Kenya Salary Breakdown by Sector (2026)

Government vs NGO vs UN Salaries (2026) – Which Pays More?

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Kenya Salary Breakdown by Sector 2026: Government vs NGO vs UN. Discover salary ranges, top employers, cities, and career growth tips.

Introduction

Not all jobs in Kenya pay the same. Your salary depends heavily on whether you work in the government, NGO, or United Nations (UN) sector.

Each sector has its own pay structure:

  • Government → Stable but structured
  • NGO → Competitive
  • UN → Highest salaries

Comparison by sectors

OrganizationMinimumAverageMaximum
Government20K80K400K
NGO50K200K800K
United Nations200K600K1.5M+

📊 Salary Comparison Chart

1. Finance & Business

RoleGovernmentNGOUN
Accountant50K – 120K80K – 200K200K – 400K
Financial Analyst70K – 150K120K – 300K250K – 600K
Auditor80K – 180K120K – 250K250K – 500K
Finance Manager120K – 250K200K – 400K400K – 900K
CFO250K – 500K400K – 800K800K – 1.5M+

2. Legal & Governance

RoleGovernmentNGOUN
Legal Officer70K – 140K100K – 250K250K – 500K
Lawyer/Advocate100K – 300K150K – 400K300K – 700K
Compliance Officer80K – 150K120K – 300K250K – 600K
Policy Analyst90K – 180K150K – 300K300K – 700K
Governance Specialist120K – 250K200K – 400K400K – 900K

3. Agriculture & Environment

RoleGovernmentNGOUN
Agricultural Officer40K – 100K60K – 150K150K – 350K
Agronomist50K – 120K80K – 200K200K – 400K
Environmental Officer60K – 120K100K – 250K200K – 500K
Climate Specialist80K – 180K150K – 300K300K – 700K
Program Manager100K – 200K200K – 400K400K – 800K

4. Education & Training

RoleGovernmentNGOUN
Teacher (Primary/Secondary)30K – 100K50K – 150K150K – 300K
Lecturer120K – 250K150K – 300K300K – 600K
Education Officer60K – 140K100K – 250K250K – 500K
Training Specialist70K – 150K120K – 300K300K – 600K
Education Program Manager100K – 200K200K – 400K400K – 800K

5. Engineering & Technical

RoleGovernmentNGOUN
Civil Engineer80K – 180K120K – 300K300K – 700K
Electrical Engineer70K – 150K100K – 250K250K – 600K
Technician40K – 80K60K – 120K150K – 300K
Project Engineer100K – 200K150K – 350K350K – 800K
Engineering Manager150K – 300K250K – 500K500K – 1M+

6. Administration & HR

RoleGovernmentNGOUN
Admin Assistant30K – 70K50K – 120K120K – 250K
HR Officer50K – 120K80K – 200K200K – 400K
HR Manager120K – 250K180K – 350K350K – 700K
Operations Manager120K – 250K200K – 400K400K – 800K
Country Director—400K – 800K800K – 2M+

7. Health & Medical

RoleGovernmentNGOUN
Nurse40K – 80K60K – 150K150K – 300K
Clinical Officer50K – 120K80K – 200K200K – 400K
Doctor150K – 300K200K – 400K400K – 800K
Specialist Doctor300K – 600K400K – 800K800K – 1.5M+
Public Health Specialist80K – 180K150K – 350K350K – 900K

8. IT & Technology

RoleGovernmentNGOUN
IT Support30K – 70K50K – 120K120K – 250K
Software Developer80K – 200K120K – 400K300K – 800K
Data Analyst70K – 150K100K – 250K250K – 600K
Cybersecurity Analyst80K – 180K150K – 350K350K – 900K
IT Manager150K – 300K250K – 500K500K – 1M+

9. Communication & Creative

RoleGovernmentNGOUN
Journalist40K – 100K60K – 150K150K – 300K
Graphic Designer40K – 80K60K – 150K150K – 300K
PR Officer60K – 120K100K – 250K250K – 500K
Communications Manager100K – 200K180K – 350K350K – 800K
Creative Director—200K – 400K400K – 900K

10. Security & Safety

RoleGovernmentNGOUN
Police Officer30K – 100K——
Security Officer40K – 100K60K – 150K150K – 300K
Safety Officer60K – 150K100K – 250K250K – 600K
Intelligence Officer100K – 250K——
Security Manager120K – 300K200K – 400K400K – 800K

11. Tourism & Hospitality

RoleGovernmentNGOUN
Tour Guide30K – 80K40K – 120K120K – 250K
Hotel Manager100K – 250K150K – 300K300K – 600K
Chef40K – 120K60K – 150K150K – 300K
Event Manager80K – 180K100K – 250K250K – 500K
Hospitality Director—200K – 400K400K – 800K

12. Supply Chain

RoleGovernmentNGOUN
Procurement Officer50K – 120K80K – 200K200K – 400K
Logistics Officer50K – 120K80K – 200K200K – 400K
Warehouse Manager80K – 150K120K – 250K250K – 500K
Supply Chain Manager120K – 250K200K – 400K400K – 800K
Procurement Manager150K – 300K250K – 400K400K – 900K

13. Transport & Operations

RoleGovernmentNGOUN
Driver20K – 60K30K – 80K80K – 150K
Logistics Coordinator50K – 120K80K – 200K200K – 400K
Operations Officer60K – 150K100K – 250K250K – 500K
Transport Manager100K – 200K150K – 300K300K – 700K
Pilot——500K – 1M+

14. Skilled & Field Work

RoleGovernmentNGOUN
Electrician30K – 80K40K – 120K120K – 250K
Plumber30K – 80K40K – 120K120K – 250K
Mechanic40K – 100K60K – 150K150K – 300K
Construction Worker15K – 50K20K – 70K70K – 150K
Technician40K – 100K60K – 150K150K – 300K

💰 Salary Overview (Monthly)

  • Government: 20K – 400K
  • NGO: 50K – 800K
  • UN: 200K – 1.5M+

UN jobs can pay $3,000–$12,000 monthly, making them among the highest-paying roles.

Salary by Location

CityGovtNGOUN
Nairobi80K–300K150K–400K400K–1M
Mombasa50K–150K100K–250K300K–700K
Kisumu40K–120K80K–200K250K–600K
Nakuru40K–120K80K–200K250K–600K
Eldoret35K–100K70K–180K200K–500K

Most In-Demand Jobs (2026)

  • NGO Project Managers
  • UN Program Officers
  • Public Health Specialists
  • Data Analysts
  • Engineers

Career Growth Opportunities

  • Government → Slow but stable
  • NGO → Medium growth
  • UN → Fastest growth + global mobility

How to Increase Your Salary Faster

  • Move from Government → NGO → UN
  • Gain international experience
  • Learn high-demand skills
  • Apply to global organizations

Top Paying Organizations

GovernmentNGOUnited Nations
Kenya Revenue AuthoritySave the ChildrenUNDP
Central Bank of KenyaCare InternationalUNICEF
Kenya Pipeline CompanyWorld Vision InternationalWHO

FAQs

1. Which sector pays the most in Kenya?

UN jobs offer the highest salaries.

2. Are NGO jobs better than government?

Yes, in terms of salary and growth.

3. How can I get a UN job?

Gain experience in NGOs and international projects.

4. Do government jobs pay well?

They are stable but generally lower-paying.

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