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Career & Employment

Job Group N Salary in Kenya: Everything You Need to Know

  • BY waceke
  • March 20, 2025
man who is a business manager

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 N, mapped to CPSB 06, is a mid-tier classification for professionals with degrees or diplomas and several years of experience, typically occupying roles such as senior officers, supervisors, or technical specialists in ministries, counties, and parastatals.

For businesses, Job Group N personnel influence operational efficiency—managing county revenues, public health, education, and infrastructure projects that underpin trade and investment. The Job Group N salary in Kenya, regulated by SRC’s Third Remuneration and Benefits Review Cycle (2021/2025), reflects their mid-level expertise and the government’s commitment to retaining skilled professionals.

Job Group N Salary Structure: The Breakdown

The salary for Job Group N 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. 56,370 – Ksh. 87,360 per month
    • Minimum reflects entry into Job Group N; maximum accounts for years of service (up to 6 notches).
  • House Allowance:
    • Cluster 1 (Nairobi): Ksh. 35,000
    • Cluster 2 (Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru): Ksh. 25,000
    • Cluster 3 (County HQs e.g., Nyeri, Eldoret): Ksh. 20,000
    • Cluster 4 (Other areas): Ksh. 15,400
  • Commuter Allowance: Ksh. 8,000
  • Salary Market Adjustment: Ksh. 10,000 – Ksh. 15,000
    • Aligns pay with private sector benchmarks.
  • Gross Monthly Salary: Ksh. 89,770 – Ksh. 135,360
    • Total before deductions (PAYE at 30%, NSSF, SHA).

Net Salary After Deductions

  • Taxable Income: Ksh. 79,770 – Ksh. 125,360 (post-NSSF/SHA).
  • Net Take-Home: Ksh. 65,000 – Ksh. 95,000 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 N

Job Group N personnel receive allowances and perks that enhance their compensation, reflecting their mid-level responsibilities:

  1. Hardship Allowance: Ksh. 17,100
    • For postings in arid/remote areas (e.g., Garissa, Wajir), per SRC Circular 12/2024.
  2. Per Diem/Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA):
    • Local Travel: Ksh. 6,300 – Ksh. 8,400 daily.
    • Foreign Travel: Ksh. 10,000 – Ksh. 15,000 daily.
    • Reviewed in February 2022, paid for official duties away from stations.
  3. Leave Allowance: Ksh. 6,000 annually, paid in January.
  4. Risk Allowance: Ksh. 5,000 – Ksh. 10,000
    • For roles with operational hazards (e.g., public health officers in crisis zones).
  5. Medical Benefits:
    • Inpatient: Ksh. 2 million annually.
    • Outpatient: Ksh. 200,000.
    • Maternity: Ksh. 100,000.
    • Dental/Optical: Ksh. 50,000 each.
  6. Car Loan: Up to Ksh. 6 million (3% interest, 5-year term).
  7. Mortgage: Up to Ksh. 20 million (3% interest, 20-year term).
  8. Retirement Benefits: Gratuity of 31% annual basic salary per year served (e.g., Ksh. 209,000 – Ksh. 325,000/year; Ksh. 1.045 million – Ksh. 1.625 million/5-year term).

These benefits can push total monthly earnings above Ksh. 150,000 for Job Group N officers in hardship zones or with frequent travel.

Comparative Analysis: Job Group N vs. Other Groups

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

  • Job Group M (CPSB 07): Ksh. 76,650 – Ksh. 105,770 gross.
  • Job Group P (CPSB 05): Ksh. 141,660 – Ksh. 185,730 gross.
  • Job Group S (CPSB 02): Ksh. 258,870 – Ksh. 322,800 gross.
  • MCA: Ksh. 164,588 gross.
  • TSC Senior Teacher I (C3): Ksh. 62,412 – Ksh. 81,514 gross.
  • National Average: Ksh. 30,000 (KNBS, 2024).

Job Group N earns 3-4 times the national average, reflecting its mid-tier status, but lags behind senior managerial groups (S, T) and elected officials, aligning with its supervisory and technical scope.

