The figure is a block histogram showing the contrast between final salary and career average pension schemes for those with different career trajectories in the teaching profession. For someone who stays as teacher throughout their career there is little difference between a final salary and a career average pension. For someone who progresses from teacher to head teacher – with the resultant sharper rise in salary – a career average pension is lower than a final salary pension.

◄ 3.1 Occupational schemes: moving to average salary pensions