Latest Salary Adjustments for DepEd Teachers (2025)

Recent adjustments under the government’s Salary Standardization Law (SSL) have raised the basic salaries of DepEd teachers. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 64 in 2024, launching a four-year salary increase plan (2024–2027) for all civilian government employees​.The second tranche of this plan took effect on January 1, 2025, resulting in higher monthly pay for teachers across different ranks. Below is a breakdown of teacher salary grades and the corresponding 2025 monthly basic salaries, with comparisons to previous rates:

• Teacher I (SG 11) – ₱30,024 per month (up from ₱27,000 under the 2023 schedule)​. This entry-level position saw an increase of about ₱3,000 as part of the second tranche of SSL VI, fulfilling the government’s promise to raise Teacher I salaries above ₱30k​.
• Teacher II (SG 12) – ₱32,245 per month (up from ₱29,165 in 2023)​.
• Teacher III (SG 13) – ₱34,421 per month (up from ₱31,320 in 2023)​.

(New Teaching Positions: In line with an expanded career progression policy, DepEd now has additional higher teacher ranks created in 2022​. These allow classroom teachers to be promoted to higher salary grades without moving to administrative roles.)* For reference, the 2025 salaries for these higher teacher positions are:

• Teacher IV (SG 14) – ₱37,024 per month​
• Teacher V (SG 15) – ₱40,208 per month
• Teacher VI (SG 16) – ₱43,560 per month
• Teacher VII (SG 17) – ₱47,247 per month

Senior teachers who advance to the Master Teacher levels also receive substantially higher pay. For example, a Master Teacher I (SG 18) has a basic salary of about ₱51,304 in 2025, compared to ₱46,725 prior to the new increases. Master Teacher II (SG 19) now earns around ₱56,390, up from ₱51,357 in 2023. (Higher master teacher levels III and IV, as well as school heads, similarly enjoy the SSL-based increases.) These upgrades ensure that as teachers climb the professional ladder, their compensation grows commensurately with their greater responsibilities and experience.

Several policy developments in 2024–2025 have directly impacted teacher salaries and career growth:

• , the government approved a new salary schedule. EO 64 authorized a four-tranche salary increase for civilian government personnel starting 2024​. The first tranche was applied retroactively for 2024, and the second tranche took effect in January 2025​. Under this order, DepEd teachers (like all government employees) received an average increase of roughly 4–6% in basic pay for 2025, varying by salary grade. For instance, Teacher I (SG11) rose from ₱28,512 in 2024 to ₱30,024 in 2025. This adjustment is part of the Sixth Salary Standardization Law (SSL VI) which will continue with further hikes in 2026 and 2027. The salary schedule update was funded in the national budget (about ₱70 billion was earmarked in the 2025 budget to cover the 2024 and 2025 raises)​.
• This policy allows teachers to attain higher ranks and salary grades while remaining in teaching roles, rather than shifting to administrative positions. Under this system, a Teacher III (previously the top regular teacher rank) can now be promoted up to Teacher VII (SG 17) before reaching the Master Teacher levels, thereby achieving higher pay grades. The salary grades for the new positions were set as Teacher IV – SG 14, Teacher V – SG 15, Teacher VI – SG 16, Teacher VII – SG 17 (and an additional Master Teacher V at SG 22). The salary figures in 2025 for these positions have been outlined above, reflecting the SSL VI increases. This career reform is a significant policy update because it directly impacts teachers’ potential earnings: more teachers can advance to higher-paying ranks based on merit and experience, improving long-term salary prospects in the profession.
• . This legislative update, alongside budget provisions, ensures that teachers receive additional financial support for classroom expenses and health needs, effectively increasing their overall compensation package.

