Average salary in Nigeria
What people take home per month and earn per year, by industry and against other countries
Wages in Nigeria
83% of gross pay stays in hand after income tax and employee contributions
Per employee, all industries
Take-home / mo
NGN 84,300
Gross / yr
NGN 1.2M
Salaries in Nigeria by industry
Take-home pay by industry against the national average
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Key facts
Salaries in Nigeria in numbers
IT & communication pays the most, and by an unusual margin
It averages NGN 179,000 a month, +113% against the national average, where the same industry usually sits at +47%.
Among the lowest-paying countries in the world
#168 of 169 by average take-home pay, at NGN 84,300 a month.
Every neighbour pays more
All 5 neighbouring countries pay a higher average wage, led by Cameroon at NGN 402,000 against NGN 84,300 here.
9% of the world median wage
Take-home averages NGN 84,300 a month, against NGN 972,000 in the middle country worldwide.
Industries pay 3.1× apart
Other services sits at the bottom on NGN 58,500 a month, against a national average of NGN 84,300.
How salaries in Nigeria 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
- IT & communication+113% here, usually +47%
- Hospitality & food+18% here, usually -27%
- Transport & storage+23% here, usually +0%
Pays less than usual here
- Education-15% here, usually +16%
- Public administration+0% here, usually +24%
- Manufacturing-27% here, usually -6%
“Usually” is what the same industry pays above or below the national average in a typical country
Data source: Mean monthly earnings 2024 (ILOSTAT), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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What you could earn in Nigeria
Tell us what you do and what you earn today — we'll estimate what someone with your background could earn in Nigeria, 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 Nigeria
NGN 71,800/mo
vs NGN 1,630,000 in your country
Cost of living
NGN 44,900
vs NGN 1,090,000 in your country
Potential savings
NGN 26,900
more than in your country
Standard of living
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Nigeria?
The average salary in Nigeria is NGN 102,000 a month before tax, or NGN 84,300 take-home after tax and social contributions. Over a year that's NGN 1,220,000 before tax and NGN 1,010,000 after.
What is the average salary in Nigeria in US dollars?
The average salary in Nigeria in US dollars is about $900 a year before tax, or $62 a month after tax.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Nigeria?
The highest-paying jobs in Nigeria are in IT, finance, and professional. Take-home pay in these industries averages around NGN 179,000 a month (about NGN 2,630,000 gross a year), roughly 113% above the national average.
What is a good salary in Nigeria?
A good salary in Nigeria is generally one above the national average — more than NGN 84,300 take-home a month, or NGN 1,220,000 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 Nigeria?
A typical person in Nigeria spends about NGN 103,000 a month, while the average take-home pay is NGN 84,300. 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 Nigeria for the full picture.
What are the lowest-paying jobs in Nigeria?
Other is the lowest-paying industry in Nigeria. Pay there averages around NGN 58,500 a month take-home (about NGN 865,000 gross a year). For comparison, the highest-paying industries pay about 3.1 times more.
Is Nigeria a high-salary country?
No. By average after-tax pay, Nigeria is ahead of 1% of countries worldwide and ranks 41st out of 42 countries in Africa.
Where to live?
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Living in Nigeria
See the full country overview