How much does a public-sector teacher earn in Guatemala? Since 1 August 2026, a preprimary or primary teacher in class A earns Q4,698 a month; in class F, Q10,570.50. For básico and diversificado (lower and upper secondary education), the figures are Q4,981 in class A and Q11,207.25 in class F. A contract teacher under renglón 021 (budget line 021) earns Q4,429 in preprimary and primary or Q4,669 in básico and diversificado. These are the figures from the scale published by the Ministerio de Educación (Mineduc, Ministry of Education) on 4 June 2026, as transcribed by Prensa Libre. The January-to-July figures come from its transcription of Acuerdo Gubernativo 262-2025 (Government Agreement 262-2025).
Quick summary: Public-sector teacher pay combines a sueldo básico (basic salary) by educational level and role under Acuerdo Gubernativo 262-2025 with a percentage for the clase escalafonaria (salary classification) under Decreto 1485, article 4: an additional +25% per class, up to +125% in F. The 3% increase effective from 1 August 2026 raised the preprimary and primary base from Q4,558 to Q4,698. This page covers public-sector teaching; see the general salaries page for other salary comparisons.
Teacher salaries since 1 August 2026
On 4 June 2026, Mineduc announced a 3% increase according to clase escalafonaria, effective from 1 August 2026, and published the new scales on its official account that day. Prensa Libre transcribed them as follows:
| Clase escalafonaria | Preprimary and primary | Increase | Básico and diversificado | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (basic salary) | Q4,698 | Q140 | Q4,981 | Q145 |
| B (+25%) | Q5,872.50 | Q175 | Q6,226.25 | Q181.25 |
| C (+50%) | Q7,047 | Q210 | Q7,471.50 | Q217.50 |
| D (+75%) | Q8,221.50 | Q245 | Q8,716.75 | Q253.75 |
| E (+100%) | Q9,396 | Q280 | Q9,962 | Q290 |
| F (+125%) | Q10,570.50 | Q315 | Q11,207.25 | Q326.25 |
Source: Mineduc’s scale of 4 June 2026, as transcribed by Prensa Libre on 6 June 2026. The official Mineduc announcement confirms the increase and effective date. Diario de Centro América, the official newspaper, published the announcement on 5 June with the effective date and administrative staff increase, but without the table by class.
Contract teachers under renglón 021: Q4,429 a month in preprimary and primary, an increase of Q140; Q4,669 in básico and diversificado, an increase of Q145, according to the same transcription.
Mineduc administrative staff: a Q250 monthly increase, rather than a percentage increase (Diario de Centro América, 5 June 2026).
How these figures are calculated
The figures match the escalafón rule: the class A increase of Q140 is multiplied by the same factor as the salary. As a calculation using the published amounts, class B is Q4,558 × 1.25 = Q5,697.50, plus Q140 × 1.25 = Q175, giving Q5,872.50. Under the Decreto 1485 rule, class F receives 2.25 times the class A basic salary.
Salaries from January to July 2026 (Acuerdo Gubernativo 262-2025)
According to Prensa Libre’s report of 30 December 2025, Acuerdo Gubernativo 262-2025, issued by the ministries of Public Finance and Education, was published in Diario de Centro América on 30 December 2025 and took effect on 1 January 2026. It set basic teacher salaries for 2026, including the 5% increase effective since 1 June 2025:
| Position (Acuerdo 262-2025) | Monthly basic salary | Escalafón |
|---|---|---|
| Preprimary teachers and principals (párvulos) | Q4,558 | Plus escalafón |
| Primary teachers and principals | Q4,558 | Plus escalafón |
| Specialized rural teachers | Q4,490 | Plus escalafón |
| Docentes empíricos | Q4,452 | Plus escalafón |
| Principals without a degree or certification | Q4,452 | No escalafón |
| Secondary teacher, 30 weekly teaching periods (full-time) | Q4,836 | Plus escalafón |
| Physical education or aesthetic education teacher, full-time | Q4,836 | — |
Including escalafón, La Hora calculated the 2026 figures by class: primary from Q4,558 (A) to Q10,255.50 (F), and secondary from Q4,836 (A) to Q10,881 (F), in its report of 4 January 2026. These were the figures in effect through 31 July 2026.
Secondary teachers paid by teaching period: in básico, diversificado, normal (teacher-training education), and vocational and technical education, pay depends on the weekly teaching periods assigned. In Prensa Libre’s transcription of the Acuerdo 262-2025 table, a Mineduc teacher with 1 weekly period receives Q162; with 5 periods, Q807; with 22, Q3,546; and with 30 periods (full-time), Q4,836. The same table has a separate, lower column for teachers employed by the Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes (Ministry of Culture and Sports).
The full official agreement could not be read: the copy on the website of the Oficina Nacional de Servicio Civil (ONSEC) was not available. This section’s amounts come from Prensa Libre’s transcription.