Data Insights: The Cost of Job Group N

  • Annual Salary per Job Group N Officer: Ksh. 1.077 million – Ksh. 1.624 million (Ksh. 89,770 – Ksh. 135,360 x 12).
  • Five-Year Term: Ksh. 5.385 million – Ksh. 8.12 million, plus Ksh. 1.045 million – Ksh. 1.625 million gratuity = Ksh. 6.43 million – Ksh. 9.745 million.
  • Estimated Job Group N Personnel: Approximately 20,000-30,000 (mid-level officers across sectors, per PSC 2024 estimates).
  • Total Cost: Ksh. 21.54 billion – Ksh. 48.72 billion annually.
  • Budget Context: The 2024/2025 public wage bill is Ksh. 900 billion (Treasury), with Job Group N comprising 2.4%-5.4%.

This cost underscores Job Group N’s scale within the civil service, balancing expertise with fiscal sustainability.

Factors Influencing Job Group N Salary

Several dynamics shape Job Group N 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 a degree/diploma and 5-10 years’ experience, per PSC guidelines.
  4. Public Sentiment: Finance Bill 2024 protests reversed initial hikes, reflecting taxpayer influence.
  5. Work Environment: Hardship and risk allowances boost pay in challenging postings.

For businesses, these factors highlight the tension between rewarding mid-level talent and managing public expenditure—a familiar challenge in private sector workforce planning.

Implications for Kenyan Businesses

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

  • Service Delivery: Well-paid Job Group N officers enhance county and national services (e.g., Ksh. 400 billion county allocation, 2024/2025), supporting infrastructure and trade.
  • Economic Activity: Their spending power (Ksh. 65,000 – Ksh. 95,000 net) drives local markets—retail, housing, and services.
  • Tax Burden: A Ksh. 900 billion wage bill may increase business taxes, offset by governance-driven stability.
  • Workforce Stability: Competitive pay reduces turnover, ensuring continuity in public projects critical to commerce.

A 2024 KEPSA report notes public sector efficiency underpins 15% of economic activity—Job Group N salaries are a linchpin.

Challenges in Job Group N Compensation

Despite its importance, Job Group N faces hurdles:

  1. Pay Gaps: Job Group P earns 2-3 times more, while Job Group M is 20-30% less, raising equity concerns.
  2. Inflation Pressure: Rising costs (6% CPI, 2024) erode real income, especially at the lower end.
  3. Public Criticism: Salaries 3x the national average amid poverty (33%, World Bank 2024) spark debate, per X posts (March 2025).
  4. Promotion Bottlenecks: Over 10,000 officers awaited upgrades in 2024 (PSC data), stalling income growth.

These issues mirror private sector challenges over mid-tier pay versus operational funding.

Future Outlook for Job Group N Salaries in 2025 and Beyond

Trends suggest potential shifts:

  • 2025 SRC Review: A 5-10% hike could raise basic pay to Ksh. 59,188 – Ksh. 91,728, grossing Ksh. 94,258 – Ksh. 142,128.
  • Fiscal Policy: A proposed Ksh. 1.25 trillion budget (2025/2026) may fund increments, per Treasury projections.
  • Specialization: Emerging roles (e.g., ICT, public health) in Job Group N could command premiums.
  • Public Oversight: Digital transparency (e.g., PSC portals) may cap excessive allowances.

For businesses, a better-compensated Job Group N promises improved service delivery—a boon for economic growth.

How to Reach Job Group N in Kenya

Aspiring to Job Group N requires:

  • Eligibility: Degree/diploma, 5-10 years’ experience, professional certification (e.g., CPA, HRM).
  • Recruitment: PSC or county government vacancies (www.psckjobs.go.ke; annual intake ~10,000 mid-level roles).
  • Career Path: Progression from Job Group K (entry graduate) through M, based on merit and tenure.
  • Application: Online portals or county HR offices, with CV, certificates, and clearance forms.

The Job Group N salary in Kenya of Ksh. 89,770 – Ksh. 135,360 monthly awaits those who advance to this tier.