KNBS Report Reveals Sectors With the Highest Paying Jobs
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Economic Survey 2024 has highlighted the top-paying sectors in both the public and private sectors for 2023, showcasing impressive earnings growth across industries. Eight sectors offered annual salaries of Ksh1.8 million or more, with notable disparities between public and private sector compensation.
1. Top-Earning Sector: Extraterritorial Organisations
Employees working in extraterritorial organisations, such as the United Nations, led the earnings chart with an average annual salary of Ksh4.2 million in 2023. This translates to a monthly salary of approximately Ksh350,000. These roles often involve international assignments and specialized expertise, which contribute to their competitive pay packages.
2. Accommodation and Food Services Employees
Kenyans employed in the public sector within the accommodation and food services sector earned the second-highest annual income at Ksh2.9 million, equivalent to a monthly salary of Ksh241,000. This marks a growing recognition of the industry’s critical contribution to Kenya’s economy, particularly in public hospitality ventures.
3. Public Transport Sector
The public transport sector emerged as a lucrative field, with workers earning an average annual salary of Ksh2.5 million (approximately Ksh208,000 per month). Meanwhile, their private-sector counterparts earned slightly less, with an average annual salary of Ksh1.7 million.
4. Utilities: Electricity, Gas, Steam, and Air Conditioning Supplies
Employees in private companies within the utilities sector earned an average of Ksh2.4 million annually. This reflects the sector’s technical demands and growing investments in Kenya’s energy infrastructure.
5. Financial and Insurance Activities
Workers in private financial and insurance firms also enjoyed high salaries, with an average annual income of Ksh2.3 million (approximately Ksh192,000 per month). Public sector employees in similar fields earned less, averaging Ksh1.6 million annually.
6. Medical Practitioners in Government Institutions
Healthcare professionals in government institutions ranked among the top earners, receiving an annual salary of Ksh2 million, translating to a monthly average of Ksh167,000. This highlights the importance of medical expertise in Kenya’s public sector.
7. Administrative and Support Services
Private sector employees in administrative and support service activities earned Ksh1.9 million annually, while those in the public sector earned slightly lower salaries. This sector’s growth aligns with increasing demand for specialized administrative roles across industries.
8. Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
This sector rounded out the list of top-paying fields, with private-sector employees earning an average of Ksh1.8 million annually (approximately Ksh150,000 per month). These roles often require advanced qualifications, which justify the competitive pay.
Public Sector Salary Trends
The KNBS report also detailed average salaries across government entities:
State Corporations: Employees earned an average of Ksh1.4 million annually (Ksh116,000 monthly).
County Governments: Workers earned Ksh950,000 annually, translating to a monthly salary of Ksh79,000.
National Ministries: Salaries averaged Ksh750,000 annually, approximately Ksh63,000 per month.
Teachers: Teachers employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) earned a projected monthly income of Ksh62,000.
Key Trends in Earnings Growth
The KNBS report revealed that public sector earnings rose by 13.5% in 2023, while private sector earnings increased by 28.3% over the same period. Notably:
Employees in “Other Service Activities” in the private sector recorded the highest growth in average earnings at 41.2%.
Workers in accommodation and food services experienced the lowest growth in earnings, at 12.5% over the five-year period.
