Most international schools review salaries after recruitment cycles, when planning budgets, assessing retention risk, and setting strategy for the next academic year.

Use data from 163 schools and 636 teachers to benchmark your position and make confident decisions.

Are you as competitive as you think?

Most schools believe their salary and benefits packages are competitive.

But the data suggests a gap.

Teacher satisfaction sits at 57%, compared to 70% estimated by schools.

That difference matters.

Because when perception and reality don’t align, the impact shows up later: 

• Increased staff turnover
• Harder future recruitment
• Rising costs

And by the time it’s visible, it’s already too late.

What teachers actually value

Salary is only part of the equation.

Our latest research shows:

• Medical insurance is the most valued benefit by teachers
• Professional development is as important as salary growth
• Teachers expect 12–18% salary progression as they gain experience

There is no single “perfect” package, but there is a clear expectation.

And if your offering doesn’t align, retention becomes a risk.

Salary decisions are strategic decisions

Salary and benefits are one of the largest investments a school makes.

But more importantly, they directly influence:

• Teacher retention
• School reputation
• Recruitment costs
• Long-term stability

Yet many schools make these decisions:

• Without market context
• Without benchmarking
• Without understanding how they compare

Making decisions without data is high risk

Without clear benchmarking:

• You may over-invest in the wrong areas
• Under-invest in what teachers actually value
• Miss early warning signs of dissatisfaction

The result?

👉 Reactive decisions instead of strategic ones

Move from data to confident decisions

ISC Research provides a complete view of the international schools market — across schools, teachers, and regions.

With the Salaries & Benefits Report, you can:

• Benchmark your salaries against comparable schools
• Understand what teachers expect and value
• Identify gaps in your offering
• Make informed decisions before budgets are finalised

20% off the Salaries & Benefits Report

Use code: SCHOOL20

Access trusted market intelligence to support your next academic year planning.

Includes:

• Global salary benchmarking
• Teacher insight and expectations
• Benefits analysis
• Retention and development insights

Plan your next academic year with confidence