Ukraine to Increase Teacher Salaries by 30% Starting January 2026.

Substantial Pay Rise for Ukrainian Educators

According to Novyny.live: Ukrainian teachers are set to receive a significant 30% salary increase effective January 1, 2026. This change results from a Cabinet of Ministers decree (No. 1749) adopted on December 26, 2025. The new base rate of the Unified Tariff Schedule for 2026 will be set at 3,470 Ukrainian hryvnias (UAH). This reform is part of broader efforts to strengthen the education sector following years of strain.

Revised Pay Scales for Academic and Teaching Staff

Under the updated pay structure, the minimum salary for academic and pedagogical staff will see an even larger rise of 40%. As of February 2026, the salary range for a department head (professor) will be between 17,683 and 18,703 UAH. A professor's salary will be 17,683 UAH, while an associate professor (docent) will earn 16,614 UAH. Senior lecturers will receive 14,574 UAH, and lecturers or assistants will get 13,553 UAH. Trainee lecturers will be paid 12,533 UAH.

Notably, the salary for a university rector under the Unified Tariff Schedule in February 2026 will exceed 20,000 UAH. The primary goals of these salary hikes are to improve working conditions for educators and enhance the profession's prestige.

These adjustments to the pay for teachers and academic staff reflect the state's commitment to raising the social standing of educators and improving their working conditions.

The salary increases are expected to help attract new talent to the education field and boost motivation among existing professionals. This, in turn, could have a positive impact on the overall quality of educational services in Ukraine.