MigrantoAverage salary in Ethiopia
What people take home per month and earn per year, by industry and against other countries
Wages in Ethiopia
82% of gross pay stays in hand after income tax and employee contributions
Per employee, all industries
Take-home / mo
ETB 13,900
Gross / yr
ETB 203,000
Salaries in Ethiopia by industry
Take-home pay by industry against the national average
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Key facts
Salaries in Ethiopia in numbers
Energy & utilities pays the most, and by an unusual margin
It averages ETB 28,400 a month, +105% against the national average, where the same industry usually sits at +36%.
Every neighbour pays more
All 3 neighbouring countries pay a higher average wage, led by Djibouti at ETB 113,000 against ETB 13,900 here.
Among the lowest-paying countries in the world
#165 of 169 by average take-home pay, at ETB 13,900 a month.
12% of the world median wage
Take-home averages ETB 13,900 a month, against ETB 113,000 in the middle country worldwide.
Industries pay unusually far apart
Agriculture & fishing sits at the bottom on ETB 6,150 a month, 4.6× below the best-paid industry, where a typical country stretches 3.1×. Which industry you land in matters more here than in most places.
Public-sector work pays above average
Public administration, education and health together average ETB 16,900 a month, 22% above the national average.
How salaries in Ethiopia compare
Neighbours, region and the world on the same take-home figure
Industries against the world
Where this country pays an industry more, or less, than that industry is usually paid
Pays more than usual here
- Energy & utilities+105% here, usually +36%
- Real estate+72% here, usually +5%
- Staffing & facilities+23% here, usually -18%
Pays less than usual here
- Mining & quarrying-10% here, usually +24%
- Hospitality & food-50% here, usually -27%
- Other services-41% here, usually -19%
“Usually” is what the same industry pays above or below the national average in a typical country
Data source: Mean monthly earnings 2021 (ILOSTAT), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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What you could earn in Ethiopia
Tell us what you do and what you earn today — we'll estimate what someone with your background could earn in Ethiopia, what your living costs might be, and what you could save
- What someone in your field earns
- What you could spend and save
- How it compares with today
Take-home in Ethiopia
ETB 8,080/mo
vs ETB 189,000 in your country
Cost of living
ETB 4,100
vs ETB 126,000 in your country
Potential savings
ETB 3,980
more than in your country
Standard of living
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Ethiopia?
The average salary in Ethiopia is ETB 16,900 a month before tax, or ETB 13,900 take-home after tax and social contributions. Over a year that's ETB 203,000 before tax and ETB 167,000 after.
What is the average salary in Ethiopia in US dollars?
The average salary in Ethiopia in US dollars is about $1,284 a year before tax, or $88 a month after tax.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Ethiopia?
The highest-paying jobs in Ethiopia are in energy, finance, and real estate. Take-home pay in these industries averages around ETB 28,400 a month (about ETB 416,000 gross a year), roughly 105% above the national average.
What is a good salary in Ethiopia?
A good salary in Ethiopia is generally one above the national average — more than ETB 13,900 take-home a month, or ETB 203,000 gross a year. But a lot depends on your spending, where you live, and your financial goals.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Ethiopia?
A typical person in Ethiopia spends about ETB 8,520 a month, while the average take-home pay is ETB 13,900. How much you need to live comfortably depends on the city, your family situation, and how you usually spend. See the cost of living in Ethiopia for the full picture.
What are the lowest-paying jobs in Ethiopia?
Agriculture is the lowest-paying industry in Ethiopia. Pay there averages around ETB 6,150 a month take-home (about ETB 90,900 gross a year). For comparison, the highest-paying industries pay about 4.6 times more.
Is Ethiopia a high-salary country?
No. By average after-tax pay, Ethiopia is ahead of 2% of countries worldwide and ranks 38th out of 42 countries in Africa.
Where to live?
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Living in Ethiopia
See the full country overview