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Career & Employment

Job Group F Salary Scale in Kenya: Everything You Need to Know

  • BY waceke
  • March 20, 2025
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Kenya’s civil service operates under a structured job group system, originally labeled A to T, now harmonized by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) into grades B1 to E4 for national roles and CPSB 17 to CPSB 01 for county roles. Established under the SRC Act of 2011, the commission classifies roles based on education, skills, experience, and responsibility, ensuring equitable pay across over 700,000 public servants (SRC, 2024). Job Group F, mapped to CPSB 14, is a lower-tier classification for workers with KCSE certificates (minimum D plain) or basic technical training, typically occupying roles such as clerks, drivers, messengers, and junior support staff in ministries, counties, and parastatals.

For businesses, Job Group F personnel are the operational backbone—performing tasks like record-keeping, transport, and maintenance that underpin public services critical to trade, infrastructure, and market stability. The Job Group F salary in Kenya, regulated by SRC’s Third Remuneration and Benefits Review Cycle (2021/2025), reflects their essential role and the government’s commitment to supporting entry-level workers.

Job Group F Salary Structure: The Breakdown

The salary for Job Group F in Kenya comprises basic pay, allowances, and market adjustments, as outlined by SRC Circulars (e.g., July 2024 Gazette Notice). Below is the 2025 structure, based on 2024 data adjusted for inflation (5-7%, KNBS 2024) and pending the 2025/2026 SRC review.

Current Salary Components (2025 Estimates)

  • Basic Salary: Ksh. 19,770 – Ksh. 27,700 per month
    • Minimum reflects entry into Job Group F; maximum accounts for years of service (up to 6 notches).
  • House Allowance:
    • Cluster 1 (Nairobi): Ksh. 6,750
    • Cluster 2 (Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru): Ksh. 5,000
    • Cluster 3 (County HQs e.g., Nyeri, Eldoret): Ksh. 4,125
    • Cluster 4 (Other areas): Ksh. 3,375
  • Commuter Allowance: Ksh. 4,000
  • Salary Market Adjustment: Ksh. 2,000 – Ksh. 3,000
    • Aligns pay with private sector benchmarks for semi-skilled workers.
  • Gross Monthly Salary: Ksh. 26,520 – Ksh. 38,700
    • Total before deductions (PAYE at 10-25%, NSSF, SHA).

Net Salary After Deductions

  • Taxable Income: Ksh. 21,520 – Ksh. 33,700 (post-NSSF/SHA).
  • Net Take-Home: Ksh. 19,000 – Ksh. 30,000 monthly, depending on tax brackets and location-specific allowances.

Note: Figures are estimates based on SRC’s 2024/2025 scales, with modest increments from the July 2024 review (reversed then reinstated post-Finance Bill 2024 protests). Exact pay may shift with the 2025 review or experience-based increments.

Additional Allowances and Benefits for Job Group F

Job Group F personnel receive allowances and benefits that enhance their compensation, reflecting their operational contributions:

  1. Hardship Allowance: Ksh. 6,300
    • For postings in arid/remote areas (e.g., Marsabit, Isiolo), per SRC Circular 12/2024.
  2. Per Diem/Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA):
    • Local Travel: Ksh. 3,000 – Ksh. 4,200 daily.
    • Foreign Travel: Ksh. 6,000 – Ksh. 8,000 daily (rare for this group).
    • Reviewed in February 2022, paid for official duties away from stations.
  3. Leave Allowance: Ksh. 4,000 annually, paid in January.
  4. Risk Allowance: Ksh. 2,000 – Ksh. 3,000
    • For roles with minor hazards (e.g., drivers, field workers).
  5. Medical Benefits:
    • Inpatient: Ksh. 750,000 annually.
    • Outpatient: Ksh. 100,000.
    • Maternity: Ksh. 50,000.
    • Dental/Optical: Ksh. 25,000 each.
  6. Car Loan: Up to Ksh. 2 million (3% interest, 5-year term).
  7. Mortgage: Up to Ksh. 8 million (3% interest, 20-year term).
  8. Retirement Benefits: Gratuity of 31% annual basic salary per year served (e.g., Ksh. 73,000 – Ksh. 103,000/year; Ksh. 365,000 – Ksh. 515,000/5-year term).

These benefits can push total monthly earnings above Ksh. 40,000 for Job Group F workers in hardship zones or with field duties.

Comparative Analysis: Job Group F vs. Other Groups

To contextualize the Job Group F salary in Kenya, here’s how it compares:

  • Job Group E (CPSB 15): Ksh. 22,230 – Ksh. 30,780 gross (unskilled workers).
  • Job Group G (CPSB 13): Ksh. 29,280 – Ksh. 39,840 gross.
  • Job Group H (CPSB 12): Ksh. 33,840 – Ksh. 45,900 gross.
  • Police Constable: Ksh. 35,645 – Ksh. 47,880 gross.
  • TSC Primary Teacher II (B5): Ksh. 33,830 – Ksh. 44,787 gross.
  • National Average: Ksh. 30,000 (KNBS, 2024).

