Increasing teachers' salaries in 2026 will not solve their well-being problems: experts

The Cabinet promises educators a rapid salary increase – by as much as 50% in 2026, aiming to raise the average to 20 thousand hryvnias. It sounds like a lifeline for tired teachers, but experts warn: this is just cosmetic repair in a system that is cracking at the seams. This is reported by Mirror of the Week.

What is the average salary for teachers in 2025

In September 2025, the median salary for teachers reached 12,500 hryvnias – an increase of 8.7% from last year (11,500 hryvnias), but still one of the lowest in the country. For a specialist of the first qualification category with bonuses, it amounts to about 13,906 hryvnias, and for a higher one – 14,759 hryvnias. 

"Sounds good. But let’s look at the amounts to which these percentages will be added to realistically face the challenges facing Ukrainian educators," advises Andriy Pavlovskyi, an expert on social policy.

How much will teachers' salaries increase in 2026

The government's plan is a two-stage increase: starting from January 1, 2026, by 20%, and from September 1 – by another 30%. The result – the average salary of a teacher will be at the level of 20 thousand hryvnias. However, skepticism prevails among educators: "Now it is 12,500 hryvnias, it will be 18,750. But the average across the country in September 2025 will be 25,500 hryvnias?!" 

This is twice less than the national average (26,499 hryvnias in July 2025) and significantly inferior to neighbors. In Poland, teachers receive the equivalent of 57,000 – 83,000 hryvnias.

Salaries of other educators in Ukraine

The situation with other teaching positions is similar:

• Preschool teachers: 14,500 hryvnias (+11.5% by 2024);
• Tutors: 400 hryvnias per hour (+33%);
• University lecturers: average 18,000 – 22,000, but with academic degrees.

Even this increase does not cover inflation and price hikes for food, utilities, and education for their own children. 

"The promised increase of 50% in 2026 will certainly be a step forward, but a very small and barely noticeable one. Without comprehensive reform and a fundamental change in the state's attitude to education, the situation will not change," emphasizes Pavlovskyi.

The education sector in Ukraine has long been on the brink: a massive outflow of personnel abroad, where salaries are several times higher, leads to a shortage of teachers. There are now more than 20,000 vacancies just in schools. In 2024, the government already raised salaries by 20%, but the effect turned out to be temporary: real purchasing power fell due to 15% inflation. 

Earlier we wrote that teachers' salaries are twice less than average, but responses to vacancies are increasing.