What the clase escalafonaria is and how teachers advance
The escalafón is established in Decreto 1485, Ley de Dignificación y Catalogación del Magisterio Nacional (law governing the recognition and classification of national teaching staff). Article 4 states:
Se establecen seis clases de catalogación:
Clase A con el sueldo básico.
Clase B con un aumento del 25% sobre el sueldo básico.
Clase C con un aumento del 50% sobre el sueldo básico.
Clase D con un aumento del 75% sobre el sueldo básico.
Clase E con un aumento del 100% sobre el sueldo básico.
Clase F con un aumento del 125% sobre el sueldo básico.
[English rendering: Six classification classes are established. Class A receives the basic salary. Classes B, C, D, E and F receive increases of 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% and 125%, respectively, over the basic salary.]
Other rules in the same law:
- Entering class A: register the teaching qualification or qualifications and documents demonstrating capacity and suitability with the Dirección de Estadística Escolar y Escalafón (school statistics and teacher classification directorate), for the corresponding level and subject to article 44, as required by article 27.
- Moving up a class: article 28 requires at least 60 points evaluated by the Junta Calificadora de Personal (personnel evaluation board).
- Every four years: points are checked annually and totalled every four years, with a maximum of 80 points over the four years. Length of service is worth 32 points, work quality 16, professional development through qualifications, courses and research 16, and special merit 4. The article also includes servicios extra-cargo (services beyond the paid role). These provisions appear in article 51, in chapter XI, DISPOSICIONES TRANSITORIAS (transitional provisions).
- Changing educational level does not mean losing the class if the teacher earned it with at least 60 points, or demonstrates sufficient merit before the Junta Calificadora de Personal under the specific regulations (article 30).
Source: Decreto 1485, text published by the Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes.
The class scale and renglón 021: why teachers at the same level can earn different amounts
- Pay by clase escalafonaria: the scale combines the basic salary with the percentage for the teacher’s class, which is why the table runs from A to F.
- Renglón 021 with teaching duties: Mineduc’s scale, as transcribed by Prensa Libre, gives one amount per level, without classes: Q4,429 for preprimary and primary and Q4,669 for básico and diversificado since August 2026.
For information about registration, see Mineduc teacher registration.
What this page does not cover
- Deductions: these tables show the published monthly salary amounts. See the net salary calculator for a separate calculation.
- Aguinaldo and bono 14 (annual employment bonuses): these tables show salary and escalafón. Separate tools are available in the aguinaldo calculator and bono 14 calculator.
- Retired teachers: this page does not provide pension amounts.
- Private schools: this page covers the public-sector scale. For other salary information, see salaries in Guatemala.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teacher earn in Guatemala in 2026?
A public-sector preprimary or primary teacher in clase escalafonaria A earns Q4,698 a month under the scale effective since 1 August 2026, published by Mineduc on 4 June 2026 and transcribed by Prensa Libre. From January to July 2026, the salary was Q4,558 under Acuerdo Gubernativo 262-2025. In class F, the highest class, the salary is Q10,570.50.
How much do teachers in classes A, B, C, D, E and F earn?
Preprimary and primary, since 1 August 2026: class A Q4,698, B Q5,872.50, C Q7,047, D Q8,221.50, E Q9,396 and F Q10,570.50. Básico and diversificado: A Q4,981, B Q6,226.25, C Q7,471.50, D Q8,716.75, E Q9,962 and F Q11,207.25. These are the figures transcribed by Prensa Libre.
How much does a contract teacher under renglón 021 earn?
Under the Mineduc scale effective since 1 August 2026, as transcribed by Prensa Libre, a teacher under renglón 021 earns Q4,429 a month in preprimary and primary, and Q4,669 in básico and diversificado.
What is a teacher’s clase escalafonaria?
It is the salary classification established by Decreto 1485, Ley de Dignificación y Catalogación del Magisterio Nacional. Article 4 establishes six classes: A receives the basic salary, while B to F receive increases of 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% and 125% over that basic salary. Moving up a class requires at least 60 points evaluated by the Junta Calificadora de Personal, under article 28.
How much was the 2026 teacher pay increase?
On 4 June 2026, Mineduc announced a 3% increase according to clase escalafonaria, effective from 1 August 2026: Q140 for preprimary and primary class A, rising to Q315 for class F. Administrative staff received a Q250 monthly increase.
Sources
- Mineduc: official announcement of the salary scales, 4 June 2026.
- Prensa Libre: Así quedará el salario de los maestros con el aumento del 3% que dará el Mineduc, 6 June 2026.
- Diario de Centro América: Mineduc concede nuevo incremento al magisterio, 5 June 2026.
- Prensa Libre: ¿Cuánto ganarán los maestros en el 2026? Publican salarios oficiales según categoría de contratación en el Mineduc, 30 December 2025.
- La Hora: Así quedaron los salarios de los maestros para el 2026 con cada escalafón, 4 January 2026.
Historical statutory reference:
- Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes: Decreto 1485, Ley de Dignificación y Catalogación del Magisterio Nacional, articles 4, 27, 28, 30 and 51.
