RESOURCES / PAY
Teacher Salary Scales 2026
Post Level 1 to 8 notches, REQV tiers, and the housing allowance: what South African public-sector educators should see on their 2026 payslip.
At a glance: 2026 cycle
- 5.5% increase applied from 1 April 2025 (year 1 of the agreement).
- 1 April 2026 adjustment is CPI-linked, floor 4%, cap 6%. The exact percentage follows Stats SA headline CPI.
- PL1 classroom educator (REQV 14): ~R262,000/yr starting notch before the 1 April 2026 CPI uplift.
- Housing allowance: R1,200/month baseline, adjusted for inflation in July each year.
- Notch progression: one notch per year, subject to performance review.
THE AGREEMENT
What PSCBC Resolution 01 of 2025 committed to
Your April 2026 payslip is governed by PSCBC Resolution 01 of 2025, a three-year wage agreement signed on 19 February 2025 by the majority of unions in the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council. The agreement established three things:
Year 1
1 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026
5.5% salary adjustment across all grades.
Year 2 (now)
1 Apr 2026 to 31 Mar 2027
CPI-linked adjustment, 4% floor, 6% cap. Exact figure gazetted by Treasury in late March.
Year 3
1 Apr 2027 to 31 Mar 2028
Same CPI-linked formula as Year 2.
In practice this means your 1 April 2026 increase depends on the headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) figure released by Stats SA for February 2026, and it will land somewhere between 4% and 6%. The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) gazettes the precise percentage each year, usually in late March.
THE SCALES
Post Level 1 to Post Level 8
South African public-sector educators are paid on the Post-level Educator scales defined by the Employment of Educators Act. Each post level has a band of notches; teachers progress by one notch per year, subject to satisfactory performance. Figures below are the 2025/26 baseline. Apply your 1 April 2026 CPI adjustment (4% to 6%) to estimate your current notch.
| PL | Role | Starting notch (2025/26) | Top of scale | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PL1 | Classroom Educator | R262,000 | R420,000 to R570,000 | REQV 14 entry; +4-7% for REQV 15 |
| PL2 | Head of Department (HOD) | Significantly above PL1 top | Scale-dependent | Middle-management tier |
| PL3 | Deputy Principal | Above PL2 | Scale-dependent | School-size dependent |
| PL4 | Principal | R450,000+ | Up to R830,000 | Varies by school Quintile/size |
| PL5 to PL8 | Specialist / District / Provincial roles | Above PL4 | Office-based scales apply | Different scale structure from school-based educators |
Accuracy caveat: PL2 to PL3 specific rand figures depend on the gazetted scale tables and individual school quintile. NAPTOSA members can request the current notch tables directly from the Western Cape office atinfowc@naptosa.org.za.
QUALIFICATIONS
REQV: Relative Education Qualification Value
The REQV framework determines your starting notch. Advancing REQV through further study is one of the few ways to secure a real-terms salary increase above CPI.
REQV 13
3-year diploma or equivalent
Lower starting notch (below REQV 14 entry)
REQV 14
4-year qualification (B.Ed. or degree + PGCE)
Standard entry; anchors PL1 starting notch quoted above
REQV 15
REQV 14 plus Honours degree or equivalent
+4% to +7% over baseline REQV 14 notch
REQV 16 / 17
Masters / Doctorate respectively
Further incremental uplifts; recognised at notch placement + future bargaining
NAPTOSA members can claim bursary support for approved qualifications through theProfessional Development Institute (PDI).
HOUSING
The R1,200 housing allowance, and where it goes
Every qualifying public-service educator receives a housing allowance administered by the Government Employees Housing Scheme (GEHS).
If you own your home
You receive the full R1,200 per month as a direct monthly contribution toward bond, rates, or maintenance. Reflected on your payslip as "Housing Allowance" or "GEHS".
If you rent
The full R1,200 is diverted into the GEHS Individual-Linked Savings Facility (ILSF) and accumulates until you acquire property. Transitional rule (employed before 27 May 2015): R900 paid in hand, R300 diverted to ILSF.
Baseline adjusted annually in July for inflation. The next adjustment lands July 2026.
VERIFY IT
5-step payslip check for your April 2026 pay run
- 01Locate your Post Level (PL1 to PL8) and REQV on your appointment letter or HR portal.
- 02Find your notch on the published scale, typically listed as 'Basic Salary' on the payslip. Divide by 12 for the monthly rate.
- 03Confirm the 1 April 2026 adjustment has been applied: compare March 2026 basic salary to April 2026 basic salary. The delta should fall between 4% and 6%.
- 04Check your housing allowance line (R1,200 baseline, or post-July 2026 inflation-adjusted figure).
- 05Check REQV deductions and additions. Any completed qualification uploaded to SACE should reflect within one pay cycle.
If any of the above look wrong, NAPTOSA members can raise it as a case. Provincial branches have direct HR liaison relationships and escalate faster than individual query channels.
SOURCES
References
- • PSCBC Resolution 01 of 2025: multi-year wage agreement (19 Feb 2025).
- • Employment of Educators Act: establishes the Post Level structure.
- • DPSA GEHS portal: housing allowance rules.
- • Sister-union SAOU salary tables: updated within days of each gazette. Cross-check against your own payslip.
Last updated: April 2026. Figures represent the 2025/26 baseline under PSCBC Res 01/2025. The specific 1 April 2026 CPI adjustment percentage is gazetted by Treasury/DPSA in late March. Always cross-reference with your official payslip. This page is informational only. For specific queries about your own situation, contact the NAPTOSA Western Cape office.