Understanding how much government officials in the Philippines earn—and which positions rank among the highest paying jobs in the public sector—has always been a topic of national interest. The Philippine government continues to uphold a standardized salary grade system designed to promote transparency, fair compensation, and competitiveness across all levels of public service.
Overview of Public Official Salaries in the Philippines
The Philippine government salary structure follows a Salary Grade (SG) system. This salary standardization is designed to ensure that public servants—from rank-and-file employees to top-ranking officials—receive compensation based on their duties, responsibilities, and qualifications.
As of 2025, salaries are based on the updated salary grade system, which includes yearly adjustments to accommodate inflation and economic conditions.
Salary Grade Breakdown: Top Government Officials
Here’s a closer look at the monthly compensation of the highest-ranking Philippine public officials based on their salary grades:
President of the Philippines
- Salary Grade: 33
- Estimated Monthly Salary: ₱419,000
Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker, Chief Justice
- Salary Grade: 32
- Estimated Monthly Salary: ₱375,000
Senators, House Representatives, Cabinet Secretaries, Supreme Court Justices
- Salary Grade: 31
- Estimated Monthly Salary: ₱333,000
Undersecretaries
- Salary Grade: 30
- Estimated Monthly Salary: ₱211,000
Assistant Secretaries
- Salary Grade: 29
- Estimated Monthly Salary: ₱189,000
These salary figures reflect the base pay without additional benefits such as allowances, bonuses, and incentives, which may vary depending on the agency and position.
Salary of Mid-Level Government Officials
Middle management and executive-level public servants also enjoy competitive salaries in 2025:
- Director IV (SG 28): Around ₱163,000/month
- Director III (SG 27): Around ₱147,000/month
- Division Chief (SG 24–26): Ranges from ₱96,000 to ₱131,000/month
This structured compensation system helps ensure a merit-based public service and provides motivation for professionals to join the public sector.
Salary of Local Government Officials
The salaries of local government officials in the Philippines are based on classifications (from 1st to 6th class LGUs) and the SG system. Here are estimated 2025 salaries for key local officials in 1st class cities:
- Mayor: ₱192,000/month
- Vice Mayor: ₱155,000/month
- City Councilor: ₱102,000/month
Smaller municipalities pay lower salaries due to budget classification differences, but all are standardized based on national guidelines.
Compensation of Rank-and-File Government Employees
Entry-level employees in the public sector also benefit from the updated salary schedule:
- Administrative Aide I (SG 1): ₱13,000/month
- Clerk II (SG 4): ₱15,500/month
- Teacher I (SG 11): ₱30,500/month
- Police Officer I (SG 10): ₱29,000/month
This scale makes public sector employment attractive for new graduates and professionals seeking stability, government benefits, and long-term career growth.
Total Number of Government Positions in 2025
There are over 2 million permanent government positions in 2025, with the majority already filled. This reflects the size and scale of the Philippine bureaucracy, including national agencies, local government units, and constitutional commissions.
Why Salary Transparency Matters
Understanding how much public officials earn fosters greater government transparency in the Philippines. It allows citizens to hold their leaders accountable and assess whether their compensation aligns with performance and public service delivery.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 salary structure for Philippine public officials is part of a broader effort to professionalize the bureaucracy and make government jobs in the Philippines competitive and attractive. With standardized pay across ranks and increasing transparency, the public can be more informed about how public funds are being spent on human resources.
If you’re exploring a career in the Philippine government, now is the best time to understand the compensation landscape and how the salary grade system works.