follow-up, planning, collaboration, and professional development. If you are considering this career path, or if you are already employed and wondering about salary prospects in 2025, here is an overview of what you can expect in terms of salary figures and factors affecting the salary level.

Salary for high school teachers: Numbers for 2025

The annual salary for a lecturer (with relevant additional education and 16 years or more of seniority) in high school is on average about 630,000 kroner before tax in 2025. For teachers with less seniority or lower education, the salary ranges from around 540,000 to 600,000 kroner. Note that salary can vary between counties and schools.

The salary statistics are based on the latest figures from 2024 and standard salary growth between 2024 and 2025. The salary steps follow the collective agreements in the public sector, usually in the KS area and Oslo municipality for teachers in Norway.

Salary depending on seniority and education

• Adjunct with additional education (4-year higher education): 580,000–610,000 kr
• Lecturer (5-year master's): 600,000–630,000 kr
• Lecturer with additional education: 630,000–660,000 kr

If you start as a newly graduated teacher without seniority, the annual salary often starts around 540,000 kr, but increases significantly throughout the career. Many teachers also receive supplements for local work, functions, or extra responsibilities, which can lead to even higher income.

What factors affect the salary?

Your salary as a high school teacher is influenced by several key factors:

• Education level: Lecturers (master's degree) and those with additional education earn higher salaries than adjuncts (bachelor's degree).
• Seniority: More years in the profession lead to higher salaries, and the salary scale for teachers is publicly available.
• Local supplements: Some schools and counties provide additional pay for special tasks or particularly sought-after competence.
• Collective bargaining: Annual negotiations are conducted between teacher organizations and employers.

Additional benefits and perks in the teaching job

In addition to base salary, teachers often enjoy good pension schemes, flexibility in vacation arrangements, and opportunities for further education and career development. Lønna.no helps you compare salary levels in schools, job openings, and provides digital tools for CV, applications, and application tracking – regardless of where you are in your professional life.

Opportunities for further education and salary increase

Many teachers pursue additional education later in their careers, quickly achieving a higher salary step. Increased specialization, such as in special education or leadership, offers better pay and expanded career opportunities.

Functional supplements and special responsibilities

Teachers who take on extra roles such as contact teacher, advisor, or team leader can negotiate additional salary. This allows particularly engaged employees to achieve an even better total compensation. Local negotiations can also result in extra pay for teachers in subjects with high demand, like STEM or vocational subjects, especially in large urban areas where competition for qualified labor is high.

What does the future look like?

There is an increasing demand for qualified teachers in high schools. Previous waves of retirements and an increasing number of students mean that the need for qualified teachers is expected to rise in the coming years. Competence in digital teaching, facilitation, and special education is particularly sought after, and this can also lead to better individual salary negotiations.

How do you apply for a teaching job?

If you are qualified and wish to apply for a position as a teacher, you can find a number of updated positions for high schools on Lønna.no. The service allows you to compare salaries in different counties and schools, and helps you write professional applications and update your CV with our digital tools.

Take control of your teaching career with good salary prospects, job security, and exciting professional challenges in 2025!

Sources: Updated estimates based on Statistics Norway's salary statistics for teachers and collective agreement information from teachers' organizations.