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In 2026, salaries for teachers at Hong Kong’s government and aided schools follow adjustments to the civil service Master Pay Scale (MPS). For the 2026/27 year, civil servants across all salary bands received a uniform 2% pay rise, backdated to take effect from 1 April 2026, with aided school staff adjusted in step. After the adjustment, the starting point for newly recruited Graduate Masters (GM) is MPS Point 15 (monthly salary HK$35,780), and the maximum point for secondary school Graduate Masters is MPS Point 33 (monthly salary HK$83,140). Senior Graduate Masters (SGM) earn a monthly salary ranging from HK$83,975 to HK$99,525.

Overview of Hong Kong’s Teacher Pay Scale System

Teacher salaries at Hong Kong’s government and aided schools are benchmarked against the civil service Master Pay Scale (MPS), with different grades corresponding to different salary point ranges. Teacher grades are mainly divided into the following categories:

1、Certificated Master (CM): A teacher who holds a teaching certificate but not a university degree. The standard starting point is MPS Point 14, with a salary bar at Point 19 and a maximum salary at Point 24. For 2026/27, the monthly salary ranges from HK$34,075 to HK$55,060. The CM grade is no longer open to new entrants; serving CM teachers may upgrade to the GM grade through further study.

2、Graduate Master (GM): A teacher who holds a recognised university degree and teaching qualification. The salary range for secondary school GMs is MPS Point 15 to Point 33 (with a bar at Point 20), with a 2026/27 monthly salary of HK$35,780 to HK$83,140. The corresponding primary school grade is the Assistant Primary School Master (APSM), with a salary range of MPS Point 15 to Point 29 (HK$35,780 to HK$69,205). This is the main grade for primary and secondary school teachers in Hong Kong at present.

3、Senior Graduate Master (SGM): Promoted to subject panel chair or an equivalent grade, with a salary range of MPS Point 34 to Point 39. For 2026/27, the monthly salary is HK$83,975 to HK$99,525.

4、Principal Graduate Master (PGM): Applies to vice-principals or senior subject panel chairs, with a salary range of MPS Point 38 to Point 41. For 2026/27, the monthly salary is HK$95,120 to HK$108,280.

5、Principal grades: Secondary schools are divided into Secondary School Principal II (MPS Points 40-44) and Secondary School Principal I (MPS Points 45-49), with a 2026/27 monthly salary of HK$103,810 to HK$150,070; primary school Principal II is MPS Points 40-43 and Principal I is Points 43-46, with a monthly salary of HK$103,810 to HK$134,920.

2026 Teacher Pay Adjustment

On 16 June 2026, the Chief Executive in Council decided that for the 2026/27 year, civil servants in the upper, middle and lower salary bands and the directorate would receive a uniform 2% pay rise, backdated to take effect from 1 April 2026. Education Bureau Circular No. 94/2026 confirmed that aided school staff paid under the civil service pay scale would receive the same 2% increase.

Taking the Graduate Master (GM) as an example, the monthly salary changes for 2026 are as follows:

1、Starting point (MPS Point 15): Increased from HK$35,080 to HK$35,780, a monthly rise of HK$700.

2、Mid-point (MPS Point 24): Increased from HK$53,980 to HK$55,060, a monthly rise of HK$1,080.

3、Maximum point (MPS Point 33): Increased from HK$81,510 to HK$83,140, a monthly rise of HK$1,630.

The above adjustments have been approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council. Aided school staff received their new salaries together with the back pay from April, paid out in July 2026.

Differences Between Primary and Secondary School Teacher Pay Scales

Teachers at Hong Kong primary and secondary schools both fall under the MPS framework, but there are the following differences in grade titles and salary point ranges:

1、Primary school teachers: Most primary school teachers are Assistant Primary School Masters (APSM, MPS Points 15-29) and may be promoted to Primary School Masters (PSM, MPS Points 30-33). The primary school vice-principal is a Senior Primary School Master (SPSM, MPS Points 34-39), and principals are divided into Principal II (HMII, MPS Points 40-43) and Principal I (HMI, MPS Points 43-46).

2、Secondary school teachers: Secondary school teachers also start at the GM grade, but the promotion pathway is clearer. Subject panel chairs are SGMs, vice-principals are PGMs, and principals are divided by school size into Secondary School Principal II (MPS Points 40-44) or Secondary School Principal I (MPS Points 45-49).

3、Salary trends: Secondary school teachers have a larger maximum salary headroom than primary school teachers, with the gap becoming particularly marked after promotion to principal level. The maximum salary for a Secondary School Principal I (MPS Point 49) is HK$150,070 per month, while the maximum for a Primary School Principal I (MPS Point 46) is HK$134,920.

Allowances and Benefits Beyond Basic Salary

In addition to basic salary, Hong Kong government and aided school teachers also enjoy a range of allowances:

1、Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) or provident fund contributions: Government school teachers join the Civil Servants Provident Fund Scheme, with the government contribution rate rising in step with length of service; aided school teachers join the Grant Schools Provident Fund, where the employer contribution rate is generally 15%.

2、Housing benefits: Eligible teachers may apply for civil service housing benefits, including the civil service public housing quota, the Home Purchase Allowance Scheme or a non-accountable cash allowance.

3、Medical benefits: Teachers and their dependants may use civil service clinics and priority consultation services at public hospitals.

4、Holidays: Teachers enjoy school holidays (summer holidays, Christmas holidays, Lunar New Year holidays, Easter holidays, etc.), far exceeding the annual leave of ordinary civil servants.

FAQ

Q1: Can I become a teacher in Hong Kong without a university degree?

At present, new teachers at Hong Kong government and aided schools must hold a university degree and a teaching qualification. Serving Certificated Masters (CM) without a university degree may continue teaching, but the CM grade is no longer open to new entrants. Those who wish to become teachers but do not hold a degree may first complete an undergraduate degree programme and then study a PGDE (Postgraduate Diploma in Education) to obtain a teaching qualification.

Q2: When does the 2026 teacher pay rise officially take effect?

The 2% pay rise for the 2026/27 year is backdated to take effect from 1 April 2026. Aided school staff received their new salaries together with the back pay in July 2026.

Q3: How does international school teacher pay differ from government and aided schools?

International school teacher salaries are set independently by each school and do not follow the civil service pay scale. Generally, international school starting salaries are similar to those of government and aided schools (monthly salary roughly HK$35,000 to HK$50,000), but the promotion ladder is shorter and the maximum salary is usually lower than the senior grades of government and aided schools. The most attractive benefit for international school teachers is the remission of school fees for their children.

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