TSC Teachers Salary and Scale and Allowances in Kenya (2025 Guide)

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) plays a crucial role in shaping Kenya’s education sector not just through hiring and policy, but also by determining the salary scales and allowances of public school teachers. Understanding the TSC teachers salary and scale and allowances in Kenya is vital for every aspiring and practicing educator.

In this comprehensive guide, we explore:

• Current TSC salary scales by job group
• Allowances and benefits
• Promotion structures
• Visual comparisons with other civil servants
• Frequently asked questions

Whether you’re a new teacher, a seasoned educator, or just curious about Kenya’s public sector pay structure, this resource provides full clarity.

What Is the Teachers Service Commission (TSC)?

The TSC is a constitutional body mandated to:

• Recruit, manage, and remunerate public school teachers
• Register and appraise teachers
• Handle promotions and disciplinary actions

Teachers under TSC fall into:

• Primary School Teachers
• Secondary School Teachers
• Special Needs Education Teachers

Since the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), TSC has implemented a harmonized and progressive salary structure to match responsibilities and qualifications.

TSC Teachers Salary Scale and Job Groups in Kenya

TSC groups teachers by grades/job groups ranging from B5 to D5. Each job group has a basic salary range with annual increments.

TSC Teachers Salary Scale Table (2025)

Job Group	Grade	Designation	Basic Salary (KES)	Monthly Increment
B5	Entry Level	Primary Teacher II	21,756 – 27,195	KES 1,439
C1	Junior Level	Primary Teacher I	27,195 – 33,994	KES 1,500
C2	Graduate Level	Secondary Teacher II	34,955 – 43,694	KES 1,700
C3	Experienced	Senior Teacher	43,154 – 53,943	KES 1,890
C4	Middle Management	Deputy Principal III	52,308 – 65,385	KES 2,130
D1–D5	Senior Management	Principals & Directors	Up to 157,656	KES 2,500+

Note: These figures are based on the latest CBA and reflect the gross monthly salary before deductions such as NHIF, NSSF, and PAYE.

To understand how PAYE affects your salary, you can use our Free Excel Template to Auto-Calculate PAYE and ensure compliance with the 2024 tax calendar.

TSC Allowances for Teachers in Kenya

TSC teachers enjoy various allowances in addition to their basic pay. These are determined by:

• Job group
• Geographical posting (urban vs hardship areas)
• Special responsibilities

Key Allowances Paid to TSC Teachers

1. House Allowance – Varies based on job group and location
2. Commuter Allowance – KES 4,000 to 8,000
3. Hardship Allowance – Paid to teachers in remote/harsh regions
4. Special School Allowance – For teachers in special needs institutions
5. Responsibility Allowance – For heads of departments and school administrators
6. Leave Allowance – Paid annually with January salary

TSC Allowance Table by Grade and Location

Allowance Type	Job Group	Urban (KES)	Hardship (KES)
House Allowance	C2	16,500	12,800
Commuter Allowance	All Grades	4,000–8,000	4,000–8,000
Hardship Allowance	B5–D5	N/A	6,600–38,100
Special School	C1–C4	Flat Rate	10,000
Leave Allowance	All Grades	Flat Rate	6,000–10,000

Guide to TSC Promotion and Salary Progression

Teachers can move up the ranks through:

• Experience (minimum years served)
• Academic upgrades (Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD)
• Performance appraisals via TPAD (Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development)
• Subject mastery and contribution to school performance

Promotion Process Explained

1. Start at Grade B5 – New primary school teacher
2. Serve 3–4 years with positive TPAD scores
3. Attend TPD courses (Teacher Professional Development)
4. Apply for promotion to Grade C1
5. Repeat the process as you gain experience, move up to C2, C3, and beyond

How TSC Teachers Salary Compares with Other Civil Servants

To understand the contextual relevance, let’s compare TSC teachers with other public service professionals like nurses and police officers.

TSC Teachers vs Other Civil Servants (2025 Monthly Salary)

plaintextCopyEdit| Category           | Entry-Level Pay (KES) | Max Pay (KES) |
|--------------------|------------------------|---------------|
| TSC Teachers       | 21,756                 | 157,656       |
| Female Nurses      | 23,369                 | 120,000       |
| Police Officers    | 18,760                 | 110,000       |

See our full guide on Female Nurse Salary in Kenya for more detailed comparisons.

How to Access Your TSC Payslip Online (Step by Step)

Your TSC payslip provides a detailed breakdown of:

• Basic salary
• Allowances
• Deductions (NHIF, NSSF, PAYE)
• Net pay

Steps to Check Your TSC Payslip Online

1. Visit the TSC online portal
2. Click on ‘Online Services’ > ‘Payslips’
3. Log in using your TSC number and password
4. Download the latest payslip PDF
5. Verify all entries: salary, allowances, deductions

Deductions on TSC Teachers’ Salary

Here’s a quick look at statutory deductions applied to teachers’ gross salary:

Deduction Type	Rate/Amount	Applies To
PAYE	Graduated Tax	All
NHIF	KES 500–1,700	All
NSSF	KES 200	All
Union Fees	2% of basic	Union Members

For automatic calculations, use our Free Excel PAYE Calculator.

Common Misconceptions About TSC Pay

Let’s debunk some widespread myths:

• “TSC teachers get automatic annual promotions.”
  Promotions are merit based through TPAD and academic upgrades.
• “Allowances are uniform across Kenya.”
  Allowances vary significantly based on job group and work location.
• “Interns earn full TSC salary.”
  Interns earn a stipend of around KES 20,000–25,000 per month without full benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Final Thoughts

Understanding the full TSC teachers salary and scale and allowances in Kenya gives clarity to both career planning and financial forecasting. As we’ve seen, the structure is tiered, merit-based, and influenced by external factors like job location and performance.

Be sure to stay up to date with salary changes, use accurate PAYE calculators, and take advantage of promotions through continued professional development.