The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) pays teachers under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) covering 2025 to 2029. This guide explains the current salary scales by grade, how the four-phase increases work, and what has not changed, so you can see where your own grade stands.
The 2025–2029 CBA at a glance
TSC signed the agreement with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) on 18 July 2025. It is implemented in four phases between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2029, one for each financial year.
- Total cost: KSh 33,753,372,108 (net) over four years, according to TSC.
- Phase I (from 1 July 2025): KSh 8.4 billion in salaries and allowances, including more than KSh 1.2 billion as the employer's contribution to the pension scheme and other statutory deductions.
- Size of the increase: up to 29.5 percent, depending on the cadre, with the aim of narrowing the gap between the highest and lowest paid teachers.
- Who is covered: classroom teachers, senior teachers, deputy headteachers, headteachers, principals and education administrators, across all teaching grades from B5 to D5.
Current basic salary scales (Phase II, July 2026 to June 2027)
The second phase took effect on 1 July 2026 and applies until 30 June 2027. Teachers keep their current job grades and titles but move to new salary points. The table shows monthly basic salary.
| Grade | TSC Scale | Minimum (KSh) | Maximum (KSh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| B5 | 5 | 26,225 | 33,444 |
| C1 | 6 | 32,423 | 41,072 |
| C2 | 7 | 41,100 | 50,287 |
| C3 | 8 | 48,754 | 62,659 |
| C4 | 9 | 57,667 | 72,988 |
| C5 | 10 | 68,948 | 82,160 |
| D1 | 11 | 80,500 | 97,827 |
| D2 | 12 | 93,883 | 114,322 |
| D3 | 13 | 107,634 | 131,405 |
| D4 | 14 | 120,016 | 148,480 |
| D5 | 15 | 133,351 | 164,977 |
For example, Primary Teacher II sits in B5, Primary Teacher I and Secondary Teacher III in C1, and Chief Principals in D5. The Phase II adjustment raised monthly pay by between about KSh 693 and KSh 2,055 depending on grade. Primary Teacher II at the minimum moved from KSh 25,028 to KSh 26,225.
How conversion to the new scales works
- Teachers keep their existing incremental dates.
- If your annual increment falls on 1 July 2026, you first get the increment on the old scale and then convert to the new salary point from the same date.
- The circular applies to teachers in service on 1 July 2026, but not to intern teachers.
- Annual increments continue under the Code of Regulations for Teachers (2015).
What did not change: allowances
Existing allowances continue to be paid where applicable, including house, hardship, commuter, annual leave and disability guide allowances. The 2025 agreement changed one allowance, the baggage allowance paid when a teacher is transferred, which is now paid per kilometre:
| Grade | TSC Scale | Rate (KSh per kilometre) |
|---|---|---|
| B5 | 5 | 43 |
| C1 | 6 | 43 |
| C2 | 7 | 55 |
| C3 | 8 | 55 |
| C4 | 9 | 55 |
| C5 | 10 | 55 |
| D1 | 11 | 68 |
| D2 | 12 | 68 |
| D3 | 13 | 68 |
| D4 | 14 | 68 |
| D5 | 15 | 80 |
Reading the figures correctly
The table shows basic salary. Your payslip will also reflect allowances and statutory deductions, so take-home pay differs from basic. Where you sit within your grade's range depends on your increments. The scales change each July until the final phase takes effect in the 2028/29 financial year, so always check the figures for the year you are in.
Frequently asked questions
Do intern teachers get the new scales?
No. The Phase II circular excludes intern teachers.
Did house or hardship allowances change?
No. Only the baggage allowance rates were revised.
When is the next increase?
The agreement runs in four yearly phases, so the next one falls in the 2027/28 financial year.