Net pay on a KSh 20,000 monthly salary in Kenya (2026)
On KSh 20,000 a month an employee in Kenya takes home KSh 17,950 after PAYE, NSSF, SHIF and the Housing Levy. Deductions before tax are KSh 2,050.00 and PAYE is KSh 0.00, which leaves KSh 17,950.00 a month.
PAYE is the KRA monthly bands applied to the same salary every month, on pay after the employee NSSF, SHIF and Housing Levy, less the personal relief. Allowances, bonuses and insurance relief are not included.
At KSh 20,000 a month NSSF is KSh 1,200.00: Tier I KSh 540.00 on the first KSh 9,000 plus Tier II KSh 660.00 on the rest (6% of pay). It keeps rising until pay reaches KSh 108,000. SHIF is 2.75% of gross pay, KSh 550.00 a month, and the Housing Levy is 1.5%, KSh 300.00 a month. Neither has a ceiling.
Work out your own net payWhere the KSh 20,000 goes
| Per month unless stated | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross monthly salary | KSh 20,000.00 |
| NSSF (employee) | -KSh 1,200.00 |
| SHIF (employee) | -KSh 550.00 |
| Housing Levy (employee) | -KSh 300.00 |
| Total deductions before tax | -KSh 2,050.00 |
| Taxable pay | KSh 17,950.00 |
| Tax before relief | KSh 1,795.00 |
| Personal relief | -KSh 1,795.00 |
| PAYE | KSh 0.00 |
| Net pay for the month | KSh 17,950.00 |
| Net pay for 12 months | KSh 215,400.00 |
Assumes 12 equal monthly payments of basic salary, no allowances or bonus, and a full year with one employer. The employer pays its own NSSF and Housing Levy on top, which are not taken from your pay and are not in the table.
How the tax works out
Taxable pay after the three deductions is KSh 17,950.00. The bands give KSh 1,795.00 of tax, which is less than the personal relief of KSh 2,400, so no PAYE is taken from this salary.
Compare with nearby salaries
| Monthly salary | NSSF, SHIF, levy | PAYE | Net pay | Difference a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KSh 20,000 (this page) | KSh 2,050.00 | KSh 0.00 | KSh 17,950.00 | - |
| KSh 25,000 | KSh 2,562.50 | KSh 0.00 | KSh 22,437.50 | +KSh 4,487.50 |
A rise of KSh 5,000 a month adds KSh 4,487.50 to net pay, so 90 cents of each extra shilling are kept.
Common questions
How much is KSh 20,000 a month after deductions in Kenya?
After NSSF of KSh 1,200.00, SHIF of KSh 550.00, the Housing Levy of KSh 300.00 and PAYE of KSh 0.00, net pay is KSh 17,950.00 a month.
Is PAYE taken on KSh 20,000 a month?
No. Taxable pay of KSh 17,950.00 gives KSh 1,795.00 of tax before relief, which the personal relief of KSh 2,400 a month covers.
Are SHIF and the Housing Levy taken off before tax?
Yes. Since the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024 both are deducted from pay before PAYE is worked out, as the KRA PAYE page lists them. Employee NSSF is treated the same way as a pension contribution.
Other salaries
Net pay for every monthly salary, KSh 20,000 to KSh 1,000,000 · Take-home pay calculator · PAYE tax bands explained
Sources
- KRA: PAYE page, monthly bands, personal relief and allowed deductions
- NSSF: notice to employers, Year 4 contribution rates · Social Health Authority: SHIF premium rates
- Every rate used, with its source and check date: Sources and rates
This page shows figures calculated from the KRA, NSSF and Social Health Authority pages listed on the Sources page. It is general information only. Your payslip and your personal situation may differ. Rates as at 2 November 2026.