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Career & Employment

TSC Salary Scale in Kenya: Everything You Need to Know

  • BY waceke
  • March 20, 2025
TSC

The TSC salary scale is organized by job grades (B5 to D5), aligned with the T-Scale (5 to 15), reflecting qualifications, experience, and responsibilities. Salaries are reviewed every four years under the SRC’s Third Remuneration and Benefits Review Cycle (2021/2025), with the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) addendum signed on August 28, 2023, implemented in two phases: July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024. Below is the 2025 salary scale, adjusted for inflation (5-7%, KNBS 2024) and CBA Phase 2.

Primary School Teachers

  1. Grade B5 (T-Scale 5) – Primary Teacher II
    • Basic Salary: Ksh. 23,830 – Ksh. 29,787
    • Allowances: Ksh. 10,000 – Ksh. 15,000 (housing, commuter)
    • Total Earnings: Ksh. 33,830 – Ksh. 44,787
    • Role: Entry-level primary teachers with Certificate in Education.
  2. Grade C1 (T-Scale 6) – Primary Teacher I
    • Basic Salary: Ksh. 28,491 – Ksh. 35,614
    • Allowances: Ksh. 12,000 – Ksh. 18,000
    • Total Earnings: Ksh. 40,491 – Ksh. 53,614
    • Role: Promoted primary teachers, often with diplomas.
  3. Grade C2 (T-Scale 7) – Senior Teacher II
    • Basic Salary: Ksh. 35,614 – Ksh. 44,412
    • Allowances: Ksh. 15,000 – Ksh. 20,000
    • Total Earnings: Ksh. 50,614 – Ksh. 64,412
    • Role: Senior primary teachers with supervisory duties.
  4. Grade C3 (T-Scale 8) – Senior Teacher I
    • Basic Salary: Ksh. 44,412 – Ksh. 56,514
    • Allowances: Ksh. 18,000 – Ksh. 25,000
    • Total Earnings: Ksh. 62,412 – Ksh. 81,514
    • Role: Experienced primary teachers, often heads of departments.

Secondary School Teachers

  1. Grade C1 (T-Scale 6) – Secondary Teacher III
    • Basic Salary: Ksh. 28,491 – Ksh. 35,614
    • Allowances: Ksh. 12,000 – Ksh. 18,000
    • Total Earnings: Ksh. 40,491 – Ksh. 53,614
    • Role: Entry-level secondary teachers with diplomas.
  2. Grade C2 (T-Scale 7) – Secondary Teacher II
    • Basic Salary: Ksh. 35,614 – Ksh. 44,412
    • Allowances: Ksh. 15,000 – Ksh. 20,000
    • Total Earnings: Ksh. 50,614 – Ksh. 64,412
    • Role: Degree holders teaching in secondary schools.
  3. Grade C3 (T-Scale 8) – Secondary Teacher I
    • Basic Salary: Ksh. 44,412 – Ksh. 56,514
    • Allowances: Ksh. 18,000 – Ksh. 25,000
    • Total Earnings: Ksh. 62,412 – Ksh. 81,514
    • Role: Senior secondary teachers with leadership roles.

Administrative and Senior Roles

  1. Grade C4 (T-Scale 9) – Senior Master IV / Deputy Headteacher II
    • Basic Salary: Ksh. 52,308 – Ksh. 67,220
    • Allowances: Ksh. 20,000 – Ksh. 30,000
    • Total Earnings: Ksh. 72,308 – Ksh. 97,220
    • Role: Mid-level administrators in secondary or primary schools.
  2. Grade D1 (T-Scale 11) – Senior Master II / Deputy Principal III
    • Basic Salary: Ksh. 85,269 – Ksh. 104,644
    • Allowances: Ksh. 25,000 – Ksh. 35,000
    • Total Earnings: Ksh. 110,269 – Ksh. 139,644
    • Role: Deputy principals or senior masters in larger schools.
  3. Grade D2 (T-Scale 12) – Senior Principal / Deputy Principal II
    • Basic Salary: Ksh. 104,644 – Ksh. 127,069
    • Allowances: Ksh. 30,000 – Ksh. 40,000
    • Total Earnings: Ksh. 134,644 – Ksh. 167,069
    • Role: Senior administrators in sub-county schools.
  4. Grade D3 (T-Scale 13) – Principal / Deputy Principal I
    • Basic Salary: Ksh. 118,242 – Ksh. 141,891
    • Allowances: Ksh. 35,000 – Ksh. 45,000
    • Total Earnings: Ksh. 153,242 – Ksh. 186,891
    • Role: Principals of county schools with over 540 students.
  5. Grade D4 (T-Scale 14) – Senior Principal
    • Basic Salary: Ksh. 127,069 – Ksh. 152,483
    • Allowances: Ksh. 40,000 – Ksh. 50,000
    • Total Earnings: Ksh. 167,069 – Ksh. 202,483
    • Role: Heads of extra-county schools.
  6. Grade D5 (T-Scale 15) – Chief Principal
    • Basic Salary: Ksh. 135,436 – Ksh. 162,539
    • Allowances: Ksh. 50,000 – Ksh. 60,000
    • Total Earnings: Ksh. 185,436 – Ksh. 222,539
    • Role: Heads of national schools with over 1,000 students.

Note: Figures are based on 2024 CBA Phase 2 data, adjusted for 2025 inflation. The 2025/2026 SRC review may further refine these scales.

