School heads or head masters are responsible for the management of a school or a group of schools alone or within an administrative body such as a board or council. Depending on circumstances, the person concerned may also exercise educational responsibilities (which may include teaching tasks), but also responsibility for the general functioning of the institution in areas such as the timetable, implementation of the curriculum, decisions about what is to be taught and the materials and methods used, management of staff and/or financial responsibilities.
In 11 countries or regions, the size of schools has a direct bearing on the salaries of school heads in that the higher the enrolment at a school, the higher the salary of its head. By contrast, the educational level of the schools (except for pre-primary settings) is generally of little significance. In ten countries the basic salaries of school heads are exactly the same at all three levels of education. A specific situation exists in the United Kingdom (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) where school heads share the same overarching salary scale, but within that scale each head has his/her own salary range. This range is related both to the size of the school and the ages of its students. This means that secondary school heads tend to be paid more than primary school heads. In countries with single education structure, where there is no break between primary and general lower secondary education levels, the same basic salary indicated for both levels is corresponding to the same school head post. For the rest of the countries, in general, basic statutory salary for the school heads in primary educa- tion is lower than in secondary schools, especially in upper secondary schools. The same tendency is also true for the distribution of the salaries of teachers. In addition, in all countries, the basic statutory salaries of school heads are higher than those of teachers working at the same educational level. This may be put down to the fact that, in most countries, a certain number of years’ teaching experience are required in order to become a school head (see Figure E16). Other conditions, such as the obligation in some countries to have received special training (see Figure E15) may also be relevant. When comparing the school heads' salaries between countries a wide variation is observed. At primary level, the minimum wages vary from less than PPS EUR 9 000 in Bulgaria and Hungary to more than PPS EUR 100 100 in the United Kingdom (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). At secondary level, the highest statutory salaries of school heads a part in the United Kingdom are also allocated in Luxembourg (PPS EUR 115 508), Ireland (PPS EUR 84 979) and the Netherlands (PPS EUR 80 803).
The contrast between the maximum and minimum basic salaries of school heads as a means of assessing their prospects for an increase in their basic salary throughout their careers is not as marked as in the case of teachers. Although the salary increases of school heads during their career
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On this basis, maximum and minimum levels of statutory salaries expressed in PPS EUR generally differ by less than a factor of two. School heads in primary education in Greece, Spain, Poland, Slovakia, Finland and Turkey may receive no more than a 30 percent salary increase during their professional carrier. However, in upper secondary education, the maximum statutory salaries in Ireland and the United Kingdom might be more than double compared with the salary at the beginning of the professional career.
Figure E17: Minimum and maximum basic annual statutory salary for school heads in PPS EURO, (ISCED 1, 2 and 3), 2009/10
Pre-primary Primary Lower secondary Upper secondary
Minimum Maximum
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Explanatory note
The basic gross annual statutory salary is the amount paid by the employer in a year, including general increases to salary scales, the 13th month and holiday-pay (where applicable) excluding the employers’ social security and pension contributions. This salary does not include other salary allowances or financial benefits (related for example to further qualifications, merit, overtime, additional responsibilities, geographical location, the obligation to teach classes in challenged circumstances, or accommodation, health or travel costs). The indicated minimum salary is the basic gross salary received by school heads in the above-mentioned circumstances at the start of their career. The maximum salary is the basic gross salary received by school heads in the above-mentioned circumstances on retirement or after a certain number of years of service. The maximum salary includes solely increases related to length of service and/or the age.
Country specific notes
Belgium (BE fr): a) schools with less than 71 pupils, b) schools with between 72-140 pupils, c) schools with between 141-209 pupils, d) schools with more than 210 pupils.
Belgium (BE nl): a) schools with less than 180 pupils (less than 100 pupils in Brussels), b) schools with more than 350 pupils. In lower and upper secondary schools, there are different scales regarding the fact whether or not school head has a lesson duty.
Bulgaria: a) general provision, b) big schools.
Denmark: Primary and lower secondary level: a) schools with less than 9 full-time employees, b) schools with more than 9 full-time employees. Upper secondary level a) schools with less than 700 full-time students, b) schools with more than 700 full-time students.
Spain: a) big schools, b) small/very small schools.
France: a) school-heads in Lycées, b) school heads in Lycées professionnels.
Latvia: a) schools with less than 100 students, b) schools with more than 1201 students.
Lithuania: the salaries of school heads depend on the number of groups in pre-school institutions and on the school size in the secondary education schools, also from head’s qualification category and the years of pedagogical practice (in all levels).
Netherlands: Primary level: a) schools with less than 200 pupils b) schools with between 200-399 pupils, c) schools with between 400-899 pupils, d) schools with more than 900 pupils. Secondary level a) School leaders, b) Chairman central board.
Austria: Primary and Lower secondary (Hauptschulen) level: a) schools with more than 4 classes, b) schools with only one class. Upper secondary level: a) schools with more than 12 classes b) schools with 1-3 classes.
Portugal: a) schools with less than 800 students, b) schools with between 801 and 1200 students, c) schools with more than 1200 students.
Finland: a) schools with 7-14 groups of 32 students, b) schools with 15-19 groups of 32 students, c) schools with more than 20 groups of 32 students.
Norway: a) schools with less than 10 full-time employees per year, b) schools with more than 10 full-time employees per year.