Administration / Reception / Secretarial Average Salaries in Nairobi 2026
How much money does a person working in Administration / Reception / Secretarial make in Nairobi?
LOW
52,100
KES AVERAGE
104,000
KES HIGH
237,000
KES
A person working in Administration / Reception / Secretarial in Nairobi typically earns around 104,000 KES. Salaries range from 52,100 KES (lowest average) to 237,000 KES (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
Salary Variance
The provided figure represents the median compensation that encompasses housing, transportation, and other perks. The salaries within the Administration / Reception / Secretarial domain in Nairobi exhibit significant discrepancies across various professions. In case you seek information about the remuneration of a specific position, please refer to the salaries listed below for respective job titles.
Salaries for specific jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Administration / Reception / Secretarial | |
| Accreditation Specialist | 195,000 KES |
| Admin Clerk | 59,200 KES |
| Admin Executive | 95,700 KES |
| Administrative Aide | 69,600 KES |
| Administrative Analyst | 129,000 KES |
| Administrative Assistant | 90,400 KES |
| Administrative Associate | 87,700 KES |
| Administrative Coordinator | 85,200 KES |
| Administrative Manager | 136,000 KES |
| Administrative Officer | 88,900 KES |
| Administrative Receptionist | 81,100 KES |
| Administrative Secretary | 75,300 KES |
| Administrative Specialist | 85,600 KES |
| Administrative Support | 75,000 KES |
| Administrative Technician | 67,000 KES |
| Board Secretary | 81,100 KES |
| Branch Office Administrator | 141,000 KES |
| Business Administrator | 139,000 KES |
| Business Office Manager | 213,000 KES |
| Central Office Operator | 87,300 KES |
| Clerical Assistant | 50,000 KES |
| Clerk | 58,400 KES |
| Commercial Administrator | 118,000 KES |
| Commissions Processor | 111,000 KES |
| Conveyancing Secretary | 71,600 KES |
| Corporate Receptionist | 86,500 KES |
| Creditors Clerk | 78,400 KES |
| Data Entry Clerk | 57,200 KES |
| Data Entry Specialist | 86,400 KES |
| Document Controller | 74,900 KES |
| Document Management Specialist | 104,000 KES |
| Executive Administrative Assistant | 99,100 KES |
| Executive Assistant | 92,200 KES |
| Executive Officer | 108,000 KES |
| Executive Personal Assistant | 106,000 KES |
| Executive Secretary | 85,800 KES |
| File Clerk | 57,900 KES |
| Front Desk Attendant | 84,200 KES |
| Front Desk Coordinator | 103,000 KES |
| Front Desk Manager | 126,000 KES |
| Front Desk Receptionist | 80,900 KES |
| Front Desk Shift Leader | 105,000 KES |
| Front Office Assistant | 74,500 KES |
| Front Office Executive | 105,000 KES |
| Group Services Manager | 223,000 KES |
| Head Receptionist | 97,600 KES |
| Inquiry and Admissions Clerk | 56,100 KES |
| Key Account Assistant | 97,100 KES |
| Keyboard and Data Entry Operator | 52,900 KES |
| Leasing Administrator | 106,000 KES |
| Legal Secretary | 91,400 KES |
| Librarian | 100,000 KES |
| Mail Processing Clerk | 51,300 KES |
| Mail Sorting Clerk | 49,400 KES |
| Mailroom Clerk | 50,800 KES |
| Mailroom Manager | 89,300 KES |
| Management Support Secretary | 88,000 KES |
| Master Programme Coordinator | 163,000 KES |
| Medical Receptionist | 85,900 KES |
| Meeting and Event Assistant | 99,100 KES |
| Meeting and Event Manager | 215,000 KES |
| Night Manager | 126,000 KES |
| Office Administrator | 137,000 KES |
| Office Assistant | 59,600 KES |
| Office Automation Clerk | 103,000 KES |
| Office Clerk | 68,500 KES |
| Office Coordinator | 85,500 KES |
| Office Manager | 147,000 KES |
| Office Services Coordinator | 114,000 KES |
| Office Supervisor | 108,000 KES |
| Operations Analyst | 167,000 KES |
| Operations Clerk | 92,200 KES |
| Operations Manager | 217,000 KES |
| Personal Assistant | 85,600 KES |
| Planning Assistant | 99,800 KES |
| Process Expert | 125,000 KES |
| Program Coordinator | 125,000 KES |
| Programme Assistant | 105,000 KES |
| Project Administrator | 146,000 KES |
| Project Coordinator | 180,000 KES |
| Query Administrator | 106,000 KES |
| Reception Team Lead | 104,000 KES |
| Receptionist | 79,200 KES |
| Records Officer | 73,200 KES |
| Registry Administrator | 85,900 KES |
| Registry and Filing Clerk | 56,300 KES |
| Rental Clerk | 58,300 KES |
| Schedule Officer | 57,200 KES |
| Scheduler | 61,100 KES |
| School Secretary | 76,800 KES |
| Secretary | 73,500 KES |
| Service Reception Head | 95,500 KES |
| Switchboard Operator | 71,900 KES |
| Technical Program Manager | 189,000 KES |
| Technical Project Manager | 195,000 KES |
| Typist | 67,800 KES |
| Unit Secretary | 72,200 KES |
| Wayleave Officer | 58,100 KES |
Administration / Reception / Secretarial Jobs Pay Scale and Salaries in Nairobi
Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range
Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary
Salaries in Administration / Reception / Secretarial in Nairobi range from 52,100 KES (starting average salary) to 237,000 KES (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). To clarify, the number presented is not the legally mandated minimum wage. Rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that involved thousands of participants and professionals from across the entire country.