Key Allowances in the TSC Salary Scale

Allowances significantly enhance the TSC salary scale in Kenya, addressing diverse teaching conditions:

  1. Housing Allowance: Ksh. 3,850 – Ksh. 50,000, tiered by cluster (Nairobi highest, rural lowest).
  2. Commuter Allowance: Ksh. 4,000 – Ksh. 16,000, based on grade.
  3. Hardship Allowance: Ksh. 6,600 – Ksh. 38,100, for arid/remote areas (e.g., Garissa, Turkana).
  4. Leave Allowance: Ksh. 4,000 – Ksh. 10,000 annually, paid in January.
  5. Special Duty Allowance: Ksh. 5,000 – Ksh. 15,000, for administrative roles in hardship zones.
  6. Disability Guide Allowance: Ksh. 20,000, for special needs educators.
  7. Transfer Allowance: One month’s basic salary for relocations.

These allowances, detailed in SRC Circular 12/2024, boost net earnings, especially for rural or specialized roles.

Data Insights: TSC Salaries in Context

  • National Average: Kenya’s average monthly wage is Ksh. 30,000 (KNBS, 2024), with TSC entry-level teachers (B5) at 1.1-1.5 times this, and chief principals (D5) at 6-7 times.
  • Public Sector Comparison: Police constables earn Ksh. 35,645 – Ksh. 47,880, while MCAs gross Ksh. 164,588—mid-tier TSC grades (C3-D1) align with these.
  • Workforce Cost: With 370,000+ teachers, the TSC payroll exceeds Ksh. 300 billion annually (2024/2025 budget: Ksh. 323 billion, Treasury).
  • CBA Impact: Phase 2 added Ksh. 13 billion to salaries (August 2024, The Standard), lifting the lowest earners by Ksh. 1,037 and highest by Ksh. 3,005 monthly.

These figures highlight education as a fiscal priority, though disparities between grades persist.

Factors Influencing the TSC Salary Scale

Several dynamics shape TSC earnings:

  1. Government Budget: The 2024/2025 education allocation of Ksh. 650 billion (Treasury) funds TSC, constrained by a 4.3% fiscal deficit.
  2. SRC Reviews: The 2025/2026 cycle may adjust salaries by 5-10%, per historical trends.
  3. CBA Negotiations: Unions (KNUT, KUPPET, KUSNET) secured the 2021-2025 CBA, with strikes (e.g., 2023) driving increments.
  4. Qualifications: Certificate holders start at B5, diplomas at C1, and degrees at C2, with promotions tied to experience.
  5. Economic Inflation: At 5-7%, rising costs erode real income, prompting adjustments.

For businesses, these factors mirror workforce planning challenges—balancing talent retention with fiscal limits.

Implications for Kenyan Businesses

The TSC salary scale in Kenya impacts businesses in tangible ways:

  • Workforce Development: Well-paid teachers enhance literacy and skills, producing a capable labor pool—vital as education drives 20% of GDP growth (World Bank, 2024).
  • Consumer Spending: Teachers’ earnings (Ksh. 33,830 – Ksh. 222,539) fuel local economies, supporting retail and services.
  • Tax Burden: A Ksh. 900 billion public wage bill (2024, Treasury) may raise business taxes, offset by education-driven growth.
  • Stability Risks: Salary disputes (e.g., 2023 strikes) disrupt schooling, potentially affecting workforce pipelines.

A 2024 KEPSA report notes education and skills contribute 25% to employment (3 million jobs)—TSC salaries are a linchpin.

Challenges in the TSC Salary Structure

Despite progress, issues persist:

  1. Pay Gaps: Chief principals earn 5-7 times more than entry-level teachers, raising equity concerns.
  2. Inflation Pressure: Rising costs (6% CPI, 2024) outpace wage growth, especially for B5-C1 grades.
  3. Promotion Delays: Over 30,000 teachers awaited upgrades in 2024 (TSC data), stalling income growth.
  4. Rural Disparity: Hardship allowances (e.g., Ksh. 38,100 for D5) don’t fully offset urban-rural living cost gaps.

These challenges, noted in the Maraga Taskforce Report (2023), could affect teacher morale and retention—key for business stability.

Future Outlook for TSC Salaries in 2025 and Beyond

Trends suggest potential shifts:

  • 2025 SRC Review: A 5-10% hike could raise B5 to Ksh. 25,000 – Ksh. 31,000 and D5 to Ksh. 142,000 – Ksh. 170,000.
  • CBA Legacy: Post-2025, a new CBA may target rural incentives or tech roles (e.g., CBC digital skills).
  • Budget Growth: A proposed Ksh. 670 billion education budget (2025/2026) may fund raises.
  • Union Pressure: KNUT/KUPPET demands (e.g., 60% hike, 2024) could reshape scales if fiscal space allows.

For businesses, a better-paid teaching force promises enhanced education outcomes—a long-term economic boon.

How to Join TSC and Access These Salaries

Aspiring teachers can pursue this career:

  • Eligibility:
    • Primary (B5): Certificate in Education, KCSE C plain.
    • Secondary (C1/C2): Diploma (C1) or Degree (C2), C+ in teaching subjects.
    • Age: 18-35, physically fit.
  • Recruitment: Annual drives via www.tsc.go.ke (e.g., 10,000 slots in 2024).
  • Training: Pre-service at teacher colleges; in-service via TSC programs.
  • Application: Online portal, with certificates and ID.

Starting salaries of Ksh. 33,830 – Ksh. 64,412 await successful candidates, with growth to Ksh. 222,539 possible.