Pay Raise for Higher Education Faculty
In Ukraine, a significant salary increase for teaching and research-teaching staff at higher education institutions commenced on January 1, 2026. This policy, enacted by the Verkhovna Rada and the Cabinet of Ministers, is part of a broader governmental effort to improve the education sector's working conditions and attract talent. Funding for the new salary scales has already been disbursed to educational institutions, with the average increase in official salaries set at 30%, in accordance with the Unified Tariff Schedule.
The funds for the faculty pay raise were transferred to university accounts on January 28. Salaries for January are scheduled for payment by January 31, with the additional amounts for the first half of February to be paid out during the next advance payment cycle. As of January 1, 2026, all official salaries in the public sector are calculated based on a first-tier employee base rate of 3,470 hryvnias. For pedagogical and research-teaching staff at state and municipal institutions, official salaries have been increased using a 40% coefficient. For categories that previously received a 10% raise, the actual salary growth in January amounted to approximately 30%.
Next Steps and Official Commentary
This raise applies to payments funded by the state or local budgets. The next planned salary increase for pedagogical and research-teaching staff is scheduled for September 1, 2026. Also effective January 1, 2026, the national minimum wage rose from 8,000 to 8,647 hryvnias. The hourly minimum wage increased from 48 to 52 hryvnias, and the general subsistence minimum grew from 2,920 to 3,209 hryvnias.
Danylo Hetmantsev noted: 'Thank you to everyone who supported my and Ruslan Stefanchuk's amendment to the 2026 budget regarding the increase in salaries for university teachers.'
The Ministry of Education and Science has announced that higher education institutions under its jurisdiction can now calculate salaries for pedagogical and research-teaching staff using the new official rates. Oksen Lisovyi added: 'We have an additional sum of 53 billion hryvnias in the project. We are currently working with the government on a mechanism for how these funds will be used for further salary growth.'
This salary enhancement for educators is a component of state policy aimed at improving working conditions in education and elevating the prestige of the teaching profession. With further increases planned, this decision is expected to stimulate the recruitment of new specialists to educational institutions and improve the quality of education in Ukraine. The government also plans to define mechanisms for utilizing additional funds to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of this pay raise in the future.