Average Salary in Uganda

Table of Contents

Ugandan Hourly Wage

Uganda’s average hourly salary (pay per hour) is 15,100 Ugandan Shillings (UGX). This indicates that the ordinary Ugandan earns around 15,100 Ugandan Shillings (UGX) per hour of employment.

Since Uganda is a developing country, the average Ugandan would struggle to raise his/her family on such an income.

The average Ugandan’s salary (average pay per hour) does not meet basic subsistence and this has led to widespread poverty and unemployment.

How much money does a Ugandan worker earn?

A individual working in Uganda earns an average of 2,620,000 UGX (about $2,620,000 USD) each month. Salaries start at 663,000 Ugandan Shillings (UGX). A large percentage of workers, which includes both men and women, working in

Uganda earns less than 1,500,000 UGX monthly. Most people who work in Uganda are employed by small businesses.

Salary by Experience in Uganda

How does one’s pay increase substantially?

If you are working in Uganda, your pay increases by a certain number of zeroes every year. In other words, your salary increases substantially as you gain experience.

This is hugely beneficial for any person living in Uganda because the cost of living is very high and although jobs may be available, it can be difficult to sustain a decent standard of living on one job alone.

For example, if one started working at age 20 and worked until they retired at age 65 (40 years), they would make almost three-quarters of a million Ugandan Shillings (UGX) per month!

However, some factors that could reduce this number are taxes, deductions, benefits, and inflation rate.

Salary Distribution in Uganda

Range of Salary

Salaries in Uganda start at 663,000 UGX per month and go up from there. The average salary is 2,620,000 UGX per month.

Salaries are taxed depending on the type of work and experience. Government workers are taxed 20% of their salary; private workers are only taxed 10%.

Salary on the Median Scale

Considering that the median monthly wage in Uganda is 2,830,000 UGX, this indicates that half of the population (50%) earns less than 2,830,000 UGX and the other half earns more than 2,830,000 UGX.

The median wage is the wage at which half of the population earns more than that and half earns less than that. The average and mean wages are higher than the median income, indicating distribution disparity in earnings.

Percentiles

25% of the population earns less than 1,570,000 UGX, whereas 75% make more than 1,570,000 UGX, according to the latest figures available.

What are the differences between the median income and the average pay in terms of earnings?

If your income is more than both the average and the median, you are doing quite well in your job search. If your pay is lower than both, it is likely that many individuals make more than you, and there is plenty of space for growth in your position.

In a general sense, the average pay is typically higher than the median income. This is because there are many high earners in top management positions who make more money than most of their employees.

The median income is the figure at which half of the workers make less and half make more – this means that it offers a clearer picture of how much an average worker makes in comparison to his or her peers.

Pay Comparison by Degree in Uganda

What effect does education have on pay?

There is a clear relationship between education and pay, with people who have more qualifications earning more than those who do not.

People with higher levels of education are usually effectively deemed to be more employable. Workers in Uganda that has a degree earn 16% more than someone with a GCSE.

With the increase in the number of people going to university over the last few decades, it is unsurprising that average income has increased faster for skilled workers than for unskilled ones.

As technology advances, there will be even greater demand for high-skilled roles; these are likely to continue commanding higher salaries as businesses seek to attract the most talented employees.

Is an MBA or Master’s degree worth it in Uganda?

It is difficult to generalize about the value of higher education because each person’s educational background and career goals are different.

Some people may wish to obtain a postgraduate qualification in order to secure or improve their job prospects whereas others may be looking for ways to enhance their knowledge, skills and experience in line with personal interests.

There is no shortage of people wanting degrees, so institutions need not offer them at lower prices. As demand for university Master’s degree programmes rises worldwide, institutions can afford to raise tuition fees without affecting enrolments.

The cost of obtaining an MBA degree varies depending on the institution you choose and it can take anywhere from three months up to three years (full-time) or more (part-time). There is a clear relationship between education and pay, with people who have more qualifications earning more than those who do not.

