Average Salary in Thailand

Table of Contents

How much money can you expect to earn in Thailand as a foreign employee?

Thailand’s average monthly wage is around 96,900 THB. Between 24,500 and 433,000 THB, a year may be found in a person’s annual salary.

It includes housing, transportation, and other perks. This is the average monthly wage in the United States. There is a huge disparity in pay across various professions.

A general laborer in Thailand can expect to earn around 10,500 THB per month. A construction worker will make around 15,600 THB. A mid-level office employee will earn an average of 25,700 THB.

A teacher in Thailand earns an average salary of 19,200 THB. A senior-level executive could earn in excess of 160,000 THB.

The minimum wage in Thailand is currently 300 THB per day. This translates to around 9,000 THB per month. Keep in mind that these are averages and your actual salary will vary based on your experience, education, and employer.

Thailand’s Salary Structure

Salary Scale

In Thailand, salaries may vary from as low as 24,500 THB to as much as 433,000 THB a month. However, the average wage is around 37,000 THB. The salary scale in Thailand usually starts at 15,000 THB per month and goes up to 100,000 THB.

There are a number of factors that will affect your salary in Thailand. These include your qualifications, experience, employer, industry, and even location. For example, those working in Bangkok tend to earn more than those working in other parts of Thailand.

Median Earnings

Half of the population (50%) earns less than 103,000 THB per month, while the other half (50%) earns more than 103,000 THB per month. The median earnings in Thailand are around 103,000 THB per month.

The median is a good way to measure the average wage as it is not affected by extreme values (outliers). This means that if you earn more than the median wage, you are in the top half of earners in Thailand.

Percentiles

25% of Thais earn less than 57,300 THB, while 75% make more than 57,300 THB every month. If you compare this to other Asian countries, Thailand’s minimum wage is on the high end. For instance, in Vietnam, the minimum wage is only about $140 per month.

The average salary in Thailand is currently around 25,000 THB per month. However, this number is expected to rise in the next few years. By, the average salary is projected to be around 27,000 THB per month. This would put Thailand’s average salary closer to the global average of around $2800 per month.

Are there differences between the median and average salaries of a person?

Both the average and median salaries are strong indicators because they provide a good perspective of the country’s economic situation.

The average salary is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of workers, while the median salary is the middle value when all salaries are lined up from the highest to the lowest.

There are certain advantages and disadvantages to using either method. The main advantage of using the average salary is that it provides a more comprehensive overview of earnings in Thailand.

Comparing Thailand’s Salary Scale by Years of Work Experience

How does an individual’s pay evolve over time?

In Thailand, salary levels vary depending on an individual’s years of work experience. Starting salaries are relatively low, but they increase with each year of experience. After about 10 years, salaries level off and may even decrease slightly.

The following table shows the average monthly salaries for employees in Thailand, by years of work experience:

0-1 year – 15,000 THB
2-3 years – 20,000 THB
4-5 years – 25,000 THB
6-7 years – 30,000 THB
8-9 years – 35,000 THB
10+ years – 40,000 THB

Comparison of Thailand’s Earnings by Education

What is the relationship between a person’s degree of education and the amount they make?

In Thailand, the average worker with tertiary education (college degree or above) earns about 33,000 THB per month. That is nearly double the amount of the average worker with only a primary education, who makes around 18,000 THB per month.

Workers with a secondary education make somewhere in between these two extremes, earning an average of 24,000 THB per month.

Of course, these are just averages and there are many factors that can affect someone’s salary, such as experience, the field of work, and location. But in general, it is safe to say that getting a higher level of education will lead to higher earnings in Thailand.

Is it really worth it to get a Master’s or an MBA?

Thailand’s Ph.D. workers are among the top earners in the country. The average salary for a Ph.D. worker in Thailand is 85,000 THB per month. This is higher than the average salary for an MBA holder which is around 60,000 THB per month.

A Ph.D. worker in Thailand can expect to earn a salary that is 40% higher than what an MBA holder earns. Therefore, it is definitely worth it to get a Ph.D. if you are looking to earn a high salary in Thailand.

Thailand’s Gender-Based Pay Scale

Men in Thailand earn an average of 11% more per year than women in all industries. The average salary for men in Thailand is THB 308,794 (US$9,585), while women earn an average of THB 275,716 (US$8,428).

