Ukraine to begin paying higher teacher salaries this week — Svyrydenko
Photo: press service of the Cabinet of Ministers

Teachers in Ukraine will begin receiving higher salaries this week, Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko said.

According to her, teachers’ base salaries will increase by 30% starting January 1, 2026. This marks the first stage of a broader pay rise planned for the year.

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"This is only the first step in raising teachers’ salaries. The next stage предусматриває an additional 20% increase for all categories of teachers starting September 1," Svyrydenko said in a statement.

At the same time, previously introduced monthly bonuses will remain in place in 2026. These include an additional UAH 2,000 for all teachers and UAH 4,000 for educators working in frontline communities.

In late 2025, the Verkhovna Rada and education experts discussed a more radical reform of teachers’ pay. The proposal included raising salaries to the equivalent of three minimum wages from September 2026, increasing teaching workloads, and transitioning teachers to fixed-term employment contracts.

The Ministry of Finance has not formally rejected the initiative but has warned that it would be too costly. Deputy Finance Minister Roman Yermolychev said the reform would affect other budget areas and require an additional UAH 200 billion in spending in 2027, which the state cannot currently afford.

  • Separately, a survey by the European Business Association (EBA) found that most employers in Ukraine plan to raise salaries in 2026, with expected increases typically ranging from 5% to 15%.