In 2025, DepEd teachers receive not only higher salaries but also a range of benefits and allowances that augment their total compensation. Many of these benefits are guaranteed by law or policy, and some have been recently increased by the government:

• . This doubling of the teaching supplies allowance was mandated by the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act (2024), which President Marcos Jr. signed to ease teachers’ out-of-pocket expenses. (The allowance is also tax-exempt, meaning teachers receive the full amount.) This benefit ensures that teachers have more funds to purchase classroom supplies without dipping into their own salaries.
• Personal Economic Relief Allowance (PERA): On top of their basic pay, public school teachers continue to receive a monthly PERA of ₱2,000. This is a long-standing allowance for government employees meant to offset living costs. It remains at ₱2,000 per month in 2025 (the same rate as in previous years), providing an additional ₱24,000 per year for each teacher.
• . For example, a Teacher I with ₱30,024 basic salary would receive that amount as bonus mid-year and again at year-end, on top of regular pay. Along with the year-end bonus, teachers receive a ₱5,000 cash gift each year​ as mandated by the government. These bonuses effectively provide 13th-month and 14th-month pay, greatly boosting annual take-home pay.
• , usually given if the government achieves certain fiscal savings. They also can earn a Performance-Based Bonus (PBB), which ranges from 50% to 65% of one month’s salary, depending on the performance rating of their school and individual contribution​. In addition, a loyalty incentive is granted for long service: teachers get ₱10,000 upon reaching 10 years of continuous service, and ₱5,000 every five years thereafter​. These rewards recognize teachers’ dedication and performance, offering extra income beyond standard pay.
• . This is typically given at the start of the school year and helps cover the cost of required professional attire.
• . This can be used to purchase or reimburse health maintenance plan coverage or medical expenses, serving as a subsidy for healthcare. This new benefit was authorized by EO 64 (s. 2024) alongside the salary hike. It is aimed at helping public servants manage health-related costs and is a direct addition to teachers’ total compensation beginning in FY 2025.
• . In 2021, the policy was updated to fix the rate at 25% of monthly salary for eligible teachers​. This means a teacher on ₱30,000 basic pay could receive up to ₱7,500 extra per month if serving in a designated hardship position. This benefit, provided under the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA 4670), compensates those who work in difficult or inaccessible environments.
• They are covered by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for retirement and life insurance, and by PhilHealth for healthcare. Additionally, many local government units (LGUs) provide local incentives to teachers in their localities (such as additional allowances or honoraria) when budget permits. There is also a World Teachers’ Day Incentive benefit given every October. In recent years, the Department of Education has granted ₱1,000 each to all public school teachers as a token on World Teachers’ Day (Oct 5), funded via the General Appropriations Act. This annual one-time incentive is a gesture of appreciation for teachers’ contributions.

All these benefits, combined with the standardized salary increases, mean that in 2025 a DepEd teacher’s compensation package is markedly better than in previous years. For example, a Teacher I now earns over ₱420,000 annually in basic salary (including the 13th and 14th month bonuses), plus ₱24,000 in PERA, ₱10,000 in supplies allowance, ₱7,000 medical allowance, and various other bonuses and incentives – a substantial improvement aimed at uplifting the economic welfare of educators​.

The 2025 salary adjustments for DepEd teachers in the Philippines reflect the government’s commitment to investing in education by providing competitive pay and benefits to educators. The implementation of the new salary standardization (SSL VI) has increased teachers’ base salaries across all grades, while policy measures like the expanded career progression system offer teachers more opportunities to advance to higher-paying positions. Furthermore, enhanced allowances – from the doubled teaching supplies grant to the newly introduced medical allowance – along with existing bonuses (mid-year, year-end, performance-based, etc.) significantly boost teachers’ overall remuneration. Compared to previous years, a public school teacher in 2025 enjoys a higher take-home pay and more comprehensive support for professional needs. These developments not only improve teachers’ livelihood but also aim to motivate and retain quality educators, recognizing their vital role in delivering quality education​. Moving forward, teachers can expect continued incremental raises through 2026 and 2027 under the current SSL plan, further benefits from recently passed laws, and sustained government attention to policies that affect their salaries and welfare.