PGT vs TGT vs PRT: which teaching role fits you?
7 min read · 7/5/2026 · Editorial Desk
PGT, TGT and PRT — the three roles that define Indian teaching careers
If you have ever scrolled through teaching jobs in India, you have seen the same three acronyms on almost every listing: PGT, TGT and PRT. They map onto the three grade bands Indian schools hire against, and picking the right one is the single biggest decision in a teaching career.
This post breaks each role down — what it means, what qualifications you need, what it pays, and how to spot the version that fits you.
PGT — Post Graduate Teacher (classes 11-12)
A PGT teaches classes 11 and 12. Because these are board-exam years, PGTs specialise deeply in one subject — English, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Commerce, Accountancy, Economics, Computer Science, and the second languages.
Baseline qualifications:
- Master's degree in the teaching subject (M.A., M.Sc., M.Com. as appropriate).
- B.Ed from a recognised university.
- CTET Paper 2 is preferred by most CBSE schools; mandatory in government schools.
Compensation range: 4-9 LPA at private schools, higher at premium CBSE and IB campuses. Government PGTs sit on the 7th Pay Commission scale.
Who thrives here: Teachers who love their subject at depth and enjoy the pressure of board-exam preparation and university-entrance coaching. Board pass rates, JEE / NEET selections and Olympiad participation are the metrics that get you promoted.
Live PGT jobs update every day across India.
TGT — Trained Graduate Teacher (classes 6-10)
A TGT teaches classes 6-10 — the middle-school and secondary years. TGTs need breadth alongside depth; you are teaching the subject and, in many schools, mentoring students through their first board year (class 10).
Baseline qualifications:
- Graduate degree in the teaching subject.
- B.Ed from a recognised university.
- CTET Paper 2 is strongly preferred; mandatory in government schools.
Compensation range: 3.5-7 LPA at private schools.
Who thrives here: Teachers who enjoy classroom management, running remedial groups, and building the study habits that eventually decide class-10 results. TGT is where most Indian teaching careers start.
Browse live TGT jobs.
PRT — Primary Teacher (classes 1-5)
A PRT teaches classes 1-5 — the years where reading, writing, arithmetic and study habits are wired for life. Primary teaching demands the widest skill range of the three roles: you cover multiple subjects, run co-curriculars, and set the tone for how children experience school.
Baseline qualifications:
- Graduate degree.
- D.El.Ed or B.Ed. NTT diploma is preferred for pre-primary.
- CTET Paper 1 is essentially mandatory — every government school and almost every CBSE-affiliated private school requires it.
Compensation range: 2.5-4 LPA entry, up to 5.5 LPA with 7-10 years of experience at premium schools.
Who thrives here: Teachers who enjoy the youngest learners, are patient with mixed-ability classrooms, and want the highest year-over-year hiring demand in the country. PRT is the largest single hiring bucket on the jobs page.
Live PRT jobs list city-wise openings.
Side-by-side — how the three roles compare
- Grade level: PRT 1-5 · TGT 6-10 · PGT 11-12.
- Subject depth: PRT is generalist · TGT is one subject with breadth · PGT is one subject at university-adjacent depth.
- Minimum degree: PRT graduate + D.El.Ed/B.Ed · TGT graduate + B.Ed · PGT master's + B.Ed.
- CTET emphasis: Paper 1 for PRT · Paper 2 for TGT and PGT.
- Typical salary: PRT 2.5-4 LPA · TGT 3.5-7 LPA · PGT 4-9 LPA.
- Hiring volume: PRT (highest) · TGT · PGT.
- Career growth: PRT to Primary Coordinator to Head of Primary; TGT to HOD to Vice Principal; PGT to HOD to Academic Coordinator to Principal.
Which one should you apply to first?
A few rules of thumb that hold up across CBSE, ICSE, IB and State schools:
- If your master's is in the subject and you enjoy senior-secondary content, apply to PGT.
- If your bachelor's + B.Ed is done and you have not decided on a subject specialism, apply to TGT first — the largest number of doors opens.
- If you love the youngest learners, want the highest volume of openings and are comfortable teaching across subjects, apply to PRT.
You can hold two Job Alerts at once on School Jobs In India — many teachers save one PRT alert and one TGT alert while they figure out which fits.