Average Salary in Myanmar 2023

Table of Contents

How much does a worker in Myanmar earn?

The average monthly salary in Myanmar is 545,000 MMK for an employee. From a starting salary of 138,000 MMK (the lowest) to a maximum of 2,430,000 MMK (the highest average, the actual maximum salary is higher).

It includes accommodation, transportation, and other perks in the monthly wage. The earnings potential of many professions varies enormously. The earnings difference between the highest and lowest salaries is about 18 times. Take note that the average salary in Myanmar is still low compared to other countries.

The Burmese Wage Distribution

Range of Salary

The average monthly wage in Myanmar is 138,000 MMK, with the highest-paid at 2,430,000 MMK. The lowest wage is 1,000 MMK. Workers in Myanmar are paid an average of 14% more than the minimum wage.

A Median Earnings

With a median wage of 534,000 MMK, half of the population makes less than this amount, while the other half makes more. The pay figure that falls somewhere in the centre is what we mean by the median.

Percentiles

75% of the population earns more than 302,000 MMK, whereas 25% earns less than this amount. The median represents the middle salary value. In other words, half of the population earns more than this amount, and half earns less.

In Myanmar, the average salary is around 402,000 MMK per month. This means that an employee in Myanmar earning the average salary makes about 4,424 USD per year.

While the average salary in Myanmar is relatively low, the cost of living is also relatively low. For example, a meal at a mid-range restaurant will cost about 3,000 MMK (3.20 USD), and a monthly pass for public transportation is only about 2,000 MMK (2.13 USD).

Therefore, even though the average salary in Myanmar is low, living a relatively comfortable life is still possible.

A few factors can contribute to the low average salary in Myanmar. One reason is that the country is still emerging from years of military rule and economic isolation.

How does the median pay vary from the average wage?

Both the average salary and median income are measures of central tendency that give us information about what workers in a given area earn. The main difference is that the average salary includes all salaries. In contrast, the median only includes the salaries of those in the middle of the wage distribution.

In general, the median wage is lower than the average salary because it is not affected by extreme values (outliers).

For example, if we take workers’ salaries in a city and find that the average salary is $50,000, but there is one worker who earns $1 million, the median wage would be lower than the average salary.

The median wage is a good measure of central tendency when there are extreme values in the data set because it is not affected by them. However, it is essential to remember that the median only includes the salaries of those in the middle of the wage distribution.

This means that it does not give us information about how much workers earn at the top or bottom of the wage distribution.

Comparative Wages Based on Years of Experience in Myanmar

How does a person’s wage change over time?

In Myanmar, the average wage is highest for those with 20+ years of experience. The median represents the middle salary value. So, half of the workers earn less than the median, and half earn more.

For example, a worker with 20+ years of experience makes a median salary that is 5.4 times greater than a worker with 0-1 year of experience.

The average salary in Myanmar is MMK 5,570,856 per year. Overall, workers in Myanmar may expect to make an average salary of MMK 1,173,333 per month. This is the median monthly salary, including housing, transportation, and other benefits.

The median represents the middle salary value. So, half of the workers earn less than the median, and half earn more.

Comparing Myanmar’s Wages Based on Education

Is there a correlation between your education level and your salary?

In Myanmar, the average salary for someone with a high school education is MMK 4,285,000. For someone with some college education, the average salary jumps to MMK 5,378,750. And for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher, the average salary is MMK 7,171,429.

So it seems that there is a correlation between education level and salary in Myanmar. The higher your level of education, the higher your salary will be.

Of course, many other factors, such as experience, job title, and industry, affect one’s earnings potential. But if we’re just looking at education level, it seems there is a correlation between the two in Myanmar.

Myanmar Wage Comparisons Based on Gender

On average, men workers in Myanmar earn 19% more than their female colleagues across all industries. The most significant gender pay gap is in the construction sector, where men earn 42% more than women. In the financial and insurance sector, men earn 26% more than women, while in the manufacturing sector, the gender pay gap narrows to 9%.

