TSC Starting Salary and Allowances for Secondary School Teachers in Kenya Explained.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has released the current salary structure and allowances for newly employed secondary school teachers under the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
According to TSC, entry-level teachers are appointed under the position of Secondary Teacher II, which is classified under Grade C2 (TSC Scale 7). This grade applies to qualified and registered teachers who are university graduates joining the teaching service for the first time.
Salary
TSC has confirmed that the basic salary for teachers in Grade C2 is between Ksh. 41,400 and Ksh. 57,200 per month. These are the gross salary before statutory deductions which include:
- Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax
- National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) contribution
- Pension contribution
Allowances
In addition to the basic salary, secondary school teachers are entitled to several allowances. TSC has indicated that these allowances are structured according to location, job group or specific teacher categories.
1. House Allowance
The house allowance is categorized into four clusters based on the teacher’s duty station:
- Cluster 1 – Ksh. 16,500: Teachers in Nairobi City.
- Cluster 2 – Ksh. 12,800: Teachers in major urban centres, including Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi, and Kitale.
- Cluster 3 – Ksh. 9,600: Teachers in former or minor municipalities.
- Cluster 4 – Ksh. 7,500: Teachers in all other regions of the country.
2. Commuter Allowance
All teachers in Grade C2 get a fixed commuter allowance of Ksh. 5,000 per month, regardless of location.
3. Hardship Allowance
Teachers posted in officially designated hardship areas get a hardship allowance of Ksh. 10,900, payable uniformly under Job Group C2. The hardship areas as recognized by TSC are:
- Mandera
- Marsabit
- Kwale
- Garissa
- Wajir
- West Pokot
- Narok
- Turkana
- Kilifi
- Isiolo
- Lamu* Taita Taveta
- Tana River
- Samburu
4. Other Allowances
TSC also indicated that teachers are entitled to other allowances which include:
- Baggage Allowance – Ksh. 55 per kilometre
- Disability Guide Allowance – Ksh. 20,000
- Leave Allowance – Ksh. 6,000
TSC has confirmed that the salary structure for secondary school teachers is in line with the 2021–2025 CBA. New teachers in Grade C2 earn between Ksh. 41,400 and Ksh. 57,200 plus the above allowances.
Factors Affecting Pay for Teachers in Job Group C2
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in collaboration with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has outlined the salary structure and allowances for teachers in Job Group C2. The pay for teachers in this category is determined by several institutional and regulatory factors.
Key Factors
- Work Station
Teachers posted in urban areas get higher house allowance than those in rural areas hence the overall pay. - Special Assignments
Teachers with special assignments such as Heads of Department or Class Masters get additional responsibility allowance. - Years of Service
Pay progression in Grade C2 is based on years of service. Newly promoted teachers in this grade are placed at the lower end of the pay scale and salary increments are done as years of service advance. - Type of School
Teachers in junior secondary schools may get higher allowances than those in regular primary schools.
Salary Range
According to the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the basic salary for teachers in Job Group C2 is between Ksh 41,400 and Ksh 57,200 per month excluding allowances. Before this adjustment, teachers in this grade were earning between Ksh 36,621 and Ksh 45,776.
Allowances
TSC has confirmed that teachers in Job Group C2 are entitled to the following allowances:
- Hardship Allowance: Ksh 10,900 per month for teachers posted to designated hardship areas.
- Commuter Allowance: Ksh 5,000 per month across all stations.
- House Allowance: Variable depending on the station, higher rates in urban areas.
- Leave Allowance: Ksh 6,000 paid annually in January.
- Disability Allowance: Payable to teachers with disabilities as prescribed by TSC.
Career Progression
Movement from Job Group C2 to Job Group C3 is based on performance evaluation and appraisal standards as set by TSC. It takes an average of three to five years to progress, subject to meeting the set criteria.
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Eligibility
The Job Group C2 salary scale applies to graduate secondary school teachers who have been formally employed by the Teachers Service Commission.
Regulatory Oversight SRC has the mandate of reviewing and setting salaries for all public servants including teachers. Job groups fall under this mandate with each grade having a salary band and allowance.
TSC Starting Salary and Allowances for Secondary School Teachers in Kenya Explained.
