Author name: Apply Smart PH

What is a Master Teacher I? How much is the salary in 2026? What qualifications are required? And is it actually better than becoming a Principal?

Teacher VII is the highest classroom teaching position under the Department of Education’s Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System

Teacher VI is assigned Salary Grade 16 under the DepEd Expanded Career Progression System. In 2026, the monthly basic salary for a Teacher VI ranges from approximately ₱45,694 to ₱49,020, depending on the teacher’s salary step within the grade.

Teacher IV is the position that comes right after Teacher III in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) classroom teaching career line — and for many public school teachers, it’s the rank that marks a genuine shift from “still climbing the early ladder” to “established, advanced classroom professional.

If you are currently working as a Teacher II in the Department of Education (DepEd), the next milestone in your teaching career is the Teacher III position.

Teacher II is the first promotion most public school teachers in the Philippines experience — the moment a Teacher I’s tenure, performance, and professional development finally translate into a higher Salary Grade.

Teaching is one of the largest professions in the Philippines, with the Department of Education employing close to a million personnel nationwide — the overwhelming majority of them classroom teachers.