Kuzbass Teachers Dispute Reported Salaries

After our interview with the Minister of Education of Kuzbass, where Sofya Balakireva said that the average teacher salary in the region is 68–69 thousand rubles (approximately $680–$690 at current rates), comments came from teachers who noted that in reality, it«s not quite like that. On Saturday, 22 November 2025, the editorial office of NGS42.RU collected the most sharp statements from teachers.

Teachers from the region»s schools shared their real incomes with our editorial office. According to most, many are forced to combine two or even three positions, for example, work in school and tutoring. Or take on as many additional hours as possible.

«I have one and a half rates in school, while combining two positions, and it comes out to about 40 thousand rubles (approximately $400). This is the reality, not the numbers in reports,» says a commentator.

Some note that a salary of 69 thousand rubles (approximately $690) is quite realistic, only one has to completely give up basic human needs: sleep, food, and rest, because there«s no time for that.

»Workload of 33 hours per week and class leadership. They calculated 69,600 rubles (approximately $696). I want to clarify: no personal life. No time to even eat. Friends are twirling their fingers at their temples, wondering why you need this, they laugh at you with such conditions,« says an anonymous person.

Others wonder how to start earning the same, trying to find out which clubs and what kind of tutoring can earn extra money on top of the basic rate.

»With a workload of 30 hours in the main subject, checking notebooks in 4 classes, and taking into account class leadership, I receive 48 thousand rubles net (approximately $480). Interesting, which clubs should I go work in to make this amount grow?« asks a teacher.

At the same time, teachers say that due to the high workload, many have almost no personal life, and preparing for classes is becoming harder and harder due to fatigue. Many note that such conditions hinder not only professional development and interest but also psychological state.

»We have to work for three people, and family and personal life take a back seat. Why should we live in poverty conditions while performing an important mission? To teach your children dignifiedly, we need time to prepare for lessons, and there simply isn«t any, just as there is no dignified pay,» concludes one of the local residents.

Earlier, the editorial office of NGS42.RU reported on the results of a survey on teacher salaries in the region.