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Minimum Wage by Country: Global Guide for 2024

Global payroll

Global hiring

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Deel Team

Published

September 30, 2024

Last Update

September 30, 2024

Guia de benefícios competitivos para funcionários globais
Key Takeaways
  1. What the minimum wage is across 72 countries across EMEA, NA, LATAM, and APAC
  2. Which countries have the lowest, moderate, and highest minimum wages and who they apply to
  3. What your legal obligations are as an overseas employer: If your organization hires from another country, you must adhere to the minimum wage laws where the employee resides
  4. What cost factors employers should consider before hiring global talent, apart from the minimum wage

This article outlines the minimum monthly wages for a full-time employee in 72 countries across EMEA, NA, LATAM, and APAC.

The minimum wage is the lowest monetary compensation that an employee may legally receive for hourly work, and doesn't usually apply to independent contractors. If your organization hires an employee from another country, you must adhere to the minimum wage laws where the employee resides, not where your company is located.

The non-exhaustive lists below outline a wide variety of countries with the lowest, moderate, and the highest monthly minimum wages. Wages are listed in both USD and the local currency, based on 2024 exchange rates to help you compare countries and indicate the local currency's purchase power.

Countries with the lowest minimum wages (below $500 USD per month)

Country Minimum Wage in USD Minimum Wage in Local Currency
Albania 451.72 ALL 40,000
Argentina 209.83 ARS 202,800
Armenia 242.25 AMD 93,750
Azerbaijan 176.47 AZN 300
Belarus 191.29 BYN 626
Bolivia 360.23 BOB 2,500
Brazil 259.74 BRL 1,412
China Based on region
Lowest: 258.16 in Guangxi
Highest:383.68 in Shanghai
CNY 1,810–2,690
Colombia 310.73 COP 1,300,000
Cote D'Ivoire 127.44 XOF 75,000
Dominican Republic 196.86–347.39 DOP 11,900–21,000
Ecuador 460 USD 460
Guatemala 409.20 ordinary salary +
32.31 bonification
GTQ 3,166.38 ordinary salary +
GTQ 250 bonification
Indonesia Based on province
134.67–335.03
IDR 2,036,947–5,067,381
Kenya 117.21 KES 15,120
Madagascar Based on sector and tenure
57.72–98.11
MGA 262,680–446,500
Malaysia 363.64 MYR 1,500
Mauritius 326.44 MUR 15,000
Mexico Based on employee location
In NBFZ: 263.94
Outside NBFZ: 175.26
In NBFZ: MXN 5,206.80
Outside NBFZ:MXN 3,457.40
Morocco 291.74 MAD 2,828
Nigeria 41.94 NGN 70,000
Pakistan 90.04 PKR 25,000
Peru 275.93 PEN 1025
Philippines 250.56 PHP 14,028.75
Russia Based on employee location
Moscow: 262.93
St. Petersburg: 249.14
Other: 204
Moscow: RUB 24,801
St. Petersburg: RUB 23,500
Other: RUB 19,242
Serbia 413.58 RSD 43,360
South Africa 279.59 ZAR 4,781.27
Sri Lanka 41.83 LKR 12,500
Thailand 336.42 THB 10,890
Uganda 35.23 UGX 130,000
Ukraine 194.13 UAH 8,000
Global Hiring Toolkit
Global Salary Insights
Explore and benchmark salaries for roles in 120+ countries to stay within your hiring budget and make a competitive offer.

Countries with a moderate minimum wage, between $500 and $1,000 USD per month

Country Minimum Wage in USD Minimum Wage in Local Currency
Bosnia and Herzegovina 569.08 BAM 996.78
Bulgaria 534 BGN 933
Chile 555.40 CLP 500,000
Costa Rica Based on education level
678.99–1,447
CRC 352,164.91–752,220.04
Croatia 938.41 EUR 840
Czechia 839.50 CZK 18,900
Estonia 916 EUR 820
Georgia 869.96 GEL 2,375
Greece 927.23 in 14 payments
Equivalent of 1081.40 in 12
EUR 830 in 14 payments
Equivalent to EUR 968.33 in 12
Honduras 506.79 HNL 12,597.91
Hong Kong 810.58 HKD 6,300
Hungary 750.41, or 916.94 for professional workers HUF 266,800.00–326,000
Latvia 781.48 EUR 700
North Macedonia 606.18 MKD 33,352
Portugal 915.79 in 14 payments
Equivalent to 1,023.07 in 12 payments
EUR 820 in 14 payments
Equivalent to EUR 956.66 in 12
Romania 830.06 RON 3,700
Slovakia 837.61–1485.37 EUR 750–1330
Taiwan 869.58 TWD 27,470
Turkey 585.49 TRY 20,002.50
Uruguay 867.42 UYU 36,180

Guide

Are you building a global team?
Global hiring comes with global compliance challenges. Learn how to improve your approach.