Median Salary
The median income in the field of Administration / Reception / Secretarial is 97,100 KES, implying that half of the workforce in Nairobi earns less than this figure, and the other half earns more. It represents the central value of salaries. As a rule of thumb, you would prefer to be part of the group earning above the median wage, situated on the right-hand side of the salary distribution chart.
Percentiles and Salary Scale
Two values that are highly correlated with the median are the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution diagram, it is possible to determine that 25% of individuals employed in Administration / Reception / Secretarial in Nairobi earn less than 79,800 KES, while 75% of them earn more. Additionally, the diagram reveals that 75% of individuals earn less than 118,000 KES, while 25% earn more than that.
Pay Scale Structure
Data was regrouped into brackets to provide a better understanding of what salaries can be expected. This approach was deemed more accurate than relying solely on the average salary, as it offers greater insights into the distribution of salaries in the field of Administration / Reception / Secretarial in Nairobi. The analysis revealed that roughly 65% of all reported salaries fell within the range of 67,500 KES to 109,000 KES. Approximately 20% of salaries were below the 67,500 KES mark, while 10% ranged from 109,000 KES to 127,000 KES. Only 5% of individuals earned a gross salary of 127,000 KES or higher.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does a person's salary progress over time?
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees in Administration / Reception / Secretarial in Nairobi having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
Salary Comparison By Education
How does the education level affect your salary?
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income?
We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degree levels across many jobs in Administration / Reception / Secretarial in Nairobi, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Kenya costs anywhere from 737,000 KES to 2.2M KES and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
Employees can't expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming they already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch to a higher-paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on the situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if a person can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. Degree costs can be recovered roughly in a year or so.
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Administration / Reception / Secretarial / Nairobi
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? In the field of Administration / Reception / Secretarial in Kenya, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 16%.
| Male | 93,500 KES | |
| Female | -14% | 80,800 KES |
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Administration / Reception / Secretarial / Nairobi
How much are annual salary increments in Nairobi for individuals working in Administration / Reception / Secretarial? How often do employees get salary raises?
Professionals working in Administration / Reception / Secretarial in Kenya are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 3% every 30 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 4% granted to employees every 29 months.
The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Salary Packages and Schemes
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
Bonus and Incentive Rates / Administration / Reception / Secretarial / Kenya
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
86% of surveyed staff in Administration / Reception / Secretarial reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 14% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 0% to 4% of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | 14% | |
| No Bonus | 86% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Hourly Average Wage / Administration / Reception / Secretarial / Nairobi
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Administration / Reception / Secretarial in Nairobi is 600 KES.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.
About The Hourly Pay Rate
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?
The minimum pay rate per hour for people working in Administration / Reception / Secretarial in Nairobi is 300 KES. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Salary Comparison By City
| City | Average Salary |
| Kisumu | 84,500 KES |
| Mombasa | 95,000 KES |
| Nairobi | 104,000 KES |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in Kenya is 14% on average across all career fields.
| Private Sector | 140,000 KES | |
| Public Sector | +14% | 159,000 KES |
Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide
What is considered to be a good and competitive salary in Administration / Reception / Secretarial in Nairobi?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 97,100 KES and 118,000 KES. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.
Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
Base / Basic Salary
The base salary for jobs in Administration / Reception / Secretarial in Nairobi ranges from 52,100 KES to 79,800 KES. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios.