MigrantoAverage salary in Laos
What people take home per month and earn per year, by industry and against other countries
Wages in Laos
90% of gross pay stays in hand after income tax and employee contributions
Per employee, all industries
Take-home / mo
LAK 4.2M
Gross / yr
LAK 55.9M
Salaries in Laos by industry
Take-home pay by industry against the national average
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Key facts
Salaries in Laos in numbers
Energy & utilities pays the most, and by an unusual margin
It averages LAK 12,400,000 a month, +198% against the national average, where the same industry usually sits at +36%.
Next door, Macao pays 8.9× more
LAK 37,000,000 a month in Macao against LAK 4,170,000 here, the widest gap to any neighbouring country.
27% of the world median wage
Take-home averages LAK 4,170,000 a month, against LAK 15,700,000 in the middle country worldwide.
Industries pay 3.9× apart
Other services sits at the bottom on LAK 3,160,000 a month, against a national average of LAK 4,170,000.
Public-sector work pays below average
Public administration, education and health together average LAK 3,670,000 a month, 12% below the national average.
How salaries in Laos 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+198% here, usually +36%
- Construction+39% here, usually -7%
- Transport & storage+39% here, usually +0%
Pays less than usual here
- Professional & scientific-8% here, usually +35%
- Public administration-13% here, usually +24%
- Finance & insurance+23% here, usually +57%
“Usually” is what the same industry pays above or below the national average in a typical country
Data source: Mean monthly earnings 2022 (ILOSTAT), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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What you could earn in Laos
Tell us what you do and what you earn today — we'll estimate what someone with your background could earn in Laos, 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 Laos
LAK 2,660,000/mo
vs LAK 26,400,000 in your country
Cost of living
LAK 1,010,000
vs LAK 17,600,000 in your country
Potential savings
LAK 1,650,000
more than in your country
Standard of living
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Laos?
The average salary in Laos is LAK 4,660,000 a month before tax, or LAK 4,170,000 take-home after tax and social contributions. Over a year that's LAK 55,900,000 before tax and LAK 50,100,000 after.
What is the average salary in Laos in US dollars?
The average salary in Laos in US dollars is about $2,544 a year before tax, or $190 a month after tax.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Laos?
The highest-paying jobs in Laos are in energy, IT, and transport. Take-home pay in these industries averages around LAK 12,400,000 a month (about LAK 166,000,000 gross a year), roughly 198% above the national average.
What is a good salary in Laos?
A good salary in Laos is generally one above the national average — more than LAK 4,170,000 take-home a month, or LAK 55,900,000 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 Laos?
A typical person in Laos spends about LAK 2,110,000 a month, while the average take-home pay is LAK 4,170,000. 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 Laos for the full picture.
What are the lowest-paying jobs in Laos?
Other is the lowest-paying industry in Laos. Pay there averages around LAK 3,160,000 a month take-home (about LAK 41,900,000 gross a year). For comparison, the highest-paying industries pay about 3.9 times more.
Is Laos a high-salary country?
No. By average after-tax pay, Laos is ahead of 14% of countries worldwide and ranks 23rd out of 30 countries in Asia.
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Living in Laos
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