New Year Starts with Significant Pay Rise For Teachers

The wages of those working in vocational education and training will rise again from January 1, as was announced by the Ministry of Culture and Innovation recently. At the same time the Minister of Internal Affairs said that primary and high school teachers’ salaries will increase as well.

The Secretary of State for Higher Education, Vocational and Adult Education and Youth of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation stressed that the salaries of nearly twenty-four thousand vocational training workers will rise by an average of 21.2 percent, for which the government will provide HUF 50 billion (EUR 120,3 million) in domestic budget resources.

Veronika Varga-Bajusz added that the wages of those starting their careers will rise from HUF 280,000 (EUR 674) to HUF 705,000 (EUR 1,697) per month, while the average salary of experienced trainers will rise to between 800,000 (EUR 1,926) and 900,000 forints (EUR 2,167). The pay rise applies to all vocational training institutions, whether state, church or university-run.

The State Secretary emphasized that vocational education and training rests on three pillars: respected and motivated teachers, motivated students and an inspiring environment, and that each of these pillars has been further strengthened in 2024.

She added that since the reform of the vocational education and training system in 2020, teachers’ salaries have already increased two and a half times. Veronika Varga-Bajusz stressed that this is another expression of the government’s appreciation for the importance of vocational education and training and the new increase is another step towards ensuring that Hungary maintains its leading position in vocational education and training. The politician emphasized that

the pay rise will further strengthen the quality of Hungarian vocational education and training and the social esteem in which it is held by society.

Meanwhile, according to the government’s decision, from January 1, 2025 the average teachers’ (those who work in primary or high schools) salary must exceed 80 percent of the average salary of graduates, so after last year’s 32.2 percent increase, their salaries will rise by another 21.2 percent this year, the Interior Ministry’s State Secretary for Public Education announce in a video posted on his social media page on Sunday.

Fact

In recent years, Hungary has seen a surge in teachers’ strikes due to their low salaries. During these demonstrations, anti-government voices have also been heard many times, and thus in many cases, the strikes have become politically charged. However, it was clear that it was time for a pay increase for teachers, and this is what the government has been working on since 2023.

Zoltán Maruzsa stressed that the goal is to reach the average teacher’s salary of HUF 844,000 (EUR 2,032). The pay rise will also apply to 143,000 teachers in public education and vocational training. The wage of early career trainees will rise to at least HUF 640,900 (EUR 1,543) in 2025, up from HUF 129,500 (EUR 311) in 2010.

Science teachers will receive a 2+4 percent pay rise this year, up from 2+7 percent last year. There will also be a bigger pay rise for teachers of disadvantaged children, as the share of the salary for creating opportunities will increase proportionately. Teachers in catching-up or beneficiary municipalities will continue to receive a 20 percent pay rise, he added.

The Hungarian government will provide 88 percent of the funds needed to raise teachers’ salaries, while the European Union will provide 12 percent, the State Secretary recalled.

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