People with higher levels of education are usually effectively deemed to be more employable. Workers in Uganda that has a degree earn 16% more than someone with a GCSE.

Salary By Gender

Male workers in Uganda earn 17% more than female employees in all industries. The average monthly income of male workers is UGX 525,000 (USD 166) while female workers earn only UGX 406,400 (USD 128).

These data were found in a study done by Afrobarometer. In the public sector, female workers have an average salary that is 22% less than males.

In Uganda, most people work in agriculture. Women are almost absent from this industry and they make up about 40% of the non-agricultural labor force. Within this industry, women earn 25% less than their male counterparts on average.

Annual Salary Increment Rate in Uganda

Does annual salary increase in Uganda? How frequently do workers receive raises?

Employees in Uganda may expect a 4% raise every 29 months. This rate of annual salary increment is higher than the global average, which is 18.4%, but lower than the African percentage of 21.6%.

Annual salary increment rates vary greatly among different types of work and experience levels; unskilled laborers may expect a yearly raise of 4% to 5%, whereas professionals may seek as much as 20%.

When an employee does receive raises, they are commonly distributed at half that rate every six months. Employees also frequently receive two additional bonuses each year: one during Christmas, and another between January and February.

Annual Industry Growth Rate

Energy – 9%
Education – 9%
Information – 9%
Mining – 8%
Healthcare – 7%
Finance – 6%
Construction/Infrastructure- 5%
Transportation Services – 3.5%
Retail Trade Services- 3.5%

Average Salary Growth Figures by Experience in Uganda

Junior-level employees in Uganda saw an average salary increase of 2.5% in their first year working, while employees with three to six years of experience at the same company received salary increases averaging 3.2%.

Senior-level employees saw their salaries jump an impressive 5.6%, according to a study done by PayScale Inc., one of the world’s largest providers of on-demand compensation data. Workers pay grows overtime with more experienced staff receiving higher pay.

Popular Job Salary

Advertising / Grapic Design / Events

Art Director – 2,640,000 UGX
Creative Director – 2,570,000 UGX
Graphic Designer – 1,680,000 UGX
Photographer – 1,410,000 UGX

Architecture

Architect – 3,200,000 UGX
CAD Drafter – 1,360,000 UGXConstruction Manager – 2,190,000 UGX
Quantity Surveyor – 1,200,000 UGX

Food / Agriculture / Veterinary

Agricultural Engineer – 4,500,000 UGX
Animal Scientist – 3,830,000 UGX
Dairy Quality Assurance Analyst – 1,640,000 UGX
Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor – 1,050,000 UGXFood Scientist – 3,600,000 UGX

Computer / Information Technology

Data Analyst – 1,650,000 UGX
Software Developer – 2,600,000 UGX
Web Developer – 1,780,000 UGX

Medical Field

Nurse – 1,500,000 UGX
Pharmacist – 3,200,000 UGX
Medical Officer – 2,520,000 UGX
Dental Surgeon – 3,400,000 UGX
Physiotherapist – 51600000 UGX [highest]

Law / Legal Studies/Accountancy

Attorney at Law – 1,610,000 UGX
Lawyer – 1,570,000 UGX
Accountant – 1,200,000 UGX
Tax Expert – 3,650,000 UGX

Information Technology

Computer Engineer – 46400000 UGX
Network Engineer – 3,000,000 UGX
Systems Engineer – 2,760,000 UGX

Incentives in Uganda

How frequently and how much are bonuses given?

Workers in Uganda usually get a bonus at the end of a year or a certain time period. Bonuses are given by the companies to their employees depending on how well they have been performing, before giving them their salaries for that month.

Bonuses can also be given on festive days such as Christmas and New Year’s Day so that workers feel appreciated.

The frequency of bonuses depends on where you work and what kind of job you have, some jobs give more frequent bonuses than others.

For example, some companies give two types of salaries: Monthly salary which is paid every month and a bonus that is paid once a year or every six months if the worker reaches his/her target, while others pay all salaries after a day or week and then give a bonus at the end of each month or after six months if the worker has reached his/her target.

