Hong Kong Teacher Salary Scale 2026: Quick Answer

Teacher Salary Scale 2026 (Master Pay Scale (MPS)): degree teachers (GM) start at MPS 15, with a monthly salary of HK$35,780; senior degree teachers (SGM) top out at MPS 39, with a monthly salary of HK$99,525. The 2026 teacher pay rise is 2%, backdated to take effect from 1 April 2026. International school teachers earn around HK$45,000–90,000 per month; some offer a housing allowance but no pension. University professors are paid extremely well: assistant professors start at around HK$80,000–100,000 per month, and chair professors can exceed HK$200,000 per month. The tutoring industry is the most variable: ordinary tutors earn around HK$20,000–50,000, but “tutoring kings” can earn HK$5 million–10 million+ per year. This article breaks down in detail the latest 2026 teacher salary scales and the pay for various education positions.

1. Primary / Secondary School Teacher Salary Scales 2026 (Government / Aided)

These follow the civil service Master Pay Scale (MPS). Pay is transparent but progression is slow. The following are the latest 2026 teacher salary scale figures:

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  • Degree teacher (secondary GM / primary APSM) entry: MPS 15 · HK$35,780 · Bachelor of Education / PGDE
  • Degree teacher top pay: secondary GM MPS 33 · HK$83,140 (about 18 years); primary APSM MPS 29 · HK$69,205 (about 14 years)
  • Senior degree teacher (secondary SGM): MPS 34–39 · HK$83,975–99,525 · internal promotion (primary PSM is MPS 30–33 · HK$72,430–83,140)
  • Vice-principal (primary SPSM / secondary PGM): SPSM MPS 34–39 · HK$83,975–99,525; PGM MPS 38–41 · HK$95,120–108,280 · competitive promotion
  • Principal: primary MPS 40–46 · HK$103,810–134,920; secondary MPS 40–49 · HK$103,810–150,070 · about 20+ years’ experience

Pros: a secure, stable post; pension (for those who joined before 2015); generous holidays (around 13 weeks of school holidays per year). Cons: heavy administrative work and slow promotion (many teachers remain stuck at the GM top pay until retirement).

2. International School Teachers

  • Top-tier international schools (ESF, CIS, HKIS, etc.): HK$55,000–90,000 · housing allowance HK$100,000–250,000 per year, plus school fee remission for children
  • Mid-tier international schools: HK$45,000–65,000 · some offer housing allowance
  • Private independent schools: HK$40,000–60,000 · fewer benefits

UK / Australian / New Zealand teaching qualifications are the most sought after by international schools. Candidates with 5+ years of teaching experience and familiarity with the IB / IGCSE / A-Level curricula are the most in demand.

3. University Professor Pay 2026 (Academic Staff Salaries)

  • Lecturer: HK$50,000–80,000 · doctorate plus teaching experience
  • Assistant Professor: HK$80,000–110,000 · PhD plus published research papers
  • Associate Professor: HK$110,000–150,000 · ongoing research and publication plus tenure track
  • Professor: HK$150,000–220,000 · international academic reputation plus research leadership
  • Chair Professor: HK$200,000–300,000+ · a leading scholar in the field

University academic posts are extremely competitive. Each tenure-track position may attract 200–500 applicants worldwide. Hong Kong university professor salaries are among the highest in the world (higher than in the UK and US).

4. The Tutoring Industry

  • Home tutoring (part-time / students): HK$5,000–15,000 (part-time)
  • Small tutorial centre tutor: HK$20,000–40,000
  • Well-known tutor at a mid-sized tutorial centre: HK$50,000–150,000
  • “Star-level” tutor at a large tutorial centre: HK$300,000–800,000+
  • Top “tutoring king” (e.g. the flagship tutors of Beacon College / Modern Education): annual salary HK$5 million–20 million

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How a “tutoring king” earns: base salary plus a share of student numbers. A star-level tutor with 5,000 students, charging HK$600 per student per month, earns HK$300,000–600,000 monthly (depending on the profit-sharing ratio). During the summer holiday period (summer course), income doubles.

