Teacher salary in Italy (2026)
Updated July 2026
A teacher in Italy earns a median of €2,560 gross per month in 2026, with an average of €2,710. Entry-level pay starts near €1,840, while senior professionals reach €4,220 per month. Net pay is typically 68%–74% of gross, and employers in and around Rome pay roughly 10% above the national median for this role.
Key facts
- Median gross pay for a teacher in Italy is €2,560 per month (2026 estimate).
- The average gross salary, pulled up by senior roles, is €2,710 per month.
- Junior pay runs €1,840–€2,250; senior pay runs €3,070–€4,220 gross per month.
- Italy has a cost-of-living index of 112 (Ljubljana = 100), so €2,560 there buys about €2,290 of Slovenian purchasing power.
- Italy has no statutory minimum wage; pay floors come from sector collective agreements.
- Shortages in STEM subjects and in rural schools.
Data table
| Experience level | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Junior (0–2 years) | €1,840 | €2,250 |
| Mid (3–6 years) | €2,300 | €2,940 |
| Senior (7+ years) | €3,070 | €4,220 |
| Median (all levels) | €2,560 | |
| Average (all levels) | €2,710 | |
What drives teacher pay in Italy
Teaches in primary or secondary education, usually on a public pay scale. Italy has no statutory minimum wage; pay floors come from national collective contracts (CCNL). Northern regions — Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto — pay noticeably more than the south.
Pay differences inside Italy are driven mostly by region — Rome and its surrounding metro area pay a premium over rural areas — followed by employer size, sector and certified specialisations. Comparing offers on gross pay alone is misleading: check the number of monthly payments per year, bonus structure, and how much of the package is fixed.
The same role in other countries
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teacher earn in Italy?
A teacher in Italy earns a median of about €2,560 gross per month in 2026, with most salaries between €1,840 and €4,220 gross per month.
What is the starting salary for a teacher in Italy?
Entry-level pay starts at roughly €1,840 gross per month. After two to four years, a teacher typically reaches the mid band of €2,300–€2,940 gross.
What does a senior teacher earn in Italy?
Senior professionals earn between €3,070 and €4,220 gross per month. The top of that range usually requires team leadership, rare specialisations or a large-employer setting.
Is that gross or net pay?
All figures on this page are gross monthly pay before tax and social contributions. In Italy, net pay is typically 68%–74% of gross, so a median of €2,560 gross is roughly €1,740–€1,890 net.
Is the salary enough to live on in Italy?
Italy has a cost-of-living index of 112 with Ljubljana set to 100. Adjusted for that, a median of €2,560 in Italy has the purchasing power of about €2,290 in Slovenia.
Can I work as a teacher in Italy as a foreigner?
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can work in Italy without a permit. Non-EU candidates need a work and residence permit, and regulated professions additionally require recognition of their qualifications.