Surviving on a teacher's salary: How much do they earn and what can they afford?

The role of a university lecturer has long been associated with prestige, intellectual growth, and the opportunity to engage in research. However, the financial support for young educators in Ukraine is far from ideal.

Let's explore how much a lecturer earns, what responsibilities they have, and what prospects lie ahead. The Executive Director of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, Vladislav Berkovsky, shared his thoughts on this matter on his Facebook page.

At the time of joining the university, a young lecturer with a Candidate of Sciences degree who holds a position as a full-time associate professor receives:

• Salary according to Resolution No. 36 – 11,384 UAH
• Supplement for the academic degree (15%) – 1,707 UAH

The total amount is 13,091 UAH before taxes. After tax deductions, the lecturer takes home 10,080 UAH.

After 3 years of work, they will receive a length-of-service supplement of 10% ( 1,138 UAH ), resulting in a net income of 10,957 UAH.

After 5 years, the lecturer may qualify for the academic title of associate professor (+25% to salary), which will increase their income to 13,148 UAH.

Another 5 years later, they will receive a 20% supplement, bringing their salary to 14,025 UAH.

Under optimal conditions, with all supplements and possible additional payments for workload intensity, a lecturer's salary can reach 20,000-21,000 UAH per month.

What responsibilities does a lecturer have?

For such a salary, a young lecturer must undertake a significant volume of work:

Methodological work :

• Prepare methodological materials for each discipline.
• Develop training programs for various forms of education.

Educational process :

• Teach 4-5 subjects per year (some lecturers teach up to 15-20 subjects).
• Conduct lectures, seminars, and practical classes.
• Prepare presentations and educational materials.

Research activities :

• Supervise student research projects and thesis work.
• Prepare publications for academic journals (often at their own expense).
• Participate in international internships (also at their own cost).

Administrative work :

• Participate in departmental meetings, conferences, and organizational events.
• Fulfill additional university responsibilities.

With such a salary level, motivating lecturers to teach effectively and engage in research becomes increasingly challenging.

What can a lecturer afford on their salary?

Unfortunately, this amount barely covers basic needs.

• Utilities (apartment 40-50 m2): 3,000 – 4,500 UAH
• Housing rent in Kyiv (1-bedroom apartment): 10,000 – 15,000 UAH
• Public transport fare: on average 700 UAH
• Food (minimum grocery set): 6,000 – 8,000 UAH
• Medicines and medical expenses: 500 – 1,500 UAH

The salary of a young lecturer is insufficient even for renting housing in Kyiv. Most either live in dormitories, combine work at several universities, tutor, or seek additional jobs.

If a lecturer wants to save money, it is only possible through strict budgeting. For instance, going on a vacation abroad is nearly impossible – even a budget trip would cost at least 30,000 UAH.

Why do lecturers still stay in universities?

Despite financial hardships, there are benefits to the teaching profession:

• Moral satisfaction from working with students.
• Opportunity to avoid mobilization.
• Access to research grants and international internships.
• Long summer vacations.
• Stable salary (though low).
• Access to libraries and academic resources.
• Preferential housing loans through the "eOselya" program.

The reality for university lecturers in Ukraine is characterized by high workloads and low salaries. Without systematic increases in pay and incentives for research activities, the situation will only worsen, and the quality of education will continue to decline.

Previously, "Telegraph" reported on who earns a salary of 100,000 UAH? In Ukraine, professions with high salaries were named.