Quick answer
From 1 Shrawan 2083 a permanent government teacher in Nepal starts on a basic salary of Rs 36,192 a month at primary level (third class), Rs 38,203 at lower secondary and Rs 48,058 at secondary. A 10% incentive allowance and a Rs 5,000 dearness allowance are added, so a new secondary teacher receives about Rs 57,864 before deductions. Private schools are required to match the scale, and many do not.
A teacher’s pay in Nepal depends first on who employs them. Permanent teachers in community (government) schools are on a published national scale by level and class. Teachers on grant quotas are paid a fixed amount set by the cabinet. Private school teachers are paid whatever the school has agreed, whatever the rule says. This page gives the official 2083 figures for the first two and what is known about the third.
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Government teacher salary in Nepal 2083, per month
The Council of Ministers revised the scale for all national-service employees from 1 Shrawan 2083 (mid-July 2026). These are the figures for permanent teachers in community schools. “Class” is the teacher’s rank within a level: every teacher enters at third class and is promoted to second and first.
| Post | Starting basic salary | With allowances, first month | Top of the basic scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary, first class | Rs 62,466 | Rs 73,713 | Rs 74,958 |
| Secondary, second class | Rs 53,611 | Rs 63,972 | Rs 67,907 |
| Secondary, third class | Rs 48,058 | Rs 57,864 | Rs 60,874 |
| Lower secondary, first class | Rs 50,448 | Rs 60,493 | Rs 63,904 |
| Lower secondary, second class | Rs 48,058 | Rs 57,864 | Rs 60,874 |
| Lower secondary, third class | Rs 38,203 | Rs 47,023 | Rs 48,387 |
| Primary, first class | Rs 48,058 | Rs 57,864 | Rs 60,874 |
| Primary, second class | Rs 38,203 | Rs 47,023 | Rs 48,387 |
| Primary, third class | Rs 36,192 | Rs 44,811 | Rs 43,428 |
Primary teacher salary in Nepal
A primary teacher appointed at third class starts on Rs 36,192 basic, which comes to about Rs 44,811 with the incentive and dearness allowances. Second class starts at Rs 38,203 and first class at Rs 48,058. The basic salary rises by one grade for each year of service, up to Rs 43,428 at third class and Rs 60,874 at first class.
Primary here means the level the teacher was appointed to under the Teacher Service Commission’s categories. Schools are now organised as basic (grades 1–8) and secondary (9–12), but the salary scale still uses the three older levels.
Lower secondary and secondary level teacher salary
- Lower secondary, third class: Rs 38,203 basic, about Rs 47,023 with allowances, rising to Rs 48,387.
- Lower secondary, second class: Rs 48,058 basic, rising to Rs 60,874.
- Secondary, third class: Rs 48,058 basic, about Rs 57,864 with allowances, rising to Rs 60,874.
- Secondary, second class: Rs 53,611 basic, about Rs 63,972 with allowances.
- Secondary, first class: Rs 62,466 basic, about Rs 73,713 with allowances — the same starting figure as a joint secretary in the civil service.
What is added to the basic salary, and what is taken off
The dearness allowance, grade rule and Dashain allowance are as reported by Onlinekhabar (29 May 2026), Lokaantar (6 August 2026) and Bikashnews; the incentive allowance is in the Ministry of Finance letter itself. To see what reaches your bank after tax, use the income tax calculator.
| Item | Amount | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| Incentive allowance | 10% of the starting basic scale, every month | All teachers on the government scale, from Shrawan 2083 |
| Dearness allowance | Rs 5,000 a month (unchanged for 2083/84) | All government employees |
| Grade | One day’s salary added for each year of service, up to the limit for the post | Permanent teachers |
| Dashain allowance | One month’s basic salary, once a year | Permanent teachers; those under a year receive the scale without grade |
| Deductions | Provident fund or the contributory pension (for those appointed from 2076/77), and income tax | Taken from the monthly salary |
Salary of teachers on grant quotas
Not every teacher in a community school is on the permanent scale. Teachers on grant quotas are paid a fixed monthly amount from a government grant. A cabinet decision of 3 Bhadra 2083 raised those amounts, as reported by Onlinekhabar:
| Post on a grant quota | Before | From the 3 Bhadra 2083 decision |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary level (grades 9–10) | Rs 43,669 | Rs 48,058 — equal to secondary third class |
| Basic level (grades 6–8) | Rs 34,730 | Rs 38,203 |
| Early childhood development facilitator | Rs 12,000 | Rs 17,000 |
| School accountant | Rs 15,000 | Rs 20,000 |
| School support staff | Rs 10,000 | Rs 15,000 |
Private school teacher salary in Nepal
Private (institutional) schools are required to pay their teachers at least the government scale. The Education Ministry has said that “the law requires private schools to pay the same wage scale prescribed for teachers at public schools”, and in June 2026 Jitpur Simara Sub-metropolitan City ordered its private schools to pay the government scale and facilities, citing the Education Act 2028 and the Education Rules 2059.
In practice many pay less. A Republica investigation found teachers at named private schools on Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 a month when the government scale started near Rs 20,000. That report predates the current scale, and we found no recent figures from a major newspaper, so no range is given here. Large schools in Kathmandu and Pokhara often meet the scale; small schools frequently do not.
- Ask for the salary in writing in the appointment letter, with the level it is equal to.
- Ask whether the school contributes to the Social Security Fund or a provident fund. Under the Labour Act that is compulsory.
- Ask whether salary is paid for all twelve months. Some schools pay only for teaching months.
- No full-time job may pay less than the legal minimum salary in Nepal, a school included.
How a teacher’s salary grows
- 1Get the teaching licence. It is required to apply for any permanent post. The teaching licence in Nepal guide explains who can sit the examination.
- 2Pass the Teacher Service Commission examination for a permanent post at your level. This moves you from a fixed amount to the scale, with grades and a pension.
- 3Earn a grade each year. The basic salary rises annually until the limit for your class.
- 4Be promoted from third to second to first class, each of which is a higher starting scale.
- 5Move up a level by gaining the qualification and passing the examination for lower secondary or secondary.
Common questions
What is the salary of a government teacher in Nepal in 2083?
From 1 Shrawan 2083 the starting basic salary is Rs 36,192 for a primary third-class teacher, Rs 38,203 for lower secondary third class and Rs 48,058 for secondary third class. A 10% incentive allowance and a Rs 5,000 dearness allowance are added each month.
What is the salary of a secondary level teacher in Nepal per month?
A secondary third-class teacher starts on Rs 48,058 basic, about Rs 57,864 a month with allowances before deductions. Second class starts at Rs 53,611 and first class at Rs 62,466.
What is the salary of a primary teacher in Nepal?
A permanent primary teacher starts at Rs 36,192 basic at third class, Rs 38,203 at second class and Rs 48,058 at first class, plus the incentive and dearness allowances.
How much do private school teachers earn in Nepal?
It varies by school. Private schools are required to match the government scale, but many pay less and there is no reliable recent survey. Confirm the salary, the months it is paid for and the Social Security Fund contribution in writing before you accept.
Do teachers get a Dashain allowance?
Yes. Permanent government teachers receive one month’s basic salary as a Dashain allowance each year. In a private school the Labour Act gives every employee a festival expense equal to one month’s basic remuneration.
Did teacher salaries increase in 2083?
Yes. The government raised the scale for all national-service employees, teachers included, from 1 Shrawan 2083, and added a 10% incentive allowance. A cabinet decision of 3 Bhadra 2083 raised the amounts for teachers on grant quotas.
