Salaries

Teacher Salaries in South Africa 2026

What public school teachers earn at every post level — from a newly qualified Post Level 1 classroom teacher to a Post Level 5 principal — after the April 2026 PSCBC cost-of-living adjustment.

Updated 12 May 2026 • By Thandi Mokoena • Fact-checked

4.0% pay rise effective 1 April 2026. The PSCBC and ELRC agreed a cost-of-living adjustment for all public-sector teachers (Post Levels 1–4) and management (Post Levels 5+) at the same rate. Annual notch progression continues on top.

Pay by post level (2026)

Post Level	Role	Annual range	Monthly range
Post Level 1	Classroom Educator Newly qualified to senior classroom teacher. Annual notch progression on satisfactory performance.	R262,000 – R570,000	R21,800 – R47,500
Post Level 2	HOD / Senior Teacher Head of Department, senior subject specialist. Typically requires 5+ years and an additional qualification.	R400,000 – R680,000	R33,300 – R56,700
Post Level 3	Deputy Principal Deputy Principal in larger schools. Management responsibilities, less classroom teaching.	R570,000 – R820,000	R47,500 – R68,300
Post Level 4	Principal Principal of a primary or secondary school. Pay depends on school size (P1 quintile-determined).	R720,000 – R1,070,000	R60,000 – R89,200
Post Level 5	Principal (large) Principal of a P5 quintile school. Largest schools in the country.	R1,070,000 – R1,290,000	R89,200 – R107,500

Ranges reflect entry-notch to top-notch of each post level after the April 2026 4.0% adjustment. Excludes housing allowance, rural-school allowance and 13th cheque.

REQV: how your qualification sets your starting salary

SACE assigns your teaching qualification a Relative Education Qualification Value (REQV) from 13 to 17. The higher your REQV, the higher your starting notch on the Post Level 1 scale.

REQV	Qualification	Starting salary (annual)
REQV 13	3-year teaching diploma	R248,000 – R260,000
REQV 14	4-year B.Ed. or PGCE	R262,000 – R280,000
REQV 15	Honours degree + teaching qual.	R280,000 – R298,000
REQV 16	Master's in Education	R298,000 – R320,000
REQV 17	PhD in Education	R320,000 – R345,000

Allowances and benefits

13th cheque (service bonus)

One month's salary, paid in your birth month.

Housing allowance

R1,990–R2,260/month for home-owning teachers below SMS level.

GEPF pension

Defined-benefit pension; member contributes 7.5%, employer 13%.

Medical aid subsidy

GEMS or another medical scheme; government pays 60–75% of contributions.

Rural school allowance

~8% extra for teachers at scheduled rural and deep-rural schools.

Annual notch progression

~1.5–3% per year on satisfactory performance evaluation.

Public vs private school: how the numbers compare

Private schools pay outside the ELRC framework and salaries vary widely. Rough ranges:

ISASA member schools

R25,000 – R50,000/mo

Typically benchmarked to ELRC + 10–30%. Pension and medical usually included.

Top-tier private schools

R45,000 – R95,000/mo

Hilton, Bishops, St Stithians, Roedean, etc. Significant performance and qualifications premiums.

Low-fee private schools

R12,000 – R22,000/mo

Curro, SPARK, BASA — pay typically below the ELRC for the equivalent post level.

International schools

R40,000 – R120,000/mo

American, British, French and German schools. Often include housing or relocation allowances.

Range, not precise figures

Your exact rand-on-payslip amount depends on your specific notch (years of service), REQV, school quintile, allowances applicable to you and the latest PSCBC settlement. Treat these as a guide — your payslip is the binding number.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a teacher earn in South Africa in 2026?+

A newly qualified Post Level 1 teacher with a 4-year B.Ed. (REQV 14) earns around R262,000–R280,000 per year (~R21,800–R23,300/month) at the bottom notch. At the top of Post Level 1 (30+ years of service), the salary reaches roughly R570,000 a year. Department heads and principals earn between R400,000 and R1,290,000 depending on post level and school size.

What is REQV and why does it matter?+

REQV (Relative Education Qualification Value) is the rating SACE assigns to your teaching qualification. It determines your starting notch on the salary scale: a 3-year diploma is REQV 13, a 4-year B.Ed. is REQV 14, and so on up to REQV 17 (PhD). Higher REQV = higher starting salary.

What is the difference between PSCBC and ELRC?+

The PSCBC (Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council) sets the broad cost-of-living adjustment for all public-sector employees. The ELRC (Education Labour Relations Council) is the education-sector chamber that converts the PSCBC agreement into the specific teacher pay tables. Both are tripartite (government, unions, employer) bodies.

Do private school teachers earn more?+

On average, yes — but the range is wider. Independent schools pay anywhere from R20,000 to R80,000+ per month depending on the school. ISASA schools (Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa) typically benchmark to public-sector levels +10–30%. Top private schools (Hilton, Bishops, St Stithians, Roedean) pay significantly more.

Do teachers get a 13th cheque?+

Yes. Public-sector teachers receive a service bonus equal to one month's salary, paid in the month of their birthday.

What allowances do teachers receive?+

Housing allowance (~R1,990–R2,260/month for home-owning teachers below SMS level), GEPF pension membership, partial medical aid subsidy, leave gratuity on retirement, and rural school allowance for teachers in qualifying schools.

When are teacher salaries paid?+

On the 15th of each month for most provinces, or the previous working day if the 15th falls on a weekend or public holiday. The 13th cheque is paid in your birth month.

Sources

· DPSA Circular No. 15 of 2026 — 4.0% cost-of-living adjustment effective 1 April 2026.
· Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) post-level salary scales.
· SACE Relative Education Qualification Value (REQV) framework.
· SAOU teacher salary scale publications (2025/26 school year).

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