Countries with the highest minimum wage, above $1,000 USD per month

Country Minimum Wage in USD Minimum Wage in Local Currency
Australia 2742.32 AUD 3965.847
Austria 1679.03 EUR 1,500
Belgium 2317.60 EUR 2,070.48
Canada 1920.91–2433.15
Based on province:
Alberta: 1920.91
British Columbia: 2228.25
Manitoba: 2023.36
New Brunswick: 1959.33
Newfoundland and Labrador: 1997.75
Northwest Territories: 2137.73
Nova Scotia: 1945.34
Nunavut: 2433.15
Ontario: 2201.16
Prince Edward Island: 2048.97
Quebec: 2016.07
Saskatchewan: 1920.91
Yukon: 2252.29
CAD 2598-3290.80
Based on province:
Alberta: CAD 2598
British Columbia: CAD 3013.68
Manitoba: CAD 2736.56
New Brunswick: CAD 2649.96
Newfoundland and Labrador: CAD 2701.92
Northwest Territories: CAD 2891.24
Nova Scotia: CAD 2631.04
Nunavut: CAD 3290.80
Ontario: CAD 2977.04
Prince Edward Island: CAD 2771.20
Quebec: CAD 2726.70
Saskatchewan: CAD 2598
Yukon: CAD 3046.18
Cyprus Based on tenure
1119.04
1007.14 for first 6 months
Based on tenure
EUR 1000
EUR 900 for first 6 months
France 1977.19 EUR 1,766.92
Germany 2406.98 EUR 2,151.00
Ireland 2401.72 EUR 2,146.30
Israel 1584.91 NIS 5,880.02
Lithuania 1034.23 EUR 924
Luxembourg 3452.13 EUR 3,085
Malta 1,032.95 EUR 924.63
Netherlands 2800.87 EUR 2,503
New Zealand 2354.63 NZD 1,496.33
Poland 1,122.55 4,300.00 PLN
Puerto Rico 1160 USD 1160
Slovenia 1403.49 EUR 1,254
South Korea 1571.24 KRW 2,060,740
Spain 1305.51 in 14 payments
Equivalent to 1480.44 in 12
EUR 1,166.67 in 14 payments
Equivalent to EUR 1323 in 12
United Kingdom 2219.60 GBP 1,982.93
United States 1253.97 is US Federal Minimum Wage
Many states enforce a higher minimum wage
USD 1253.97 is US Federal Minimum Wage
Many states enforce a higher minimum wage
Global Hiring Toolkit
Global Employment Comparison
Instantly compare local laws and employer costs like benefits, holidays, minimum wage, and onboarding times across 80+ countries.

Countries with no specified minimum wage

The following countries don't have a government-mandated minimum wage:

  • Denmark:
  • Finland
  • Iceland
  • Italy (some sectors)
  • Norway
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Norway

However, this doesn't translate into cost-savings for employers. Wages are negotiated and set through collective bargaining agreements between employers and trade or labor unions.

To explore and benchmark localized, industry-specific salaries across 150+ countries, use [Deel's Global Salary Insights tool](https://www.deel.com/salary-insights].

Limitations of comparing the minimum monthly wage per country

Employers should consider the following limitations of the country data shared above:

Variable minimum wages

The minimum monthly wages outlined are based on a full-time employee, aged over 18. The minimum salary entitlement often varies, based on factors such as:

  • Sector
  • Employee age
  • Benefit in kind received
  • Region
  • Level of education
  • Role type
  • Internship, apprenticeship, or student status

Currency

The USD equivalent to local currency varies, dependent on exchange rates. Employees should usually be paid in their local currency, but exemptions may apply.

Working hours per week

Each country's minimum monthly wage is based on the average number of working hours per week. This varies between countries, ranging from 35 hours per week in France to 48 in Peru. This should be considered when calculating hourly salaries.

Salary payment installments

The article lists monthly salaries based on the number of payments, which varies between countries. Typically, monthly salaries are paid across 12 annual installments. However, a 13th salary, or a 13th and 14th salary payment are mandatory in some countries. For example:

  • It's mandatory to pay an employee a 13th base salary in Brazil, and it's typically paid in two installments, in November and December. In the Philippines, the mandatory 13th base salary is usually paid in December.
  • Employers in Greece must pay employees' annual base salaries in 14 payments, with extra payments typically made around Easter, summer, and Christmas. Similarly, in Portugal, the base salary is divided into 14 payments and extra payments are made around Christmas and the summer holidays.

These practices are often mandated by law or collective bargaining agreements and are considered part of the employee's regular compensation, not a bonus. In other countries, paying salaries in 13 or 14 payments is customary but not mandatory. It can vary across companies and industry sectors, and may include bonuses as well as base pay. To remain compliant with local labor laws, employers should verify how many salary payments per year are required for their country and industry, and the number of installments the listed minimum monthly wage applies to.

Other employee costs to consider

In addition to the minimum wage, employers must be aware of other costs associated with hiring in a particular location. Mandatory employee benefits and paid and unpaid leave entitlement vary between countries, as well as corporate tax rates and mandatory contributions.

Stay compliant with local labor laws with Deel

Staying compliant with local employment laws (like minimum wages) is the number one concern for many employers wanting to hire internationally. Still, it shouldn’t stop you from diving into the global talent pool.
 
Deel generates employment contracts that comply with local regulations for every international employee and independent contractor. You don’t need to learn a new set of rules each time you hire in a new country: we take care of it for you.
 
Book a demo today to streamline international hiring, compliance, and payroll.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational use only and shouldn't be considered legal, business, or tax advice. Consult an expert for guidance on your specific case. Please note that this article was last updated on [09/30/2024]. Users shouldn't rely on this information without independently verifying it.

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