You’re probably here because you saw that payslip and thought, “Hii ni ya mwaka gani?” Or maybe you’re a P1 teacher in Kisumu eyeing that promotion to Deputy Head, wondering if the stress is worth the extra coins. We get it. Money talks, especially with the cost of everything from Unga to school fees going up.
This article breaks down the latest Teachers Service Commission (TSC) salary scales for 2024. No jargon, no long stories. We’ll cover the basic salary for every job group, the mandatory allowances that boost your take-home, and how things like promotions and house allowances in different towns affect your final pay. Let’s get into the numbers.
TSC Salary Scales: The 2024 Breakdown
The TSC salary structure is based on job groups, from B5 to D5. Each group has a salary scale with minimum and maximum points. Your basic pay depends on your job group and your current point on that scale, which increases annually.
The latest major review was the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). We’re now in the final phases, so these are the current rates. Remember, this is the basic salary before any allowances are added.
Primary School Teachers Salary (P1)
If you’re a P1 teacher, you’re in Job Group B5. Your basic salary starts at Ksh 21,756 and can grow to a maximum of Ksh 27,195. This is the entry point for most diploma teachers.
Promotion to Senior Teacher (Job Group C1) moves you to a scale starting at Ksh 27,195. That’s a significant jump for taking on more responsibility.
Secondary School Teachers Salary
For graduate teachers (C2), the scale starts at Ksh 34,955 and goes up to Ksh 43,694. If you’re a Senior Master (C4), you start at Ksh 45,847.
Heads of Department (HoDs) and Deputy Principals fall in higher job groups (C5, D1), with scales beginning from Ksh 52,308 and Ksh 77,840 respectively. The Principal of a large National School (D5) can earn a basic salary of up to Ksh 131,380.
Allowances That Boost Your Pay
The basic salary is just one part. Allowances are where your pay packet gets real muscle. The TSC pays several mandatory allowances.
The main ones are:
- House Allowance: This varies by your job group and where your school is located. We’ll break this down in detail next.
- Commuter Allowance: A fixed amount for daily travel, ranging from Ksh 4,000 to Ksh 16,000 depending on job group.
- Hardship Allowance: For teachers in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). It ranges from Ksh 6,600 to Ksh 38,100.
- Leave Allowance: Paid once a year, typically Ksh 6,000.
The Kenyan-Specific Factor: Location, Location, Allowance!
In Kenya, your address is a salary factor. Your house allowance isn’t a flat rate. The TSC classifies areas into four clusters, and this can make a difference of tens of thousands of shillings for the same job.
This is a practical tip you need to know: If you’re transferring from a school in Voi (Cluster 2) to one in Nairobi (Cluster 4), your house allowance could more than double. Always confirm your school’s cluster before moving.
House Allowance Clusters and Real Kenyan Towns
Let’s put real Kenyan towns to these clusters so you can relate:
- Cluster 1: Mainly rural areas. A C2 teacher here gets Ksh 7,500. Think smaller towns and countryside locations.
- Cluster 2: Former municipalities. Allowance is Ksh 10,000 for C2. This includes towns like Kericho, Bungoma, or Naivasha.
- Cluster 3: Major cities/towns. Allowance is Ksh 16,500 for C2. This covers Kisumu, Mombasa (Island), Eldoret, and Thika.
- Cluster 4 (Nairobi): The capital city. A C2 teacher in Nairobi gets a house allowance of Ksh 28,000. This is why a job in Nairobi CBD or its estates like Donholm or Kasarani comes with a major premium.
This system directly impacts your lifestyle. That Ksh 28,000 in Nairobi might just cover a decent two-bedroom in areas like Kariobangi South, but during the rainy season, factor in extra for boda boda if the roads flood. In Cluster 2 towns, the same amount of money could get you a much bigger space.
How Promotions Change Your TSC Salary Scale
Moving up the TSC ladder isn’t just about prestige. It’s a concrete financial shift to a new job group with a higher basic salary scale and increased allowances.
For example, moving from a Secondary Teacher (C2) to Senior Master (C4) bumps your basic salary entry point by over Ksh 10,000. Your house and commuter allowances also increase accordingly.
The process involves interviews, internal assessments, and sometimes waiting for a vacancy. But the pay jump is a clear motivator to apply for that senior position when it’s advertised in the local dailies or on the TSC portal.
Calculating Your Net Pay: The Deductions
Your gross pay (Basic + Allowances) isn’t what hits your bank account. Key deductions are a reality every teacher knows.
Mandatory deductions include:
- Pay As You Earn (PAYE): Your income tax. It increases as you earn more.
- National Social Security Fund (NSSF): Ksh 600 for Tier I and 6% of your pensionable earnings for Tier II.
- National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF): Rates are scaled. Earning Ksh 50,000 means a deduction of Ksh 1,700 monthly.
- Pension Deduction: Teachers contribute 7.5% of their basic salary to the pension scheme.
Always check your payslip, especially after a promotion or transfer, to ensure these deductions are calculated correctly.
Where to Get Official TSC Information
Rumours about salary increments spread faster than wildfire on teachers’ WhatsApp groups. Avoid the gossip. Get information from the source.
The only official sources for the TSC salary scale and updates are:
- The Teachers Service Commission website (www.tsc.go.ke).
- Official TSC circulars sent to your school’s head.
- The TSC headquarters at Upper Hill, Kilimanjaro Avenue, Nairobi. You can visit or call for verified queries.
Do not rely on unverified blogs or social media posts. A wrong decision based on rumours can cost you.
Key Takeaways and Your Next Step
Understanding the TSC salary scale is crucial for planning your career and finances. Your total pay is a combination of your basic salary (determined by job group and scale point) and several allowances, with the house allowance being heavily influenced by your specific work location in Kenya.
Promotions offer the most significant pay jumps by moving you to a higher job group. Always factor in the standard deductions to estimate your realistic take-home pay. For the most accurate and current figures, always refer directly to the TSC’s official communications.
Got a specific question about your job group or allowance? Share it in the comments below—let’s help each other figure it out. For more details on the promotion process, look out for our next article on how to successfully apply for a TSC promotion interview.