The pay gap is even more significant when looking at specific industries. For example, in the finance and insurance sector, men earn an average of THB457,717 (US$13,914) per year while women only earn an average of THB318,161 (US$9,826). That’s a difference of 34%.

The hospitality industry also has a large gender pay gap. Men in this industry earn an average of THB273,022 (the US $8,371) while women only earn an average of THB212,780 (the US $6,546). That’s a difference of 21%.

There are some industries where women earn more than men. The biggest example is in the education sector where women earn an average of THB292,242 (the US $9,041) while men only earn an average of THB286,564 (the US $8,863). That’s a difference of 2%.

The Thai government has made strides to close the gender pay gap with new laws and regulations. For example, in 2016 the government passed a law that requires all companies with 100 or more employees to report their salaries by gender.

Thailand’s Typical Annual Salary Increase Rate

How big are Thailand’s yearly pay increases?

The average pay rise in Thailand occurs every 17 months or around 8% for Thai workers.

In urban areas, the average salary rose by THB 2,060 (US$58) per year, while in rural areas it was slightly lower at THB 1,610 (US$45).

The province with the highest average salary was Bangkok, where workers saw their pay packet grow by THB 2,390 (US$68) per year. Workers in the capital city also enjoyed the biggest pay rises in percentage terms, with their salaries increasing by 9% on average every year.

The lowest average salary was in the southern province of Narathiwat, where workers saw their pay packet grow by just THB 1,060 (US$30) per year.

Overall, Thai workers can expect to see their salaries increase by an average of THB 2,060 (US$58) per year. Bangkok workers will see the biggest increases, while those in Narathiwat will see the smallest.

Thailand Annual Increase Average by Sector

Energy – 7%
Education – 3%
Transportation – 5%
Business and Professional Services – 4%
Information Technology – 6%
Telecommunications – 5%
Government and Public Administration – 2%
Retail – 4%
Hospitality and Tourism – 3%
Construction – 5%
Manufacturing – 4%

The cost of living in Thailand is relatively low when compared to other countries, particularly Western nations. This, combined with the fact that salaries have been on the rise in recent years, means that Thailand is an attractive destination for foreigners looking to earn a good wage.

Average Rate of Salary Growth by Level of Experience

Junior-level workers in Thailand can expect to receive a 5% salary increase in, compared to 2021. Mid-level workers will see their salaries grow by 4.6%. Senior-level employees will experience the highest rate of salary growth at 5.2%.

Take note that this varies depending on the industry as well. For instance, those in the engineering and manufacturing sector can expect to see their salaries go up by 5.4%, while those in the financial services sector will only see a 3.9% salary increase.

The average salary in Thailand is expected to reach THB 332,810 (US $10,507) per year in. This is an increase of 4.7% from 2021 when the average salary was THB 317,470 (USD $10,140).

Thai Employee Bonuses and Incentive Payouts

How frequently and how much are bonuses awarded?

44% of Thai employees questioned claimed that they had not received any bonuses or incentives in the preceding year, while 56% said that they had received at least one sort of monetary compensation.

Incentives and bonuses can be ad-hoc or regular and paid out in cash or as a voucher.

The average bonus in Thailand is 4,065 THB. The most common types of bonuses are performance-based (given to employees who meet or exceed specific goals), discretionary (granted at the employer’s discretion, usually based on employee effort or contribution), and sign-on (awarded to new hires as an incentive to join the company).

Types of Bonuses

Individual Bonuses Depending on Success

Workers are granted one type of bonus such as individual-based bonuses, which are given to employees based on their personal performance. This is meant to motivate employees to work harder so they can achieve better results.

The company may also give out spot bonuses, which are given to recognize an employee’s great work on a specific project or task.

Finally, workers may also receive retention bonuses, which are given to keep talented employees from leaving the organization.

Corporate-Performance-Based Bonuses

Companies may also offer bonuses to their employees based on the organization’s overall performance. This type of bonus is often given out at the end of a fiscal year or quarter.

For example, if a company meets its sales goals, all employees may receive a percentage of those sales as a bonus.

Profit-sharing bonuses are another type of corporate-performance-based bonus. With this type of bonus, employees receive a portion of the company’s profits. This is meant to motivate employees to work together to generate more profit for the organization.

Goal-based Rewards

This kind of incentive program is common among many businesses. Using a performance management system, supervisors and managers set clear objectives for their staff to attain. Bonuses are given to those who accomplish these objectives.

