In the Philippines, government salaries follow a system that makes pay fair and organized. The salary grade 2023 for government employees explains how jobs are divided into levels, with each level showing how much a worker earns. This helps bring clarity and fairness to thousands of government jobs across the country.
A salary grade (SG) is a number that represents the pay level of a government job. The system has 33 grades in total.
SG 1 is the lowest and is usually for entry-level support positions.
SG 33 is the highest and belongs only to the President of the Philippines.
The higher the grade, the higher the pay. This makes sure that bigger responsibilities come with bigger salaries.
Each grade has steps that allow employees to gradually earn more without changing jobs.
Most grades have eight steps.
Workers usually start at Step 1.
After about three years of service, they can move to the next step, which means a salary increase.
The only exception is SG 33, which has just two steps because it is reserved for the President.
Here are some sample monthly salaries from the 2023 table:
SG 1 Step 1: ₱13,000
SG 10 Step 1: ₱23,176
SG 20 Step 1: ₱57,347
SG 33 Step 2: ₱431,718
As shown, salaries increase significantly as the grade goes higher, reflecting the weight of each position.
Different government positions are assigned to specific salary grades. Examples include:
SG 33 – President of the Philippines
SG 32 – Vice President, Senate President, Chief Justice, and Speaker of the House
SG 31 and below – Senators, Department Secretaries, Justices, and other high officials
Other jobs, such as teachers, nurses, clerks, and police officers, are assigned to lower grades based on their roles and qualifications.
To make things clearer, government jobs are grouped into four main categories:
Professional Supervisory (SG 9–33) – Leaders such as directors, police chiefs, and principals.
Professional Non-Supervisory (SG 8–30) – Professionals with college degrees who don’t manage teams.
Sub-Professional Supervisory (SG 4–18) – Supervisors of clerical or technical staff.
Sub-Professional Non-Supervisory (SG 1–10) – Entry-level and support staff like aides and maintenance workers.
This structure helps balance salaries across all levels of government work.
In 2024, the government approved Salary Standardization Law VI (SSL VI), which increases pay and adds benefits for government workers.
Here’s what it includes:
1st tranche – Effective January 1, 2024 (applied retroactively)
2nd tranche – Effective January 1, 2025
3rd tranche – Scheduled for January 2026
4th tranche – Scheduled for January 2027
Medical allowance – ₱7,000 yearly for each worker starting in 2025
This law ensures that salaries rise step by step and that workers get more support.
Salary grades may seem like just numbers, but they are important for several reasons:
Fairness – People in the same grade and step earn the same pay.
Transparency – Employees know exactly how much they should be paid.
Motivation – Steps and tranches provide steady increases to reward service.
Career Growth – Workers can plan their careers and promotions clearly.
For job seekers, salary grades make it easier to see the income they can expect. For current workers, it’s a system that values both service and responsibility.
How many salary grades are there?
There are 33 grades in total.
How many steps per grade?
Eight steps in most grades, but SG 33 has two.
Who earns the most?
The President of the Philippines under SG 33.
When do increases happen?
Step increases usually happen every three years. Bigger increases come during SSL tranches.
Do LGUs follow the same system?
Yes, but amounts may vary depending on the class of the city or municipality.
The salary grade system is the backbone of government pay in the Philippines. It keeps salaries fair, transparent, and motivating for workers at every level—from utility staff to the highest officials.
With SSL VI in place, employees can look forward to steady raises and added benefits like medical allowances. This system not only rewards responsibility but also ensures that those who serve the public are supported in their careers.
In the end, salary grades are more than just tables of numbers—they represent fairness, stability, and growth for government employees and their families.
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