Average Salary in Kenya (2026): KNBS Earnings by Sector and Costs
Average annual earnings per employee in Kenya were KSh 988,200 in 2025 (about KSh 82,350 or US$636 a month) according to the KNBS Economic Survey 2026, with the private sector at KSh 1,042,467 a year, a Nairobi minimum wage of KSh 18,047 a month, and statutory employer costs of about 7.5 percent.
Average earnings per wage employee in Kenya were KSh 988,200 a year in 2025, about KSh 82,350 a month or US$636, according to the Economic Survey 2026 published by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). Private-sector employees averaged KSh 1,042,467 a year and public-sector employees KSh 874,300. Those figures describe the roughly 3.3 million Kenyans in formal wage employment; the far larger informal sector earns much less, and the gazetted minimum wage for a general laborer in Nairobi is KSh 18,047 a month. A US or UK company hiring a customer service agent in Nairobi should budget KSh 25,000 to 40,000 a month in salary plus about 7.5 percent in statutory contributions.
Exchange rate and dates
All dollar figures use the mid-market rate of KSh 129.53 per US dollar for 19 September 2026. The shilling has been unusually stable since 2024, so dollar comparisons for Kenya are more durable than for most countries in this series.
The Official Numbers
KNBS derives average earnings from the annual survey of employers that feeds the Economic Survey, so the figures cover formal ("modern sector") wage employment only. In 2025 overall average annual earnings rose 5.9 percent to KSh 988,200. Private-sector earnings rose 7.9 percent to KSh 1,042,467, and public-sector earnings rose 1.5 percent to KSh 874,300, so private pay now exceeds public pay by about 19 percent. Adjusted for inflation, real average earnings were KSh 678,800 in 2025 against KSh 665,400 in 2024, a gain of 2 percent, with the private sector up 3.9 percent and the public sector down 2.2 percent. KNBS does not publish a median.
The gap between these averages and what most Kenyan employees earn is large. Total wage employment was about 3.3 million in 2025 against a working population several times that size, and within formal employment the average is lifted by finance, energy and international organizations. Aggregator pages quote everything from KSh 25,000 to KSh 120,000 a month as "the average salary in Kenya"; the low figures come from small self-reported samples and the high ones from professional job boards. One data vendor still shows KSh 70,000 (US$540) for June 2024, an older year of the same KNBS series. The KNBS Table 3.7 figures are the reference.
Minimum Wage in Kenya
Kenya sets minimum wages by occupation and by location under the Regulation of Wages (General) Order. The 2026 amendment, gazetted as Legal Notice 108 of 26 June 2026, raised general minimum wages by 12 percent and agricultural minimum wages by 15 percent, effective retroactively from 1 May 2026.
| Occupation and location (basic monthly minimum, 2026) | KSh | USD |
|---|---|---|
| General laborer, cleaner: Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret | KSh 18,047.40 | $139 |
| General laborer: former municipalities and Mavoko, Ruiru, Limuru | KSh 16,650.95 | $129 |
| General laborer: all other areas | KSh 9,628.07 | $74 |
| General clerk, telephone operator, receptionist: major cities | About KSh 27,800 (2025 gazetted KSh 24,818.31 plus the 12 percent uplift) | $215 |
| Cashier: major cities | About KSh 40,700 (2025 gazetted KSh 36,360.92 plus 12 percent) | $314 |
The clerical and cashier figures are derived by applying the 12 percent increase to the 2025 rates published in the Economic Survey; check the gazette schedule for the exact 2026 amounts before setting a contract. Minimum wages exclude the housing allowance, which employers must pay separately (15 percent of basic pay is the usual figure) unless housing is provided.
