Salary guide · Kenya
Average salary in Kenya? What job adverts actually state per month
We don't publish an average salary, because we have no figure we'd trust for the whole country. Here's what open adverts on Work.ke state, counted at every update, with the limits of those numbers.
The middle figure across the 164 open adverts on Work.ke that state monthly pay is KES 35,000, counting the lowest number each advert prints. That's not a national average. Only 176 of our 1,742 open adverts state pay at all, and 157 of those came from two recruitment agencies. On KES 35,000 gross, you'd take home about KES 29,559.37.
| Stated pay | Adverts | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20,000 | 14 | 9% |
| 20,000 to 29,999 | 31 | 19% |
| 30,000 to 49,999 | 68 | 41% |
| 50,000 to 79,999 | 30 | 18% |
| 80,000 to 119,999 | 12 | 7% |
| 120,000 to 199,999 | 6 | 4% |
| 200,000 and up | 3 | 2% |
Counted from the Work.ke catalogue as of 3 November 2026. Each advert counts once, at the lowest monthly figure it prints, in KES. We count the amount as printed. Adverts among these that say the figure is net: 0. Adverts with no monthly figure in KES aren't counted.
What these numbers can and can't tell you
They show what employers and agencies were willing to print in adverts we track. They don't show what the country earns, and they lean heavily one way:
- 173 of the 176 adverts stating pay came through recruitment agencies. Many senior jobs and large employers don't print pay at all.
- 157 adverts came from just two agencies, so their clients shape the result.
- The lowest stated figure ranged from KES 10,000 to KES 450,000.
- Some adverts add commission on top, and some include housing or meals. A number alone doesn't show that.
Pay stated by field
We only show a field with at least eight adverts. Middle means half the adverts in that field start below this figure and half above. It isn't a typical salary for any job.
| Field | Adverts | Lowest | Middle | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales and Marketing | 45 | 15,000 | 35,000 | 150,000 |
| Operations | 26 | 18,000 | 35,000 | 150,000 |
| Finance and Accounting | 13 | 15,000 | 30,000 | 80,000 |
| Engineering | 13 | 25,000 | 35,000 | 250,000 |
| Hospitality | 11 | 10,000 | 20,000 | 50,000 |
| Administration | 10 | 22,500 | 30,000 | 50,000 |
| Human Resources | 8 | 40,000 | 60,000 | 450,000 |
Small counts move a lot from week to week. For a real job, use the advert's own figure or ask.
How to use this when someone asks your expected salary
Start with what you need in hand, then work back to gross. If you need KES 30,000 a month after deductions, you'd need about KES 35,700 gross. Then compare that with the adverts for your own field and the gazetted minimum for your job and area. If the advert prints a range, you have the employer's own number to work with.
Pay under the legal floor
Some adverts state figures that may sit under the gazetted minimum for that job, depending on where the job is. We aren't saying any employer has broken the law: we often can't tell the exact town or what housing comes with the job. Before you accept, check your job and your area against the wage table, and ask whether housing is free. A monthly employee without free housing is owed a housing allowance of 15% of the basic minimum wage on top.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Kenya per month?
We don't publish a national average. On our own board, the middle of the lowest stated pay is KES 35,000 a month across 164 adverts, as of 3 November 2026. That only covers adverts that print pay.
Is KES 35,000 a good salary in Kenya?
We can tell you the sum, not whether it's enough for you. It leaves about KES 29,559.37 a month after deductions. Compare that with your rent, transport and family costs.
Why do so few adverts state pay?
Many employers choose not to print it. Only 176 of our 1,742 open adverts do. You can still ask about the budget before you go far in the process.
Sources
Checked 2 November 2026. Each figure retains the period and scope of its source.
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