New data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) on average wage earnings per employee indicates that workers in electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply, as well as financial and insurance activities, consistently earn among the highest incomes in the economy, with average annual pay exceeding Ksh 2 million.
According to the 2026 KNBS Economic Survey, the overall annual earnings increased by 5.9 percent to KSh 988,200.
The survey reveals that the average annual earnings in the private sector increased by 7.9 percent to KSh 1,000,000 in 2025, while earnings in the public sector increased by 1.5 percent to KSh 874,300.
The average wage per employee in the private sector shows that workers in the electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply earn about Ksh 2,619,109.
KNBS Report Shows Energy and Financial Services Among Top Paying Sectors in Kenya
At the very top of the earnings structure, activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies in the private sector record the highest average pay in the economy at about KSh 4,468,785 per employee
Those working in financial and insurance activities, including banks, earn approximately Ksh 2,618,182.3 in the same sector.
The professional, scientific, and technical sector records earnings of about KSh 2,001,083 per employee, whereas administrative and support service activities record earnings of roughly KSh 1,990,534 per employee. Other high earners include information and communication at about KSh 1,438,060 per employee.
Other key sectors also show notable earnings, with transportation and storage at about KSh 1,751,913, human health and social work activities at approximately KSh 1,394,432, and other service activities at KSh 1,508,254 per employee.
The top employee in the education sector earns about KSh 1,135,297, while wholesale and retail trade, including repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, records approximately KSh 1,134,834 per employee.
Meanwhile, manufacturing records show KSh 874,301 per employee, construction records show KSh 907,956 per employee, and mining and quarrying records show KSh 837,493 per employee.
The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector remains the lowest at roughly KSh 434,638 per employee annually, highlighting the persistent income gap between primary production and high-skill industries.
Private Sector 2025 Average Wage Earnings per Employee
| Rank | Sector | Earnings (KSh) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies | 4,468,785.3 |
| 2 | Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2,619,109.4 |
| 3 | Financial and insurance activities | 2,618,182.3 |
| 4 | Professional, scientific and technical activities | 2,001,083.7 |
| 5 | Administrative and support service activities | 1,990,534.6 |
| 6 | Transportation and storage | 1,751,913.2 |
| 7 | Information and communication | 1,438,060.0 |
| 8 | Other service activities | 1,508,254.2 |
| 9 | Human health and social work activities | 1,394,432.4 |
| 10 | Education | 1,135,296.7 |
| 11 | Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 1,134,834.0 |
| 12 | Real estate activities | 373,282.6 |
| 13 | Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation | 361,106.1 |
| 14 | Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 434,637.8 |
| 15 | Mining and quarrying | 837,492.7 |
| 16 | Construction | 907,956.4 |
| 17 | Manufacturing | 874,301.2 |
| 18 | Accommodation and food service activities | 498,642.3 |
Public Sector 2025 Average Wage Earnings per Employee
In the public sector, wage earnings vary considerably across industries, with hospitality and transport among the highest-paying sectors.
According to the 2025 average wage earnings per employee, accommodation and food service activities record the highest pay at approximately KSh 3,041,690 per employee, followed by transportation and storage, which earns about KSh 2,652,302 per employee.
The financial and insurance activities sector pays around KSh 2,357,099 per employee, while workers in human health and social work activities earn approximately KSh 1,879,755 per employee.
The electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply (energy sector) records average earnings of about KSh 1,616,669 per employee, while the professional, scientific, and technical sector records average earnings of roughly KSh 1,396,992 per employee.
Other sectors report comparatively lower earnings. Information and communication pays about KSh 1,094,272 per employee, while manufacturing pays about KSh 1,158,921 per employee.
The construction sector records about KSh 956,705 per employee, and the wholesale and retail trade earns around KSh 1,310,680 per employee.
At the lower end, public administration and defense records KSh 695,346 per employee, while education records approximately KSh 731,648 per employee.
The water supply and waste management sector earns about KSh 731,337 per employee per month, while agriculture, forestry, and fishing earn the lowest at roughly KSh 579,685 per employee per month.
Also Read: Top Private and Public Sector Industries Employing Kenyans
| Rank | Sector | Earnings (KSh) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and food service activities | 3,041,690.4 |
| 2 | Transportation and storage | 2,652,301.5 |
| 3 | Financial and insurance activities | 2,357,098.8 |
| 4 | Human health and social work activities | 1,879,754.8 |
| 5 | Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 1,616,668.7 |
| 6 | Professional, scientific and technical activities | 1,396,991.9 |
| 7 | Information and communication | 1,094,271.6 |
| 8 | Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles | 1,310,679.6 |
| 9 | Manufacturing | 1,158,921.4 |
| 10 | Construction | 956,704.7 |
| 11 | Education | 731,648.2 |
| 12 | Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation | 731,336.7 |
| 13 | Public administration and defence | 695,346.1 |
| 14 | Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 579,685.1 |
| 15 | Mining and quarrying | 597,973.8 |
| 16 | Arts, entertainment and recreation | 1,038,664.3 |
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Wage Employment
The total wage employment from June 2020 to June 2025 increased by 20.9 percent, with the public sector experiencing a wage employment growth of 20.9 percent, while the private sector increased by 20.8 percent.
Annual average earnings across the economy rose by 20.4 percent during this five-year period.
In the public sector, average earnings increased by 8.7 percent, while the private sector reported growth of 26.0 percent. Within the private sector, employees in the Professional, scientific and technical activities industry reported the greatest change in average earnings at 36.9 percent over the same period.
The numbers show a simple truth, a higher pay in Kenya is now more about skills and access to strong industries than just hard work. Over time, money will flow to areas built on expertise and solid systems, while traditional sectors may struggle unless they adapt.