Job Group F earns slightly below to slightly above the national average, reflecting its semi-skilled status, but lags behind higher tiers and professional roles, aligning with its foundational scope.

Data Insights: The Cost of Job Group F

  • Annual Salary per Job Group F Officer: Ksh. 318,240 – Ksh. 464,400 (Ksh. 26,520 – Ksh. 38,700 x 12).
  • Five-Year Term: Ksh. 1.591 million – Ksh. 2.322 million, plus Ksh. 365,000 – Ksh. 515,000 gratuity = Ksh. 1.956 million – Ksh. 2.837 million.
  • Estimated Job Group F Personnel: Approximately 80,000-100,000 (entry-level support staff across sectors, per PSC 2024 estimates).
  • Total Cost: Ksh. 25.46 billion – Ksh. 46.44 billion annually.
  • Budget Context: The 2024/2025 public wage bill is Ksh. 900 billion (Treasury), with Job Group F comprising 2.8%-5.2%.

This cost highlights Job Group F’s scale as a significant entry-level workforce in the public sector.

Factors Influencing Job Group F Salary

Several dynamics shape Job Group F earnings:

  1. SRC Oversight: Reviews every four years (next: 2025/2026) adjust pay for inflation and equity.
  2. Fiscal Constraints: A 4.3% GDP deficit (Treasury, 2024) limits raises, despite a Ksh. 1.2 trillion budget.
  3. Qualifications: Requires KCSE D plain or basic technical training, per PSC guidelines, with notches earned over time.
  4. Public Sentiment: Finance Bill 2024 protests reversed initial hikes, reflecting taxpayer influence.
  5. Market Competition: Private sector semi-skilled pay (Ksh. 20,000 – Ksh. 35,000) pressures public scales.

For businesses, these factors underscore the challenge of retaining basic-skilled workers while managing costs—a parallel to private sector labor dynamics.

Implications for Kenyan Businesses

The Job Group F salary in Kenya has tangible business impacts:

  • Service Delivery: Well-paid Job Group F workers ensure continuity in public services (e.g., Ksh. 400 billion county allocation, 2024/2025), supporting trade and infrastructure.
  • Economic Activity: Their spending power (Ksh. 19,000 – Ksh. 30,000 net) drives local markets—retail, transport, and housing.
  • Workforce Pipeline: Job Group F staff build skills (e.g., driving, clerical work) that transition to private roles, enhancing labor availability.
  • Tax Burden: A Ksh. 900 billion wage bill may raise business taxes, offset by governance-driven stability.

A 2024 KEPSA report notes public sector efficiency underpins 15% of economic activity—Job Group F salaries contribute significantly.

Challenges in Job Group F Compensation

Despite its importance, Job Group F faces hurdles:

  1. Pay Gaps: Job Group G earns 20-30% more, while Job Group E is slightly less, raising equity concerns.
  2. Inflation Pressure: Rising costs (6% CPI, 2024) erode real income, especially at the lower end.
  3. Public Criticism: Salaries near the national average amid poverty (33%, World Bank 2024) spark debate, per X posts (March 2025).
  4. Promotion Delays: Over 20,000 workers awaited upgrades in 2024 (PSC data), stalling income growth.

These issues echo private sector challenges over entry-level pay versus career progression.

Future Outlook for Job Group F Salaries in 2025 and Beyond

Trends suggest potential shifts:

  • 2025 SRC Review: A 5-10% hike could raise basic pay to Ksh. 20,758 – Ksh. 29,085, grossing Ksh. 27,846 – Ksh. 40,635.
  • Fiscal Policy: A proposed Ksh. 1.25 trillion budget (2025/2026) may fund increments, per Treasury projections.
  • Skill Development: Training programs could shift some Job Group F roles to G, boosting pay.
  • Retention Focus: Competitive private sector wages may push SRC to enhance entry-level scales.

For businesses, a better-compensated Job Group F promises operational stability—a long-term economic asset.

How to Reach Job Group F in Kenya

Aspiring to Job Group F requires:

  • Eligibility: KCSE D plain or basic technical certificate (e.g., driving, artisan skills), 0-2 years’ experience.
  • Recruitment: PSC or county government vacancies (www.psckjobs.go.ke; annual intake ~30,000 low-tier roles).
  • Career Path: Entry at Job Group F, with promotions to G, H, etc., based on merit and tenure.
  • Application: Online portals or county HR offices, with CV, KCSE certificate, and clearance forms.

The Job Group F salary in Kenya of Ksh. 26,520 – Ksh. 38,700 monthly awaits those who secure this tier.