Government approves 20% pay rise for teachers from 1 September

In 2026, teachers’ salaries will increase in two stages. Following a 30% increase in January, the basic salaries of teaching staff will rise by a further 20% from 1 September. Overall, teachers’ salaries will rise by 50% over the year compared with last year.

Importantly, this is not a bonus but an increase in the basic salary itself. Since bonuses and allowances are calculated on the basis of this basic salary, the total monthly salary will also increase.

However, from 1 September, it is not only the amount of pay that will change, but also the mechanism by which it is calculated. Educational institutions are gradually transitioning to a new system, which involves moving away from the Unified Pay Scale. Instead of pay grades, basic salaries will be determined by coefficients applied to a base amount of UAH 28,885.

What exactly will change?

  • The minimum basic salary for teaching staff will be 1.6 times the minimum wage;
  • the allowance of UAH 2,600 for adverse working conditions is included directly in the basic salary, so it will also affect the amount of other allowances;
  • the minimum prestige allowance will be 20%, and the maximum 30%. The specific amount within these limits will be determined by the founder of the educational institution, which is the local government;
  • a separate allowance of UAH 2,600 has been retained for school teachers working in person in frontline areas. Local governments may also establish such a supplement for teaching staff at other educational institutions;
  • a teacher’s full monthly salary, including allowances and supplements, will range from UAH 16.600 to 37,000 gross.

The pay reform will not be limited to schools. The new mechanism is set to be introduced gradually to cover teaching and academic staff at all types of educational institutions.

At the same time, another important change comes into effect on 1 September – the trialling of new textbooks for Grades 1, 5, and 10. Teachers will work with the new teaching materials directly during lessons, evaluate them, and provide recommendations to the authors before they go into mass production.

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