Salaries by Industry
KNBS Table 3.7 gives private-sector average annual earnings by industry. Converted to monthly:
| Industry (private sector, 2025) | Average annual earnings | Monthly | USD monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, gas and steam | KSh 2,619,109 | KSh 218,259 | $1,685 |
| Financial and insurance activities | KSh 2,618,182 | KSh 218,182 | $1,684 |
| Professional, scientific and technical | KSh 2,001,084 | KSh 166,757 | $1,287 |
| Administrative and support services (includes BPO) | KSh 1,990,535 | KSh 165,878 | $1,281 |
| Transportation and storage | KSh 1,751,913 | KSh 145,993 | $1,127 |
| Information and communication | KSh 1,438,060 | KSh 119,838 | $925 |
| Education | KSh 1,135,297 | KSh 94,608 | $730 |
| Wholesale and retail trade | KSh 1,134,834 | KSh 94,570 | $730 |
| All private sector | KSh 1,042,467 | KSh 86,872 | $671 |
| Construction | KSh 907,956 | KSh 75,663 | $584 |
| Manufacturing | KSh 874,301 | KSh 72,858 | $562 |
| Accommodation and food service | KSh 498,642 | KSh 41,554 | $321 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | KSh 434,638 | KSh 36,220 | $280 |
The administrative and support services line, where outsourcers are classified, averages KSh 165,878 a month because it mixes a small number of well-paid managers and specialists with large numbers of agents. It is not an agent's salary; the role table below is.
What Remote and BPO Roles Pay
Kenya's outsourcing sector serves English-language voice, chat, content moderation and data annotation work from Nairobi, with growing hubs in Mombasa and Kisumu. Market ranges:
| Role | Monthly range (KSh) | Monthly range (USD) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Call center agent, Nairobi | KSh 25,000 to 40,000, average about KSh 35,000 | $193 to $309 | Glassdoor Nairobi, 134 submissions, mid-2026 |
| Customer service representative | Average KSh 22,854 (KSh 274,245 a year) | $176 | PayScale, 156 profiles, July 2026 |
| Administrative assistant (virtual assistant equivalent) | Average KSh 30,711 (KSh 368,533 a year) | $237 | PayScale, 230 profiles, July 2026 |
| Accountant | Average KSh 40,498 (KSh 485,976 a year) | $313 | PayScale, 470 profiles, July 2026 |
| Software developer | Average KSh 41,050 (KSh 492,605 a year), up to the ICT sector average of KSh 119,838 | $317 to $925 | PayScale, 86 profiles, March 2026; KNBS Table 3.7 |
International BPOs serving US and UK clients pay at the top of the agent band and add night-shift allowances, and entry-level salary surveys from BrighterMonday and Fuzu put a first job at KSh 28,000 to 32,000 plus performance bonuses. PayScale's developer average of about KSh 41,000 a month is well below what Nairobi's fintech and international employers advertise; its 86-profile sample skews to junior roles, which is why the table pairs it with the KNBS industry average as an upper bound.
What It Costs to Employ Someone in Kenya
Kenya's statutory payroll costs rose sharply between 2023 and 2026 as the NSSF Act's phased contribution increases took effect and the Affordable Housing Levy was introduced, but the employer share remains modest by regional standards.
| Charge | Employer | Employee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSSF (pension), Tier I | 6% of pay up to KSh 9,000 | 6% | From 1 February 2026 |
| NSSF, Tier II | 6% of pay between KSh 9,000 and KSh 108,000 | 6% | Maximum KSh 6,480 each per month |
| Affordable Housing Levy | 1.5% of gross | 1.5% | Remitted to KRA |
| SHIF (health insurance) | None | 2.75% of gross, no cap | Employee-only deduction |
| NITA training levy | KSh 50 per employee per month | None |
Worked example for a call center agent at KSh 35,000 a month:
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross salary | KSh 35,000 |
| NSSF employer 6% (Tier I KSh 540 plus Tier II KSh 1,560) | KSh 2,100 |
| Affordable Housing Levy 1.5% | KSh 525 |
| NITA levy | KSh 50 |
| Monthly employer cost | KSh 37,675 (US$291) |
The employee's own deductions on that salary are NSSF KSh 2,100, SHIF KSh 963, housing levy KSh 525 and PAYE, so take-home is roughly KSh 29,000. Kenya has no statutory 13th month. Paid leave is 21 working days a year plus public holidays, and gratuity or service pay applies where there is no pension scheme.
Salary Trends
Nominal earnings grew 5.9 percent in 2025 against annual inflation of 4.1 percent, giving the 2 percent real gain KNBS reports. Inflation has since picked up: the KNBS consumer price index showed 6.6 percent annual inflation in August 2026, driven by transport, food and housing costs, so a 2025-level raise would leave real pay flat in 2026. The 12 percent minimum wage increase from May 2026 followed several years without adjustment and mainly affects manual and clerical floors rather than BPO pay, which was already above them. The five-year picture is that private-sector earnings rose 26 percent between 2020 and 2025 while public-sector earnings rose 8.7 percent, so the private sector, including outsourcing, is where wage growth is concentrated.