On a national level, Myanmar’s gender pay gap is among the widest in Southeast Asia. In Thailand, for instance, men earn 12% more than women, while in Malaysia and Indonesia, men earn 5% and 3% more, respectively.

Burma’s Typical Annual Salary Increase:

What are the average yearly pay increases in Myanmar? How frequently do workers get a pay raise?

Burmese wage increases are expected to rise by around 8% every 18 months. This is based on an analysis of market data and surveys of employers. Yearly increases are more common in larger companies.

The minimum wage in Myanmar is currently MMK 3600 per day. This will likely increase to MMK 4800 per day in the next few years. Take note that the average salary differs depending on the industry you work in.

2022 Annual Increase Rates by Business

Healthcare – 7%
Banking – 5%
Business and Consulting – 4%
Information Technology – 3%
Telecommunications – 2%
Consumer Goods and Services – 1%
Retail – 1%

In Myanmar, the average salary is expected to rise by 3-4% in 2022. This is due to the country’s strong economic growth and the increasing demand for skilled workers.

The healthcare, banking, and IT sectors are expected to see the most significant increases, while the retail and consumer goods sectors are expected to see more modest increases.

Overall, this is good news for workers in Myanmar, as it means that their salaries are likely to increase at a faster rate than inflation.

Rate of Salary Increase in Myanmar based on Experience Level

In Myanmar, junior-level workers are expected to receive the highest salary increase next year, at 8.6%. Senior-level workers follow this at 7.9% and mid-level workers at 7.8%.

These findings are based on a survey of employers in Myanmar conducted by Aon plc, a leading global professional services firm. The survey found that overall, salaries in Myanmar are expected to increase by an average of 7.8% in 2022, up from 7.5% in 2021 and 6.8% in 2020.

When broken down by experience level, the survey found that junior-level workers are expected to receive the highest rate of salary increase next year, at 8.6%. Senior-level workers follow this at 7.9% and mid-level workers at 7.8%.

Burma’s Bonus and Incentive Pay Scale

How often and how frequently are bonuses, and how much are they?

Surveyed employees in Myanmar reported receiving no bonuses or incentives in the preceding year, whereas 49% stated they got at least one monetary compensation.

Employees receive about a range of 3% to 6% of their yearly bonus salaries. The most common bonus was an annual performance-based bonus, given to 36% of respondents. Other bonuses included long service awards (given to 12% of survey participants), spot bonuses (9%), and profit-sharing/commission (7%).

When it comes to frequency, the majority of employees reported receiving their annual bonuses once a year. A smaller proportion said they got theirs every six months (21%) or every quarter (19%).

Various Forms of Bonus Payments

Individual Bonuses Determined by Work Performance

Workers in Myanmar are guaranteed to receive their bonuses if they meet or exceed their predetermined targets. The amount of the bonus varies depending on how well the employee performs.

Annual Performance-based Bonus

The most common bonus reported by survey participants was an annual performance-based bonus, given to 36% of respondents. This type of bonus is typically a percentage of the employee’s salary and is paid out once a year.

Profit-Sharing/Commission

Profit-sharing or commission bonuses are typically given to employees in sales or other revenue-generating roles.

Long Service Award

Long service awards are given to employees who have been with a company for an extended period of time, usually five years or more.

Spot Bonus

A spot bonus is a one-time bonus given to an employee for meeting a specific goal or milestone.

Bonuses Based on Company Performance

In some cases, bonuses are not tied to an individual’s performance but rather to the company’s overall performance. This is more common in larger companies.

Bonuses Determined by Goals

Workers who have specific goals, such as increasing sales by a certain amount or hitting a production target, may be eligible for a bonus if they achieve those goals.

Incentives Based on Cost-Savings

Employees who can help their company save money may be eligible for an incentive bonus. This could include finding ways to reduce waste or improving efficiency in their work process.

Bonuses for the Holidays / Year’s End

Some companies give their employees a bonus during the holidays or at the end of the year to show appreciation for their work. These bonuses are typically a tiny percentage of the employee’s salary.