A salesman, for example, may be tasked with the task of generating sales of $100,000 in a single month. They will be rewarded if they succeed in their mission.

Bonuses for the Holidays / Year’s End

During the holidays or at the end of the year, many firms reward their staff with bonuses. Often, this is a proportion of an employee’s compensation

An employee earning $50,000 a year, for example, may get a 5% bonus, or $2,500 in total.

Comparative Bonus Rates by Profession in Thailand

What qualifies a job for big bonuses and a higher income?

There are other professions in Thailand that are deemed as higher-income earners and enjoy comparatively higher bonuses. These include:

Professionals such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, etc.
Executives and senior managers
Sales professionals
IT professionals
Other highly skilled workers

But take note that the average bonus rates that we will discuss below are just based on data from a survey. They may not represent what every company in Thailand is offering.

Thailand Bonus Comparison Based on Seniority Level

Senior workers have years of experience and this is why they are paid more than junior staff. They also have a larger responsibility in their work and can handle more difficult tasks.

With that, senior employees are granted higher salaries, and their bonuses are also larger. The average salary in Thailand for a senior worker is 59,000 BHT per month (about US $1,870). Their annual bonus is approximately 48,720 BHT (US$1,560).

In general, the higher your position is in a company, the larger your salary and bonus will be. This is because you have more responsibility and contribute more to the company.

Pay for High-Potential Careers

Health and Medical

Dentist – 239,000 THB
Dietitian – 198,000 THB
Laboratory Technician – 74,000 THB
Nurse – 79,600 THB
Nutritionist – 201,000 THB
Pharmacist – 145,000 THB
Physician / Doctor – 304,000 THB
Psychologist – 209,000 THB
Therapist – 187,000 THB

Information Technology (IT)

Database Administrator – 106,000 THB
Graphic Designer – 55,400 THB
Multimedia Designer – 63,200 THB
Network Administrator – 102,700 THB
Programmer – 101,800 THB
Software Engineer – 128,500 THB
Systems Analyst – 119,700 THB
Web Developer – 79,900 THB

Management and Business

Accountant- 120,000 THB
Business Administration – 107,000 THB
Business Analyst – 119,700 THB
Business Manager – 174,400 THB
Consultant – 135,000 THB
Financial Analyst- 122,500 THB
Investment Banker- 198,500 THB
Market Research Analyst- 104,000 THB
Operations Research Analyst- 115,500 THB
Product Manager- 131,200 THB
Public Relations (PR) Specialist- 102,600 THB

Sales and Marketing

Advertising Account Executive- 103,800 THB
Brand / Product Manager- 125,200 THB
Digital Marketing Specialist- 108,700 THB
Event Planner- 106,500 THB
Marketing Communications Specialist- 102,000 THB
Market Research Analyst- 104,000 THB
Media Planner- 103,500 THB
Product Manager- 131,200 THB
Sales Account Executive- 109,700 THB
Sales Engineer- 119,100 THB
Telemarketer- 51,400 THB

Engineering

Civil Engineer – 116,600 THB
Electrical / Electronics Engineer – 121,400 THB
Industrial / Manufacturing Engineer – 114,900 THB
Materials / Metallurgical Engineer – 122,600 THB
Mechanical Engineer – 113,300 THB
Mining / Geological Engineer – 129,000 THB

City-by-City Comparison of Wages

Bangkok workers earn an average of 112,000 THB and up per month (3,733 THB per day), while those in Chiang Mai make an average of 99,667 THB (3,322 THB per day).

In terms of hourly wages, Bangkokians earn an average of 550 THB while Chiang Mai workers receive 497 THB on average.

Thailand’s Standard Hourly Wage

Thailand’s average hourly earnings are 560 THB. In terms of purchasing power parity, this is equal to $17.14.

Compared to the rest of the world, Thailand’s wage is relatively low. For example, Thailand’s minimum wage is only $2.72 per hour while the United States is $7.25.

However, it is important to note that the cost of living in Thailand is also relatively low. For example, a meal in a restaurant might only cost around $2-3 while in the United States it could be closer to $10. This means that, although wages are lower in Thailand, they can still go quite far.

Comparison of Wages in the Public and Private Sectors

Employees in Thailand’s public sector earn, on average, 7% more than those in the private sector. Remember that these are averages, so some people in the private sector earn more than those in the public sector and vice versa.