Average Salary in Kenya 2026
Currency: KES · Updated for 2026
How much money does a person working in Kenya make?
Average Monthly Salary
42,380 KES
( 508,560 KES yearly )
~ 326 USD per month ( 3,912 USD yearly )
LOW
12,740 KES
98 USD
AVERAGE
42,380 KES
326 USD
HIGH
127,140 KES
978 USD
A person working in Kenya typically earns around 42,380 KES per month. Salaries range from 12,740 KES (lowest average) to 127,140 KES (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Distribution of Salaries in Kenya
Median and salary distribution monthly Kenya
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What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated.
The median (38,090 KES) represents the middle salary value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (42,380 KES) is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of workers, and can be skewed by extremely high or low salaries.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does a person's salary progress over time?
- 0–2 Years (Entry Level)254,280 KES
- 2–5 Years (Junior)330,590 KES
- 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)432,250 KES
- 10–15 Years (Experienced)508,560 KES
- 15+ Years (Senior)610,220 KES
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The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average +30% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average +31% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by +18% and an additional +20% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
“On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years experience mark.”
Salary Comparison By Education
How does the education level affect your salary?
- High School305,110 KES
- Certificate355,940 KES
- Associate406,900 KES
- Bachelor's508,560 KES
- Master's610,220 KES
- PhD712,010 KES
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High School → Certificate
+17%
Certificate → Bachelor's
+43%
Bachelor's → Master's
+20%
Master's → PhD
+17%
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average +17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn +43% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are +20% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn +17% more than Master's Degree holders on average.
Salary Comparison By Gender
Salary comparison by gender monthly Kenya
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Kenya earn 11% more than their female counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Kenya
How much are annual salary increments? How often do employees get salary raises?
10%
Average Raise
13 months
Review Frequency
6%
Annualized Increase
Employees in Kenya are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 10% every 13 months.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in Kenya is 6%.
Bonus and Incentive Rates in Kenya
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
50%
Received Bonus
50%
No Bonus
50% of surveyed staff in Kenya reported receiving at least one form of monetary bonus.
Average Bonus Rate
5%
of annual salary
Types of Bonuses Considered:
• Individual Performance-Based Bonuses
• Company Performance Bonuses
• Goal-Based Bonuses
• Holiday / End of Year Bonuses
Top 5 Highest Paying Industries
Annual average salaries
- Legal686,530 KES
- Aviation661,180 KES
- Information Technology661,180 KES
- Banking635,700 KES
- Pharmaceuticals635,700 KES
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Salaries for Popular Jobs
Sample job titles and their average salaries
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | 1,271,400 KES | 105,950 KES |
| Pilot | 1,017,120 KES | 84,760 KES |
| Software Developer | 915,460 KES | 76,310 KES |
| Data Scientist | 864,500 KES | 72,020 KES |
| Financial Manager | 813,670 KES | 67,860 KES |
| Database Administrator | 762,840 KES | 63,570 KES |
| Engineer | 712,010 KES | 59,280 KES |
| Marketing Manager | 661,180 KES | 55,120 KES |
| Project Manager | 635,700 KES | 53,040 KES |
| Accountant | 559,390 KES | 46,670 KES |
| Hotel Manager | 508,560 KES | 42,380 KES |
| Nurse | 457,730 KES | 38,090 KES |
| Graphic Designer | 432,250 KES | 36,010 KES |
| Chef | 381,420 KES | 31,850 KES |
| Teacher | 355,940 KES | 29,640 KES |
Salary Comparison By City
Average annual salaries by city
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Nairobi | 584,870 KES |
| Mombasa | 534,040 KES |
| Kisumu | 534,040 KES |
| Nakuru | 534,040 KES |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more?
40,300 KES
Private Sector
44,460 KES
Public Sector
+10%
Public sector employees in Kenya earn 10% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Hourly Wage in Kenya
260 KES
per hour
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Kenya is 260 KES. This means that the average person in Kenya earns approximately 260 KES for every worked hour. Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (52 × 5 × 8)
Cost of Living in Kenya
Estimated monthly expenses
Rent
3,120 KES
/month
Food
1,040 KES
/month
Transport
390 KES
/month
Utilities
520 KES
/month
Compare Your Salary
See how your salary compares with the average in Kenya and explore top-paying jobs.