Average Salary in Colombia 2026

Currency: COP · Updated for 2026

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How much money does a person working in Colombia make?

Average Monthly Salary

2,238,600 COP

( 26,863,200 COP yearly )

~ 533 USD per month ( 6,396 USD yearly )

LOW

558,600 COP

133 USD

AVERAGE

2,238,600 COP

533 USD

HIGH

7,837,200 COP

1,866 USD

A person working in Colombia typically earns around 2,238,600 COP per month. Salaries range from 558,600 COP (lowest average) to 7,837,200 COP (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).

This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.

Distribution of Salaries in Colombia

Median and salary distribution monthly Colombia

558,600 COP
Minimum
1,230,600 COP
25th
1,969,800 COP
Median
2,238,600 COP
Average
3,133,200 COP
75th
7,837,200 COP
Maximum

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What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated.

The median (1,969,800 COP) represents the middle salary value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (2,238,600 COP) is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of workers, and can be skewed by extremely high or low salaries.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does a person's salary progress over time?

  1. 0–2 Years (Entry Level)13,431,600 COP
  2. 2–5 Years (Junior)17,459,400 COP
  3. 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)22,835,400 COP
  4. 10–15 Years (Experienced)26,863,200 COP
  5. 15+ Years (Senior)32,235,000 COP

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The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.

Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average +30% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.

Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average +31% more than those with five years or less of work experience.

As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by +18% and an additional +20% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.

“On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years experience mark.”

Salary Comparison By Education

How does the education level affect your salary?

  1. High School16,119,600 COP
  2. Certificate18,803,400 COP
  3. Associate21,491,400 COP
  4. Bachelor's26,863,200 COP
  5. Master's32,235,000 COP
  6. PhD37,606,800 COP

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High SchoolCertificate

+17%

CertificateBachelor's

+43%

Bachelor'sMaster's

+20%

Master'sPhD

+17%

It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.

Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average +17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.

Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn +43% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.

Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are +20% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.

Finally, PhD holders earn +17% more than Master's Degree holders on average.

Salary Comparison By Gender

Salary comparison by gender monthly Colombia

26,863,200 COP
Male+12%
23,637,600 COP
Female-12%

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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Colombia earn 12% more than their female counterparts on average across all sectors.

Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Colombia

How much are annual salary increments? How often do employees get salary raises?

11%

Average Raise

14 months

Review Frequency

5%

Annualized Increase

Employees in Colombia are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 11% every 14 months.

The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency

The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in Colombia is 5%.

Bonus and Incentive Rates in Colombia

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?

62%

Received Bonus

38%

No Bonus

62% of surveyed staff in Colombia reported receiving at least one form of monetary bonus.

Average Bonus Rate

4%

of annual salary

Types of Bonuses Considered:

• Individual Performance-Based Bonuses

• Company Performance Bonuses

• Goal-Based Bonuses

• Holiday / End of Year Bonuses

Finance: HighSales: HighInformation Technology: High

Top 5 Highest Paying Industries

Annual average salaries

  1. Legal36,267,000 COP
  2. Aviation34,923,000 COP
  3. Information Technology34,923,000 COP
  4. Banking33,579,000 COP
  5. Pharmaceuticals33,579,000 COP

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Salaries for Popular Jobs

Sample job titles and their average salaries

Job TitleAnnual SalaryMonthly Salary
Surgeon67,158,000 COP5,598,600 COP
Pilot53,726,400 COP4,477,200 COP
Software Developer48,354,600 COP4,027,800 COP
Data Scientist45,666,600 COP3,805,200 COP
Financial Manager42,982,800 COP3,582,600 COP
Database Administrator40,294,800 COP3,360,000 COP
Engineer37,606,800 COP3,133,200 COP
Marketing Manager34,923,000 COP2,910,600 COP
Project Manager33,579,000 COP2,797,200 COP
Accountant29,551,200 COP2,461,200 COP
Hotel Manager26,863,200 COP2,238,600 COP
Nurse24,175,200 COP2,016,000 COP
Graphic Designer22,835,400 COP1,902,600 COP
Chef20,147,400 COP1,680,000 COP
Teacher18,803,400 COP1,566,600 COP

Salary Comparison By City

Average annual salaries by city

CityAverage Salary
Bogotá30,891,000 COP
Medellín28,207,200 COP
Cali28,207,200 COP
Barranquilla28,207,200 COP
Cartagena28,207,200 COP

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more?

2,125,200 COP

Private Sector

2,352,000 COP

Public Sector

+11%

Public sector employees in Colombia earn 11% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.

Average Hourly Wage in Colombia

12,600 COP

per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Colombia is 12,600 COP. This means that the average person in Colombia earns approximately 12,600 COP for every worked hour. Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (52 × 5 × 8)

Cost of Living in Colombia

Estimated monthly expenses

Rent

197,400 COP

/month

Food

63,000 COP

/month

Transport

25,200 COP

/month

Utilities

33,600 COP

/month

Compare Your Salary

See how your salary compares with the average in Colombia and explore top-paying jobs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary in Colombia?
The average salary in Colombia is approximately 26,863,200 COP per year, or 2,238,600 COP per month before taxes. Salaries range from 558,600 COP (minimum) to 7,837,200 COP (maximum).
What is the difference between median and average salary?
The median salary (1,969,800 COP) is the middle value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (2,238,600 COP) is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of workers. If your salary is higher than both, you are doing very well. If lower than both, there is room for improvement.
Which careers pay the most in Colombia?
The highest paying industries in Colombia include Legal, Aviation, Information Technology. View all top jobs →
How is this salary data calculated?
Average gross monthly salary data from the Economic Research Institute (ERI) and SalaryExpert. Figures are estimates and may vary based on experience, location, industry, and other factors. Local currency conversions use market exchange rates.

Salary data on this page is based on research from the Economic Research Institute (ERI) and SalaryExpert. Figures are estimates and may vary based on experience, location, industry, and other factors.