The Department of Basic Education has gazetted the official changes to the salary tables for teachers in South Africa, which will kick in retroactively from 1 April 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The gazette gives effect to the 5.5% wage increase secured by public sector unions earlier in the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In February 2025, public sector unions agreed to a multi-year wage increase with the government that will see salaries increase by 5.5% from 1 April 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The agreement also included CPI-linked adjustments for 2026 and 2027, capped at 6% and bottoming out at 4% to contain any wild inflation fluctuations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teacher salaries in South Africa are structured around specific bands and ‘notches’ that vary according to experience level and position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lowest bands represent newly qualified entry-level teachers. The notches and bands increase as teachers gain more experience and take on more responsibilities in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The upper bands represent the higher tiers of teaching and school management, typically reflecting the levels of principals or department heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Salaries are split across 432 “notches” as determined by the DBE and vary according to Relative Education Qualification Value (REQV) levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are standardised levels representing the level of education and qualifications teachers hold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
REQV 10-12 represent teachers with matric and some relevant training, while REQV 13 and above have diplomas and degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lowest notch (001) reflects the lowest salary a teacher in South Africa can earn. This was R154,671 from 1 April 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the 5.5% increase for 2025, this has risen to R163,179 in 2025.<\/strong> This is an entry point of R13,600 per month.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The upper end of the range, notch 432, reflects the highest salary in the sector, totalling R1,209,279 in 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Factoring in the 5.5% increase, this has risen to R1,275,789 in 2025. This is a maximum of R106,300 per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It should also be noted that teachers also receive benefits such as pension contributions, medical aid subsidies, housing allowances, and bonuses, so their total packages may be higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n South Africa is currently suffering from a shortage of skilled teachers, particularly those qualified to teach mathematics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Department of Basic Education recently revealed that 464 public schools do not offer mathematics to their learners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It noed that, while mathematics is a high-priority subject, schools may be under-resourced or even lack demand for it to be taught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This includes limited enrolment in the mathematics stream, making it unviable to run a full class, or there being a shortage of qualified mathematics teachers to teach it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is also a question of budget allocations, and what resources are available for the department to get the right skills in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mugwena Maluleke, general secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers Union, said that the shortage of skilled maths teachers also boils down to poor human resource planning by the department.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGeneral Classroom Teacher Pay 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Role<\/th> Notches<\/th> Min Salary
2024<\/th>Max Salary
2024<\/th>Min Salary
2025<\/th>Max Salary
2025<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>Teacher REQV 10-12<\/td> 1-106<\/td> R154,671<\/td> R254,037<\/td> R163,179<\/strong><\/td> R268,008<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Teacher REQV 10-12<\/td> 108-268<\/td> R256,395<\/td> R547,305<\/td> R270,498<\/strong><\/td> R577,407<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Senior Teacher REQV 13<\/td> 200-268<\/td> R393,402<\/td> R547,305<\/td> R415,038<\/strong><\/td> R577,407<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Master Teacher REQV 13<\/td> 232-268<\/td> R460,539<\/td> R547,305<\/td> R485,868<\/strong><\/td> R577,407<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Teacher REQV 14-17<\/td> 164-326<\/td> R333,624<\/td> R723,798<\/td> R351,972<\/strong><\/td> R763,608<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Senior Teacher REQV 14-17<\/td> 200-326<\/td> R393,402<\/td> R723,798<\/td> R415,038<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> R763,608<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Master Teacher REQV 14-17<\/td> 232-326<\/td> R460,539<\/td> R723,798<\/td> R485,868<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> R763,608<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n School Management Pay 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Role<\/th> Notches<\/th> Min Salary
2024<\/th>Max Salary
2024<\/th>Min Salary
2025<\/th>Max Salary
2025<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>Departmental Head<\/td> 210-392<\/td> R412,551<\/td> R997,836<\/td> R435,240<\/strong><\/td> R1,052,718<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Deputy Principal<\/td> 244-408<\/td> R487,737<\/td> R1,078,725<\/td> R514,563<\/strong><\/td> R1,138,056<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Principal P5 (highest P level)<\/td> 350-432<\/td> R813,675<\/td> R1,209,279<\/td> R858,426<\/strong><\/td> R1,275,789<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Skilled teachers needed in South Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n