Doctors' salaries and allowances in Kenya in 2023/2024 revealed
The Kenyan healthcare system is quite diverse, with numerous institutions, healthcare practitioners, and medical insurers. Doctors are an integral part of this system and are tasked with numerous responsibilities touching on preventive, curative, and rehabilitative care. As with other professions, doctors' salaries are determined by various factors, including experience, specialization, and place of work. What is the average doctor's salary in Kenya today?
Source: UGC
Generally, experienced doctors earn more than their entry-level counterparts. Additionally, medical practitioners working in large, well-established health facilities also make significantly more than those in small facilities.
What is the average doctor's salary in Kenya?
Here is a look at the average salaries that doctors take home based on various factors.
Salaries based on experience
Doctors can be classified into entry-level, mid-level, and senior level based on their experience. Here is a look at the average salary for each level.
- Entry-level doctors: These have 0-2 years of experience. They earn an average of Ksh 138,000 per month.
- Mid-level doctors: These ones have 3-9 years of experience and earn anything between Ksh 142,000 and Ksh 302,000 per month. A doctor's specialization greatly affects their salary at this level.
- Senior-level doctors: These doctors are renowned for their experience in the medical industry. They tend to have over ten years of experience. Doctors at this level take home over 350,000 per month. The specific figures are also determined by their fields of practice, places of work, and contractual agreements.
Salaries based on areas of specialization
Source: UGC
Besides one's experience, doctors' salaries are also largely determined by their areas of specialization/expertise. Here is a look at the average monthly salary for the most common areas of practice.
| Job title/specialization | Average monthly salary |
| Physiotherapist | Ksh 282,000 |
| General medical practitioner | Ksh 283,000 |
| Paediatrician | Ksh 373,000 |
| Radiologist | Ksh 417,000 |
| Mental health therapist | Ksh 260,000 |
| Allergist | Ksh 296,000 |
| Neurologist | Ksh 460,000 |
| Clinical psychologist | Ksh 477,000 |
| Counselling psychologist | Ksh 344,000 |
| Optometrist | Ksh 314,000 |
| Naturopathic physician | Ksh 471,000 |
| Psychiatrist | Ksh 394,000 |
| Chiropractor | Ksh 189,000 |
| Physical therapist | Ksh 246,000 |
| Urologist | Ksh 536,000 |
| Nuclear medicine physician | Ksh 408,000 |
| Registered respiratory therapist | Ksh 242,000 |
| Preventive medicine physician | Ksh 358,000 |
| Forensic pathologist | Ksh 379,000 |
| Neurophysiology technologist | Ksh 126,000 |
| Dermatologist | Ksh 458,000 |
| Emergency department physician | Ksh 333,000 |
| Exercise physiologist | Ksh 355,000 |
| Physician (numerous options) | Ksh 258,000 - 586,000 |
| Genetic counsellor | Ksh 256,000 |
| Obstetrician / gynecologist | Ksh 435,000 |
| Behavioural health specialist | Ksh 171,000 |
| Psychometrician | Ksh 350,000 |
| Invasive cardiologist | Ksh 619,000 |
Allowances for doctors in Kenya
Besides their monthly salaries, Kenyan doctors also earn a wide range of allowances. These are based on the same factors that determine one's basic salary (experience, place of work, specialization). Here is a look at the average allowances per month.
- Commuter allowance: Ksh 3,000 to Ksh 9,000
- Emergency allowance: Ksh. 20,000 to Ksh 50,000
- Health allowance: Ksh. 10,000 to Ksh 30,000
- House allowance: Ksh. 10,000 to Ksh 25,000
- Leave allowance: Ksh. 5,000 to Ksh 15,000
How much does a doctor earn at Nairobi Hospital?
According to GlassDoor, the monthly salary for a doctor at Nairobi Hospital is Ksh 233,333 per month, which translates to about Ksh 2.8 million per year.
How much does a junior doctor earn in Kenya?
Junior doctors with 0-2 years of experience typically earn an average of Ksh 138,000 per month.
How much is a doctor paid per month?
Source: UGC
What is a medical officer's salary in Kenya? This depends on numerous factors, including their experience, place of work, and area of specialization. The figures range between Ksh 138,000 and way over Ksh 600,000.
What is a neurosurgeon's salary per month?
Neurologists in Kenya earn an average of Ksh 460,000 per month.
What is an intern doctor's salary in Kenya?
Interns are classified as entry-level doctors and earn anything from Ksh 30,000 to Ksh 138,000, depending on their places of work.
How much is the starting salary for a doctor?
An entry-level, fully licensed doctor in Kenya earns an average of Ksh 138,000.
What is a military doctor's salary in Kenya?
A KDF doctor's salary ranges from Ksh 78,000 to Ksh 700,000 per month, including all allowances. The exact figures are dependent on the doctor's experience.
What is a surgeon's salary per month in Kenya?
Surgeons' salaries vary greatly in Kenya. Still, they are among the best-paid medical practitioners in the country, with the likes of invasive cardiologists earning an average of Ksh 619,000 a month.
Numerous factors determine a doctor's salary in Kenya. The most significant ones include their employer/place of practice, their specialization, and experience. Regardless, doctors are among the well-paid workers in the country.
READ ALSO: NHIF rates 2022 for employees: Benefits and penalties calculated
Tuko.co.ke recently published an article about the NHIF rates, benefits, and penalties in 2022. The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is mandated to provide medical coverage to its members and their dependents.
NHIF membership is open to anyone aged 18 and above. If one is employed, the employer is expected to remit some amount towards NHIF payments. Self-employed Kenyans must make their monthly contributions through the means outlined by the fund.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
