Highest-paid teachers to earn R1.3m – Here’s how much others will get paid

The Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, has announced the annual salary increase for teachers in South Africa, which will take effect from 1 April 2026. According to the notice, teachers’ salaries are determined by a system of salary bands and notches linked to experience and job grade. “The applicable salary adjustment effective from 01 April 2026 for the relevant categories of employees is detailed in the salary scales in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 as attached.” According to the notice, the minimum amount a teacher can earn, will increase from R163 179 in 2025 to R169 707 a year in 2026.

This equates to about R14 142 per month, and is referred to as the lowest notch and band. Teachers’ salaries are set out in the Occupation-Specific Dispensation (OSD), which places educators into salary levels based on their qualifications (known as REQV levels), years of experience, and job responsibilities. Educators are then slotted into structured salary bands and “notches,” which allow for incremental pay progression within each level.

The highest-paid teacher across the department will now earn R1 326 822 per year, from R1 275 789 in 2025. This equates to about R110 568 per month. An individual with this salary will typically be in a higher post than a normal teachers.

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The notice also includes increases for school therapists, counsellors and psychologists. Lowest-paid education therapist in grade 1 bracket will earn R413 121 per annum, from R397 233 in 2025. While the highest will earn R683 808 (grade 3 bracket) per year.

The lowest-paid Chief Education Therapist in grade 1 bracket will earn R598 260 per annum, from R575 250 in 2025. The highest will earn R756 444 (grade 2 bracket) per year.

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