Average Job Salaries in Pakistan 2026 — Complete Industry Salary Guide

 I remember when I first started working in Pakistan, seeing those modest paychecks made me realize how tough it can be to make ends meet here. On average, a Pakistani worker takes home only about PKR 82,000 per month (around USD $290). In fact, the median income – what half of all workers earn or less – is only about PKR 70,700. These figures surprised me at first, but they match official reports. To put things in perspective, Pakistan’s minimum wage is just about PKR 40,000/month. Many entry-level jobs pay barely above that, so it’s no wonder people often joke they live paycheck to paycheck.

National Salary Overview

Here’s a quick summary of Pakistan’s salary stats (2025 figures):

• Average (mean) salary: ~PKR 82,100/month (USD ~$290), calculated by adding up all workers’ salaries and dividing by the number of employees.
• Median salary: ~PKR 70,700/month – half of workers make less, half make more. This more accurately reflects the “typical” income than the average does.
• Minimum wage: ~PKR 40,000/month (for major provinces like Punjab and Sindh) – the legal minimum for unskilled labor. Many newcomers to the workforce earn around this level.
• Salary range: roughly PKR 20,700 at the lowest (entry-level/unskilled jobs) up to PKR 365,000+ at the highest (senior managers, specialists). For example, a fresh factory worker might only earn ~20k–30k, whereas CEOs and top specialists can reach the high end.

In plain terms: that PKR 82,000 “average” salary is actually quite low, and a lot of people earn well below it. These numbers highlight how large the income gap is between everyday jobs and top positions. I recall talking to a new school teacher who made under 40k – it really put in perspective that even educated workers often start near the minimum wage.

Salaries by Industry

What you earn in Pakistan depends a lot on which industry you work in. Broadly speaking:

• IT & Technology: Tech jobs pay well above average. Entry-level software developers often start at around PKR 50,000/month. With a few years of experience or working for international clients, many programmers earn PKR 100,000–250,000+ per month. Senior roles (IT managers, architects) can command even more (around PKR 180,000–224,000). One report notes the average Pakistani tech worker earns about PKR 100,000/month. For instance, a friend took a programming job at roughly that salary and thought he’d won the lottery – it’s a high income by local standards.
• Healthcare & Medicine: Doctors and specialists earn some of the top wages. A physician’s pay can range roughly PKR 61,000–462,000 per month, depending on experience and field. Dentists and medical analysts also earn strong salaries (around PKR 70,000–250,000). On average, healthcare workers make about PKR 122,000/month. I once heard a newly qualified doctor proudly say he earned 150k per month – which to him sounded like a fortune, but it fits right in with these industry figures.
• Finance & Banking: Finance jobs also pay very well. Chartered Accountants and finance directors often make PKR 100,000–1,000,000 per month. Even a mid-level finance manager might earn around PKR 150,000–200,000. For example, a friend who became a bank branch manager mentioned he took home about PKR 250,000/month, which lines up exactly with these figures. Of course, junior finance roles (like auditors or tellers) start lower (often PKR 40,000–60,000), but the finance sector can offer very high salaries for experienced people.
• Engineering, Construction & Manufacturing: Pay varies by specialty. Petroleum engineers top the chart (roughly PKR 120,000–180,000 per month). Electrical and mechanical engineers typically earn PKR 75,000–150,000, and civil engineers around PKR 70,000–130,000. Construction and factory workers earn less – many laborers see only PKR 50,000–90,000 per month. For example, I once hired a junior engineer at about PKR 80,000/month, which was right in line with those figures.
• Telecom & Outsourced Services: Telecom jobs pay decently. Network and telecom engineers make around PKR 60,000–100,000 per month. But customer service and call-center jobs pay much less – often around PKR 38,000 per month. (Pakistani call-center agents commonly earn in the mid-30k range.) Despite the low pay, these positions are abundant, which is why Pakistan has become a major outsourcing hub.
• Agriculture & Retail/Services: These are the lowest-paying sectors. Farm and factory workers usually earn only PKR 35,000–75,000 per month, depending on skills and region. Entry-level retail or service staff often start at PKR 37,000–55,000 (near minimum wage), with store managers at best reaching PKR 80,000–120,000. I grew up around farmers and small shop employees, and these figures fit what I’ve seen – many people in these fields struggle to earn more than 50–60k a month on average.

In summary, tech, healthcare, and finance roles offer the highest pay in Pakistan, while agriculture, retail, and basic services offer the least. Other industries (like media, education, entertainment) fall somewhere in between these ranges.

Education and Experience Matter

Another key point: your education and experience level have a big impact on salary. Studies show each additional year of schooling raises income by about 7–8%. For example, going from high school to a bachelor’s degree is associated with about 71% higher earnings on average. Many young professionals invest in degrees or certifications – I’ve seen friends get large pay bumps right after finishing a master’s or a technical course, which aligns with this data.

Experience also pays. Workers with 2–5 years of experience typically earn about 32% more than fresh graduates, and reaching around 10 years of experience can add roughly another 20–30% overall. In my own career, each few-year milestone came with about a 20–30% raise – exactly what the stats suggest. The lesson: stay in a field, build skills, and those extra years of experience will boost your pay.

Regional Differences

Location also makes a difference. Salaries in big cities tend to be higher. For example, Karachi averages about PKR 88,700/month, Lahore ~87,200, Faisalabad ~85,700, while Islamabad is only around PKR 76,700. I’ve noticed this too: jobs in Karachi or Lahore often offer a few thousand rupees more than similar positions in Islamabad. So where you live – city or rural – can change your expected salary by roughly 10–15%.

Conclusion

Putting it all together, navigating Pakistan’s salary landscape can feel challenging. On one hand, overall wages are low by global standards (the national average is only ~$290/month). On the other hand, there are clear paths to earn more: aim for higher-paying industries, invest in your education, and gain experience. I’ve known many people who started at the bottom of these ranges and, after gaining skills and a few years on the job, now earn comfortable middle-class incomes. For 2026, these trends should continue. The minimum wage was recently raised to PKR 40,000, which may lift the bottom end a bit. Tech and healthcare may continue to see demand-driven raises. But overall, the same rule applies: your field, education, and experience will still determine what you earn. Stay informed and keep learning – it’s the best way to grow your salary in the years ahead.