Updated 17 October 2026
A doctor’s salary in Kenya depends on three things: whether they are an intern or a qualified medical officer, whether they work for the national government or a county, and where they are posted. This page brings together the figures the Ministry of Health gave for medical officer interns in July 2025 and the official basic salary scales one county advertised for medical officers and specialists. A take-home pay calculator set to each figure is included.
Intern Doctor Salary
Medical officer interns posted in the 2025/2026 cohort received appointment letters showing a basic salary of KES 46,120 a month. That figure caused alarm until the Ministry of Health explained that interns are employed at Civil Service Grade 9 (Job Group L) and receive allowances on top of basic pay. With those allowances, the Ministry said, total monthly pay comes to about KES 208,000, with a range of about KES 180,000 to KES 208,000 depending on where an intern is posted.
| Item | Amount (KES per month) |
|---|---|
| Basic salary, medical officer intern (CSG 9, Job Group L) | 46,120 |
| Total pay with allowances, lower end | about 180,000 |
| Total pay with allowances, upper end | about 208,000 |
Intern figures from the Ministry of Health’s July 2025 clarification, as reported by Kenyans.co.ke in July 2025; the Ministry’s full allowance schedule has not been published. Medical officer and specialist scales below are official, from the Narok County Public Service Board vacancy notice of July 2025.
Patients can see which hospitals in each county are contracted by SHA on our SHA hospital finder.
Allowances make up most of an intern’s pay. They include a house allowance that depends on location, hardship allowance where it applies, commuter allowance, emergency call allowance and overtime. The KES 206,000 benchmark often quoted comes from the 2017 collective bargaining agreement between the Ministry and the doctors’ union.
Medical Officer and Specialist Basic Salary
After internship and registration, doctors employed by counties enter as medical officers. In July 2025 Narok County advertised these basic salary scales:
Patients and employers can confirm a doctor is licensed this year through the official KMPDC and other professional registers.
| Post and grade | Basic salary scale (KES per month) |
|---|---|
| Medical Officer, CPSB 07 (Job Group M) | 50,610 to 67,110 |
| Medical Specialist I, CPSB 04 (Job Group Q) | 102,860 to 137,070 |
The medical officer post requires an MBChB degree plus registration and a practising licence from the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council. The specialist posts advertised included obstetrics and gynaecology, radiology, anaesthesia, general surgery and psychiatry. As with interns, a doctor’s gross pay is much higher than basic pay once house, commuter, call and other allowances are added, so use your payslip for the full figure.
Doctor Take-Home Pay Calculator
Choose a figure, or enter your own gross pay. The calculator deducts NSSF, SHIF at 2.75%, the Affordable Housing Levy at 1.5% and PAYE after personal relief.
On KES 208,000 gross, most income is taxed in the 30% band. Interns and doctors often have other deductions such as union dues, pension, insurance and loans, which are not included. If you are weighing private practice against public service, the gross to net salary calculator on jobinkenya.co.ke helps compare offers.
What Is Still Changing
Doctors’ pay is under negotiation again. In July 2026 the Ministry of Health and the doctors’ union were preparing to open talks on a new agreement for 2025 to 2029, and the Ministry committed to paying the 2024/2025 adjusted basic salary arrears. When a new pay schedule is published, the figures here will change. Medical students can compare medicine cut-offs with the KUCCPS cluster points calculator, and qualified doctors can find openings under healthcare jobs on jobinkenya.co.ke.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an intern doctor earn in Kenya?
A basic salary of KES 46,120 a month. With allowances, the Ministry of Health put total pay at about KES 180,000 to KES 208,000 depending on posting.
What job group is a medical officer?
Interns are employed at CSG 9 (Job Group L). In the Narok County notice, a medical officer post was at CPSB 07, Job Group M.
Do county doctors earn the same as national government doctors?
Not always. Counties set their own scales and allowances within national guidance, which is one reason figures vary between counties.
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