How US and UK Companies Pay Workers in Kenya
An employer of record in Kenya registers the employee with NSSF, the Social Health Authority and KRA, pays the housing levy and NITA fee, and issues the written contract the Employment Act requires. Contractor arrangements are common for developers and content specialists paid through platforms, but Kenyan courts apply a control test, and misclassified contractors can claim leave, notice and NSSF arrears. A local company is straightforward to register and Kenya has no exchange controls, so companies that reach a few dozen staff often incorporate. The Kenya labor law guide covers hours, overtime at 150 and 200 percent, leave and termination; the EOR cost guide compares provider fees. For Kenya against South Africa, Egypt and the Philippines, see the nearshore versus offshore comparison and the labor cost calculation guide for BPOs.
Tracking Time and Attendance for a Team in Kenya
The Employment Act sets a 52-hour week for ordinary hours, pays overtime at 150 percent on weekdays and 200 percent on rest days and public holidays, and requires employers to keep a written record of hours and wages. Nairobi is three hours ahead of London and eight ahead of US Eastern time, so US-facing shifts run overnight and night allowances matter. HiveDesk records hours automatically from the desktop and mobile apps, captures periodic screenshots, and produces timesheets for approval, with scheduling, attendance and leave management in the single $5 per user per month plan, so shift premiums are calculated from verified hours rather than manual entries.
Automatic time tracking, screenshots, schedules and timesheets for $5 per user per month. 14-day free trial, no credit card.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good salary in Kenya?
Anything above the private-sector average of about KSh 86,900 a month is a good formal-sector salary. KSh 100,000 a month (about US$770) is comfortably above average in every industry except finance, energy and professional services.
Is $100 a lot in Kenya?
US$100 is about KSh 13,000, less than the Nairobi minimum wage for a general laborer (KSh 18,047) and about three days of pay for a mid-range call center agent. It is not a lot as a monthly amount, though it covers a week of basic living costs outside the capital.
What is the average salary in Kenya per month?
About KSh 82,350 a month across all formal wage employees in 2025, KSh 86,872 in the private sector and KSh 72,858 in the public sector, from the KNBS Economic Survey 2026.
What is the minimum wage in Kenya in 2026?
KSh 18,047.40 a month for a general laborer in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret, KSh 16,650.95 in former municipalities and KSh 9,628.07 elsewhere, from 1 May 2026, excluding the housing allowance. Clerical and skilled occupations have higher gazetted floors.
Is Kenya expensive to live in?
Nairobi is the most expensive city in East Africa, and rents in the neighborhoods where BPO staff live have risen faster than wages. August 2026 inflation of 6.6 percent, with transport costs up 15.7 percent, is the current pressure on household budgets.
What is the average salary in Kenya in USD?
About US$636 a month across all formal employees, or US$671 in the private sector, at the September 2026 rate of KSh 129.5 to the dollar.
Sources
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Economic Survey 2026 (April 2026), Tables 3.7, 3.9 and 3.13 and paragraphs 3.13 to 3.15; accessed 19 September 2026. Summary page: KNBS Economic Survey 2026
- The Star, "Wage order sparks hope, pressure as Kenya balances workers' pay and business survival", 6 July 2026, reporting Legal Notice 108 of 2026; the order itself is at Kenya Law
- FNJ and Associates, "Statutory payroll deductions in Kenya: the 2026 complete employer compliance guide", 15 July 2026, and PaySpace, "Kenya NSSF rates update 2026", 9 February 2026, for NSSF, SHIF, housing levy and NITA rates
- KNBS, CPI and inflation rates, August 2026, reported by The Kenya Times
- Glassdoor, Call Center Agent salaries in Nairobi, Kenya, mid-2026
- PayScale Kenya pages for customer service representative, administrative assistant, accountant and software developer, updated March to July 2026
- Open Exchange Rates API, USD base, 19 September 2026
See the other salary guides by country for South Africa, Egypt, the Philippines and the rest of the series.