School Director Salaries in Ukraine in 2026: Who Earns 60,000 UAH and Who Gets Only 12,000 UAH

Salary Growth for School Directors in Ukraine in 2026

According to Главком: New data reveals that salaries for school directors in Ukraine have risen significantly in 2026 compared to the previous year. In 2025, directors at state schools in urban areas earned between 22,000 and 25,000 UAH, while those in rural settings made no more than 15,000 UAH. Job offers in September and December 2025 reached up to 32,500 UAH, but dropped to 27,500 UAH in November. Starting January 1, 2026, teacher salaries increased by 30%, pushing the median salary for a school director to approximately 28,000–28,500 UAH by spring 2026.

Changes in School Director Pay

What has changed compared to 2025? The base salary for directors (tariff levels 14–18) in 2025 ranged from 7,732 to 10,256 UAH before bonuses. In 2026, thanks to the salary hike, the average pay for school directors has increased, with heads of large lyceums and gymnasiums in Kyiv earning up to 60,000 UAH. The highest salaries are recorded in Kyiv and major cities with populations over one million, where the average wage is around 40,000 UAH. In the Rivne region, directors earn an average of 33,500 UAH, while in the Lviv region, the figure is about 28,000 UAH. Rural school directors, however, average 18,000 UAH, with a range from 12,000 to 25,000 UAH.

Regional disparities in director salaries are stark. For instance, in the Rivne region, pay exceeds the national average, whereas in the Lviv region, it aligns with the median. The state also covers 100% of utility costs and provides a monthly bonus of 2,000 UAH for working in hazardous conditions. In 2025, 12 billion UAH was allocated for hazardous condition payments.

Comparing public and private sectors, directors at private educational institutions start at 40,000–50,000 UAH and can reach 100,000 UAH with bonuses. In 2025, the base salary for a private school director could go up to 50,000 UAH. Meanwhile, in state schools, bonuses remain the key factor determining total pay. The seniority bonus ranges from 10% (for 10 years of service) to 30% (for over 25 years). Bonuses for work prestige can vary from 5% to 30% as decided by local councils, while bonuses for work intensity reach up to 30% for leaders implementing reforms.

'Teacher salary increases are happening in two stages: 30% starting in January and another 20% starting in September,' said Education Minister Oksen Lisovyi.

Thus, in 2026, school director salaries in Ukraine have risen, but this growth is accompanied by significant regional gaps and differences between state and private institutions.

This increase in school director salaries reflects the government's efforts to improve working conditions for educators, which could positively impact the quality of education nationwide. However, the large regional disparities highlight the need for further equalization of conditions for teachers across different oblasts. It also underscores the importance of state support, especially for rural schools where funding remains limited.

As the salary landscape shifts for school directors, it’s crucial to understand the broader implications for the teaching profession as a whole. Starting in 2026, the government plans to implement significant changes to teacher compensation that will ensure guaranteed pay increases. This overhaul could further impact the dynamics of educational leadership and salary structures across the country. To learn more about these upcoming changes, read our detailed analysis on teacher pay reforms in Ukraine.