Starting at UAH 30 thousand: how the Government is preparing a new system of remuneration in higher education
13 October 17:12
As early as 2026, teachers of higher education institutions (HEIs) may start receiving 30 thousand UAH in salary. The corresponding proposal to the state budget for the next year was made by Danylo Hetmantsev, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Taxation and Customs Policy, together with Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The goal is to retain and return people to higher education and to develop innovation and science through transparent, fair salaries and stable investment in universities.
Our universities are losing people. When salaries are low, teachers either go abroad or are forced to work outside their specialty. Young scientists see no reason to stay, and students do not understand why they should start a scientific career. As a result, we have minimal motivation to teach, poorer quality of education, and “aging” of teams,” explained Hetmantsev.
In his opinion, we need fair and transparent salaries tied to qualifications, rank, and length of service.
How much is proposed to be paid to teachers in 2026
- assistant/teacher – UAH 30,000;
- senior lecturer – UAH 33,000
- associate professor – UAH 36,300
- professor – UAH 39,930.
These amounts will be further supplemented by allowances for academic degree, rank, and length of service.
“The principle is simple and clear: the higher the qualifications and professional skills of an employee, the higher their salary should be – it is an honest connection between the growth of competence and the growth of income,” explained the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Taxation and Customs Policy.
Mr. Hetmantsev emphasized that this model of salary calculation has been calculated for the budget and is ready for implementation. In his opinion, such changes in the remuneration policy of Ukrainian scientists and teachers will provide
- students – stable and motivated teachers;
- universities – competitiveness and less staff outflow;
- communities – stronger universities, more projects and taxes in the region.
Salaries of university professors in 2025: how salaries in higher education have changed
In 2025, the Government approved updated salaries for employees of higher education institutions, reflecting the first significant increase in recent years. According to the Unified Tariff Scale (UTS) and Cabinet of Ministers’ Resolutions No. 557, No. 1298, and No. 36, base salaries have been increased by 11%.
Key figures: from trainee to rector
The average monthly salary of a trainee teacher in 2025 is UAH 9,149, an assistant – UAH 9,894, a lecturer – UAH 10,639, and a senior lecturer – UAH 11,384. Associate professors will receive UAH 12,128, professors will receive UAH 12,909, and heads of departments will be paid the same as associate professors.
Administrative and managerial positions have higher salaries:
- dean (with the academic rank of associate professor) – UAH 12,909
- dean (with the rank of professor) – UAH 13,654
- vice-rector – UAH 13,916;
- first Vice-Rector – UAH 14,689;
- rector of the university – UAH 15,462.
These amounts are “net salaries,” excluding taxes, bonuses, allowances for academic titles, seniority, academic degrees, or additional teaching loads. Actual salaries can be 30 to 50% higher due to bonuses.
Why the increase is symbolic
Despite the formal increase, university salaries remain below the national average (UAH 26,499 in July 2025). Teachers often combine several jobs or work part-time to maintain a competitive income.
The Education Workers’ Union notes that even after the increase, the level of remuneration for academic staff does not meet the complexity and intellectual requirements of the profession, and proposes to include a more significant increase in the payroll in the state budget for 2026.
Read also: Between revenues and expenditures: the Ukrainian parliament is trying to balance the budget
Budget 2026: The government presented the priorities of the new budget
In the draft state budget for 2026, total expenditures, including loans, will amount to approximately UAH 4.8 trillion, which is more than UAH 415 billion higher than the 2025 target.
The general fund revenues are expected to reach UAH 2,826.5 billion (excluding grants and international aid), which is UAH 447 billion more than in the previous year.
Funding priorities
- defense and security is a key budget priority. More than UAH 1.8 trillion, or ~27% of GDP, is allocated for this area;
- education and science – record expenditures: uAH 285.3 billion, an increase of almost 47%;
- youth and sports – more than UAH 6.6 billion allocated for sports support programs, youth initiatives and infrastructure;
- social sphere – UAH 467.1 billion is allocated to support vulnerable groups, social security, payments to IDPs and other programs.
Deficit and financing challenges
The draft budget envisages a deficit of 18.4% of GDP. To cover the shortfall, the government is counting on significant external financing: Ukraine needs to confirm guarantees from international partners, including about $65 billion for 2026-2027.
It should also be noted that in October 2025, MPs broke a 19-year record for the number of amendments to the state budget. A total of 3339 amendments were submitted to the draft budget for 2026. This is 59% more than last year.
Read us on Telegram: important topics – without censorship