Comparison of Bonus Payouts in Myanmar According to Profession

What are the work characteristics that merit a high wage and various benefits?

Other professions are not always in the public eye but make significant contributions to society that could be said to be just as important. A look at the data from various job sectors in Myanmar reveals some interesting patterns about what professions are most valued in the country.

The table below shows the average bonus payments given out by employers in Myanmar in 2022:

CEOs and other top executives – 1,200,000 MMK
Bankers and financial sector workers – 700,000 MMK
Teachers – 650,000 MMK
Civil servants – 500,000 MMK
Doctors and healthcare professionals – 400,000 MMK
NGO workers/volunteers – 380,000 MMK
Factory workers/labor- 300,000 MMK
Farmers – 250,000 MMK

Seniority-Level Bonuses in Myanmar

Senior workers are more likely to be rewarded with bonuses for years of experience. Employers in Myanmar typically give out two types of bonuses to these employees: seniority bonuses and performance-based bonuses.

Seniority bonuses are given to workers who have been with a company for a long time. The size of the bonus depends on the worker’s service length and position within the company.

For example, a worker who has been with a company for ten years may receive a more significant bonus than a worker who has only been with the company for five years.

Performance-based bonuses are given to workers who have met or exceeded their performance goals. These bonuses are typically based on sales volume, profitability, or customer satisfaction.

In general, seniority-level bonuses are more common in Myanmar than performance-based bonuses. This is because employers often have a better understanding of a worker’s length of service than their actual performance.

Salaries for High-Paying Jobs

Engineering

Electrical Engineer – 518,000 MMK
Engineer – 496,000 MMK
Mechanical Engineer – 511,000 MMK
Electronics Engineer – 476,000 MMK

Management

CEO – 2,780,000 MMK
CFO – 1,620,000 MMK
CTO – 1,560,000 MMK
Human Resources Manager – 730,000 MMK

Information Technology

IT Project Manager – 1,210,000 MMK
Software Developer – 942,000 MMK
Database Administrator – 822,000 MMK
Network Engineer – 810,000 MMK

Sales and Marketing

Sales Manager – 1,040,000 MMK
Marketing Manager – 950,000 MMK
Product Manager – 967,400 MMK
Business Development Manager – 954,800 MMK

Healthcare and Medical

Doctor – 1,280,000 MMK
Dentist – 946,400 MMK
Pharmacist – 715,200 MMK
Nurse – 516,800 MMK
Veterinarian – 507,600 MMK

Accounting and Finance

Financial Analyst – 924,000 MMK
Accountant – 642,400 MMK
Auditor – 639,600 MMK
Commercial Banker – 864,000 MMK
Investment Banker – 1,188,800 MMK

Comparison of Salary by Myanmar City

Yangon workers earn around 576,000 MMK, and Naypyidaw workers receive 491,000 MMK on average per month.

In terms of salary, Mandalay falls in the middle with an average monthly income of 486,000 MMK. Meanwhile, those in Bago earn an average of 452,000 MMK, and workers in Pathein receive an average of 430,500 MMK per month.

The lowest salaries can be found in Taunggyi, where the average worker only earns 402,000 MMK monthly. This is followed by Mawlamyine (413,000 MMK), Myitkyina (418,000 MMK), and Sittwe (419,000 MMK).

Myanmar’s Standard Hourly Rate

In Myanmar, the average hourly earnings are 3,140 MMK. The median is slightly higher at 3,500 MMK. The highest-paid 10% of workers in Myanmar make 19,200 MMK per hour, while the lowest-paid 10% earn only 1,040 MMK.

The Salary Differences Between the Government and Private Sectors

Employees in Myanmar’s public sector earn an average of 13% more than their private-sector colleagues. However, this difference is not as significant as in other countries. For instance, government workers in India earn about 34% more than private-sector workers.

The disparity between the government and private sectors is partly because many public-sector jobs are filled by political appointees rather than through merit-based selection processes. In addition, government employees often have better job security and benefits than their counterparts in the private sector.