The amount that is given as a bonus also depends on where you work and what kind of job you have, it can either be 1-20% of your salary or about 50% of your salary depending on how well you perform your duties.

Bonuses & Rewards

Individualized Performance Bonuses

These bonuses are forms of compensation that are paid to an individual staff member, as opposed to a group bonus. Individualized Performance Bonuses do not need to be based on the organization’s performance, but rather on each individual’s performance.

Individualized Performance Bonuses are typically part of one’s formal or informal contract, though they may also be negotiated into place without prior notice during job negotiations. It is important for employers and employees to know their rights with regard to this type of bonus compensation.

Individualized performance bonuses have unique advantages–they give staff members financial recognition for good work.

Some disadvantages include being difficult to implement fairly or consistently, especially in large organizations where there are many levels of workers who must share the bonuses.

Performance-based pay

A performance-based bonus is an incentive system where employees are paid a salary and/or a bonus based upon the performance of their unit or company.

Performance-based pay can include a variety of different methods ranging from simple formulas to complex mathematical equations that measure employee productivity, revenue generation, profit margins, etc.

Goal-based Rewards

Goal-based rewards are a type of motivation that is contingent on certain goals or targets.

The idea behind this form of motivation is that the goals and targets need to be specific and measurable, and should be tied directly to an outcome (increased performance).

Goal-based rewards are more effective than traditional extrinsic motivators such as money or praise because they provide employees with autonomy and understanding of how their work contributed to the company’s overall goal.

Holiday/Year-End Bonuses

These are paid to workers in many industries, either in addition to their regular pay or in lieu of it. Bonuses are often based on performance and/or seniority.

Typical holiday bonuses are given in November or December, but they can also be paid at other times of the year.

The bonus amount depends on the company’s profits, but it is usually a fixed percentage of the employee’s annual salary. It may also be based on the number of years that they have worked for the company or overall performance at their job.

Bonus Rates by Career

What certifies a job for bonuses and good wages in Uganda?

A job is not just a means of earning money for workers, but it gives them the opportunity to develop their skills and get good pay. Generally, jobs are classified into different salaries grades depending on how much you get paid.

Jobs related to finance receive high bonus rates in Uganda. The same goes for jobs related to medicine and engineering.

While employees in information technology received moderate bonus rates. In addition, people working in education and public administration receive very low bonus rates.

Furthermore, the less skilled the job is, the lower the bonuses and wages are.

Bonuses by Seniority in Uganda

These are given to employees based on how long they have been working for a company. Certain companies provide seniority bonuses to employees that have reached certain milestones in their careers.

In Uganda, seniority bonuses are given to employees depending on how long they have been working for a particular company, and this applies regardless of whether or not the employee is in management.

Companies also provide seniority-based bonuses to employees that have achieved certain milestones in their careers, such as obtaining a promotion or reaching an anniversary date with the company.

Salary Comparison: Public vs. Private in Uganda

In Uganda, there is a significant difference in salaries between those who work for the public sector as compared to those who work for the private sector. Public sector employees tend to earn more than their privately employed counterparts.

This is due to several reasons- firstly, the public sector tends to offer better benefits, secondly, public sector jobs are less competitive and there are many applicants because of which they also pay relatively lower salary offers, and lastly, it is because senior-level positions in government often go to Ugandans with connections rather than education or experience.

On the other hand, wages in the private sector are generally lower than that of the public sector’s simply because there are many more people competing for fewer jobs making them quite competitive. Moreover, private companies often value more skills and education than that of the public sector.

As for benefits, people working in the private sector usually do not enjoy the same kind of generous benefits as those who work in the public sector.

For example, they are unlikely to receive gratuity (which is like an automatic retirement sum), housing allowance, or transport allowance even if they may need some of these things due to their specific situation.

Another major issue with regards to salary discrimination between public and private employees is that although some reports claim that there is no discrimination based on gender or ethnic group, it has been identified by many other sources including scholars that this does exist especially at lower levels.