New TSC Salary Scale and Grading System for Teachers in 2025.
For years, teachers in Kenya have frequently taken to the streets demanding better pay from the government. Their persistent efforts, spearheaded by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), eventually led to a significant breakthrough. Despite numerous challenges, KNUT successfully pushed for a salary increment.
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) responded by approving a phased salary increase in three stages. Timothy Nyakundi, a secondary school teacher under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), provided insights into TSC job groups and their corresponding salaries as of 2024.
Concerns over teacher remuneration and working conditions have prompted ongoing discussions and periodic revisions by the government. These engagements aim to ensure that educators receive fair compensation, enhancing their motivation and, in turn, the quality of education delivery.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) plays a critical role in Kenya’s education sector, overseeing the recruitment, placement, and management of teachers in public institutions.
As the employer, TSC determines teacher salaries by negotiating and signing Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) with various teachers’ unions. Additionally, the commission facilitates promotions, which directly impact salary adjustments. Below is a detailed breakdown of the revised TSC salary structure and grading system.
TSC New Grading System
Nyakundi explained that TSC classifies teachers into salary grades based on their years of service, performance appraisals, and engagement in co-curricular activities.
He elaborated that the SRC is responsible for periodically reviewing teachers’ salaries, taking multiple factors into account. The salary increments depend on qualifications, duration of service, job grade, additional responsibilities such as administrative roles, location (whether rural, urban, or hardship areas), and the nature of learners, with those handling special needs students receiving extra allowances.
As a result of the latest TSC job group restructuring, some job groups were eliminated while others were merged. The table below outlines the updated TSC grading system applicable to all teachers in Kenya.
| No | Titles | Grade | T-Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief Principal | D5 | T-Scale 15 |
| 2 | Senior Principal | D4 | T-Scale 14 |
| 3 | Principal and Deputy Principal I | D3 | T-Scale 13 |
| 4 | Deputy Principal II, Senior Master I, Senior Lecturer I | D2 | T-Scale 12 |
| 5 | Senior Master II, Deputy Principal III, Senior Head Teacher, Senior Lecturer II, Curriculum Support Officer I | D1 | T-Scale 11 |
| 6 | Senior Master III, Senior Lecturer III, Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher I, Curriculum Support Officer II | C5 | T-Scale 10 |
| 7 | Senior Lecturer IV, Senior Master IV, SNE Senior Teacher – Primary, SNE Teacher I – Secondary, Deputy Head Teacher II | C4 | T-Scale 9 |
| 8 | Secondary Teacher I, Lecturer I, SNE Teacher I – Primary, SNE Teacher II – Secondary, Senior Teacher I | C3 | T-Scale 8 |
| 9 | Secondary Teacher II, SNE Teacher II – Primary, Lecturer II, Senior Teacher II | C2 | T-Scale 7 |
| 10 | Secondary Teacher III, Lecturer III, Primary Teacher I | C1 | T-Scale 6 |
| 11 | Primary Teacher II | B5 | T-Scale 5 |
TSC Salary Structure in 2025
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) outlined the salary adjustments for both primary and secondary school teachers based on their job groups. The salary increments are being implemented in two phases, with the first phase having started on July 1, 2023.
The second phase commenced on July 1, 2024, for teachers who are currently in active service. The table below presents the TSC salary scale, detailing the current basic salary for different grades.
| No | Title | Grade | Salary (Ksh.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief Principals | Grade D5 (T-Scale 15) | 131,380 – 159,534 |
| 2 | Senior Principals | Grade D4 (T-Scale 14) | 118,242 – 143,581 |
| 3 | Principals, Deputy Principal I | Grade D3 (T-Scale 13) | 105,182 – 127,069 |
| 4 | Deputy Principal II, Senior Master I | Grade D2 (T-Scale 12) | 92,119 – 110,551 |
| 5 | Senior Master II, Deputy Principal III, Senior Head Teacher | Grade D1 (T-Scale 11) | 78,625 – 95,101 |
| 6 | Senior Master III, Senior Lecturer III, Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher I | Grade C5 (T-Scale 10) | 62,272 – 78,667 |
| 7 | Senior Lecturer IV, Senior Master IV, SNE Senior Teacher (Primary), SNE Teacher I (Secondary), Deputy Head Teacher II | Grade C4 (T-Scale 9) | 52,308 – 67,220 |
| 8 | Secondary Teacher I, Lecturer I, SNE Teacher I (Primary), SNE Teacher II (Secondary), Senior Teacher I | Grade C3 (T-Scale 8) | 44,412 – 56,514 |
| 9 | Secondary Teacher II, SNE Teacher II (Primary), Lecturer II, Senior Teacher II | Grade C2 (T-Scale 7) | 36,621 – 45,776 |
| 10 | Secondary Teacher III, Lecturer III, Primary Teacher I | Grade C1 (T-Scale 6) | 28,491 – 35,614 |
| 11 | Primary Teacher II | Grade B5 (T-Scale 5) | 22,793 – 28,491 |
Salary Breakdown for Specific Grades
C1 Teacher Salary
Teachers in grade C1, including secondary teacher III, lecturer III, and primary teacher I, receive a salary ranging between Ksh. 28,491 and Ksh. 35,614.
C4 Teacher Salary
The salary scale for TSC grade C4 spans from Ksh. 52,308 to Ksh. 67,220. This category includes senior lecturer IV, senior master IV, SNE senior teacher (primary), SNE teacher I (secondary), and deputy head teacher II.
Secondary School Teacher Salaries
Salaries for secondary school teachers in Kenya vary based on job grade. The lowest-paid secondary teacher III earns Ksh. 35,614, while a principal can receive up to Ksh. 127,069.
TSC C3 Salary Scale and Allowances for Teachers in Kenya
Salary Structure for C3 Teachers
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) offers a salary range of Ksh. 44,412 to Ksh. 56,514 for teachers under the C3 category. This scale covers various roles, including secondary teacher I, lecturer I, SNE teacher I (Primary), SNE teacher II (Secondary), and senior teacher I.
Allowances Provided by TSC
Teachers under the TSC receive two types of allowances: remunerative and reimbursable. Remunerative allowances are incorporated into the monthly salary and disbursed regularly. In contrast, reimbursable allowances require an application and cover specific expenses such as travel and quota per diem.
Primary School Teachers’ Salaries in Kenya
The salary range for primary school teachers in Kenya varies depending on rank. A head teacher earns approximately Ksh. 78,667, whereas a primary teacher II receives around Ksh. 28,491.
Highest-Paid Teachers in Kenya
Chief principals hold the highest-paid positions among educators in Kenya. Their basic salary falls between Ksh. 131,380 and Ksh. 159,534, making them the top earners in the teaching profession.
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Impact of CBAs and Strikes on Teacher Salaries
The introduction of the three Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) phases has led to significant salary adjustments, benefiting both primary and secondary school teachers. Over time, teachers have experienced financial relief after enduring prolonged periods of low wages.
A secondary school teacher, speaking to Teachersupdates.news, indicated that previous strikes and protests by teachers have played a crucial role in influencing salary increments. He explained that teacher unions and industrial actions have compelled the employer to negotiate and implement better salary structures through CBAs.
New TSC Salary Scale and Grading System for Teachers in 2025
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