Working in KALRO is pretty amazing. You get to explore different research technologies in horticultural and industrial crops, food crops, livestock management, and land/water management.
The goal of the national institution is to encourage, coordinate, streamline, and regulate livestock, crop, biotechnology research, and genetic resources in Kenya.
The efforts of KALRO ensure food security in the country amongst other great things.
Talk about being smack in the middle of changing the course of the country!
The question is how much money an employee of KALRO receives as remuneration every month.
Even with such a rewarding job, you have to be curious about the salary scales at the organization.
This information will help you plan accordingly if you were to land a job in KALRO.
Most importantly, you can determine if a position in the institution is in the cards for you or not.
As usual, we have the scoop and have dished it out below.
Salary Scales
Because of its wide range of functions, KALRO hires employees of different educational backgrounds.
These include software engineers, front office personnel, agricultural engineers, call center agents, procurement assistants, research assistants, analytical chemists, statisticians, and web developers.
Each job group attracts a different salary range from another.
In general, an employee at KALRO with post-secondary education will earn anywhere between Kshs. 20,000 and Kshs. 500,000.
The first category includes interns fresh from college or those joining the institution under the internship program.
The latter group includes senior managerial and leadership positions reserved for highly qualified individuals.
Many positions besides interns and managers attract a salary scale of Kshs. 50,000 – Kshs. 150,000.
The actual wage earned depends on many factors including your experience, education, negotiating power, and additional skills.
Here’s a list of some of the common positions at KALRO and their salaries per month.
Interns (Kshs. 20,000-35,000)
KALRO takes in interns from myriad fields including the ones mentioned above.
Regardless, all interns get the same salary. They can only work at KALRO for a period of one year after which the contract will expire.
Learn more here: KALRO Internship Salary, Vacancies, and Application Process
Science Laboratory Technicians (Kshs. 50,000)
Science laboratory technicians work in the varied KALRO labs across the country.
They collect crop and animal samples and carry out analyses on them.
Keeping records on the same is also part of their daily duties.
Their salaries can go up to more than Kshs. 100,000 as they gain more experience.
Analytical Chemists (Kshs. 60,000)
Analytical chemists work hand in hand with laboratory technicians to carry out experiments on different samples.
Their job descriptions entail a lot hence the higher salary scale.
Agricultural Engineers (Kshs. 60,000)
Entry-level software engineers earn this much.
However, those that have been with the institution for a while earn a lot more.
Graders (Kshs. 80,000)
KALRO graders play a vital role in classifying agricultural products and livestock by weight, condition, size, and other parameters.
As such, they are paid handsomely for their services.
It is not uncommon for a grader to be paid upwards of Kshs. 150,000.
Junior Managers (Kshs. 120,000 – Kshs. 150,000)
Junior managers are higher up in the KALRO food chain and consequently have higher salary scales.
These enjoy 6-figure salaries as well as additional benefits that their superiors don’t have access to.
Senior Managers (Kshs. 200,000 – Kshs. 500,00)
KALRO senior managers are compensated well for their responsibilities in the institution.
It takes time and vast experience to reach this level but it is equally rewarding in terms of money and additional benefits.
What Can You Expect To Earn at KALRO?
Knowing the average salary and the scales of different professions within KALRO is one thing.
It’s entirely another to know what you expect to earn as a prospective employee for the institution.
Well, we cannot give you an absolute figure but we can point you in the right direction.
It all comes down to your value for the company. If you have experience in your field, you can negotiate for better pay.
Say for instance that you are a software engineer with a wealth of experience. You can easily ask for a salary that is much higher than that of your colleague.
Else, if you are fresh out of school, you may not have any bargaining power at all.
Work on building your resume and climb up the ladder.
Conclusion
Finding information about KALRO salary scales is one of the key aspects of any job process for any candidate.
Besides helping you decide if the job posting is worth your time or not, it also gives you a head start during an interview.
You can use the information to negotiate your salary and get the best offer possible.