5. 2026 Teacher Pay Rise

On 16 June 2026, the Chief Executive in Council decided that for the 2026/27 year, the upper, middle and lower civil service pay scales and the directorate pay scale would receive a uniform 2% pay rise, backdated to take effect from 1 April 2026, and the decision has been approved by the Legislative Council Finance Committee. Education Bureau Circular No. 94/2026 confirms that teaching staff at aided schools who are paid under the civil service pay scale received a corresponding 2% pay rise, with the new salaries and back pay disbursed in July 2026.

For teachers, the 2026 pay rise is 2%. For example: a degree teacher’s starting pay (MPS 15) rose from HK$35,080 to HK$35,780; a senior degree teacher’s top pay (MPS 39) rose from HK$97,575 to HK$99,525.

6. Teacher Pay Point Reference (MPS 15–33)

The following shows the 2026 monthly salaries corresponding to the pay points commonly used by teachers (effective date: 1 April 2026):

  • MPS 15: degree teacher (GM / APSM) starting point · HK$35,780
  • MPS 20: degree teacher (5 years’ experience, salary barrier point) · HK$45,660
  • MPS 25: degree teacher (10 years’ experience) · HK$57,580
  • MPS 29: primary degree teacher (APSM) top pay point · HK$69,205
  • MPS 30: primary degree teacher (PSM) entry · HK$72,430
  • MPS 33: secondary degree teacher (GM) / primary PSM top pay point · HK$83,140

Note: The above are Master Pay Scale amounts published by the Civil Service Bureau, effective from 1 April 2026. The pay scale is updated each year in line with the civil service pay adjustment.

8. FAQ

Q1: Is there any difference in 2026 between primary and secondary school teacher pay? A1: There is no difference at entry level — both primary and secondary teachers are paid under the same civil service Master Pay Scale (MPS), and degree teachers start at the same MPS 15 (HK$35,780). The difference lies in the top pay of the basic ranks: secondary GM tops out at MPS 33 (HK$83,140), while primary APSM tops out at MPS 29 (HK$69,205), and one must be promoted to PSM to reach MPS 33. Secondary senior degree teachers (SGM) top out at MPS 39 (HK$99,525).

Q2: Will the 2026 teacher salary scale see a pay rise? A2: Yes. On 16 June 2026 the government decided on a uniform 2% civil service pay rise for the 2026/27 year, backdated to 1 April 2026, with aided school staff adjusted in step; the new salaries and back pay were disbursed in July 2026.

Q3: Can you teach without a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)? A3: Government and aided schools require a PGDE or Bachelor of Education. Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) / private / international schools are more flexible and may accept a relevant degree plus teaching experience in place of it.

Q4: Can an international school teacher move to a government or aided school? A4: Technically yes, but you must first obtain a PGDE qualification (usually a one-year full-time course), and your pay may have to start from the beginning. Very few international school teachers move in the reverse direction to government or aided schools.

Q5: When does the 2026 teacher salary scale pay rise take effect? A5: The 2026 civil service 2% pay rise is backdated to take effect from 1 April 2026 and covers teachers at all government and aided schools in Hong Kong; aided schools disbursed the new salaries together with back pay in July 2026. Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools generally follow the civil service pay scale adjustments, but individual schools may differ.

Q6: What does the teacher starting pay point MPS 15 amount to? A6: From 1 April 2026, the monthly salary at MPS 15 is HK$35,780, which is the standard starting point for degree teachers (GM). Holding a Bachelor of Education or PGDE qualification makes you eligible to join at this point. Teaching assistants (TA) without an education diploma are paid less, around HK$17,000–22,000, and fall outside the MPS pay scale.

Q7: What is the relationship between the teacher salary scale and the social worker salary scale? A7: Both follow the civil service Master Pay Scale (MPS), but the applicable pay-point ranges differ. Teachers mainly use MPS 15–33; social workers (SWD — Social Welfare Department funded organisations) mainly use MPS 7–49 (from point 7 for welfare workers up to point 49 for Chief Social Work Officer). See Hong Kong Social Worker Salary Scale 2026 for details.

Sources

Government and aided teacher pay-point data are based on the Master Pay Scale effective from 1 April 2026 published by the Civil Service Bureau; international school, university and tutoring pay figures reference university salary benchmarks and recruitment platforms.