Average Salary in Iraq 2026
Currency: IQD · Updated for 2026
How much money does a person working in Iraq make?
Average Monthly Salary
702,160 IQD
( 8,425,920 IQD yearly )
~ 536 USD per month ( 6,432 USD yearly )
LOW
210,910 IQD
161 USD
AVERAGE
702,160 IQD
536 USD
HIGH
2,106,480 IQD
1,608 USD
A person working in Iraq typically earns around 702,160 IQD per month. Salaries range from 210,910 IQD (lowest average) to 2,106,480 IQD (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 Iraq
Median and salary distribution monthly Iraq
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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 (631,420 IQD) represents the middle salary value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (702,160 IQD) 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?
- 0–2 Years (Entry Level)4,212,960 IQD
- 2–5 Years (Junior)5,477,110 IQD
- 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)7,161,770 IQD
- 10–15 Years (Experienced)8,425,920 IQD
- 15+ Years (Senior)10,110,580 IQD
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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?
- High School5,055,290 IQD
- Certificate5,897,620 IQD
- Associate6,741,260 IQD
- Bachelor's8,425,920 IQD
- Master's10,110,580 IQD
- PhD11,796,550 IQD
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High School → Certificate
+17%
Certificate → Bachelor's
+43%
Bachelor's → Master's
+20%
Master's → PhD
+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 Iraq
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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 Iraq earn 11% more than their female counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Iraq
How much are annual salary increments? How often do employees get salary raises?
9%
Average Raise
16 months
Review Frequency
8%
Annualized Increase
Employees in Iraq are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 16 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 Iraq is 8%.
Bonus and Incentive Rates in Iraq
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
45%
Received Bonus
55%
No Bonus
45% of surveyed staff in Iraq reported receiving at least one form of monetary bonus.
Average Bonus Rate
7%
of annual salary
Types of Bonuses Considered:
• Individual Performance-Based Bonuses
• Company Performance Bonuses
• Goal-Based Bonuses
• Holiday / End of Year Bonuses
Top 5 Highest Paying Industries
Annual average salaries
- Legal11,374,730 IQD
- Aviation10,954,220 IQD
- Information Technology10,954,220 IQD
- Banking10,532,400 IQD
- Pharmaceuticals10,532,400 IQD
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Salaries for Popular Jobs
Sample job titles and their average salaries
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | 21,064,800 IQD | 1,755,400 IQD |
| Pilot | 16,851,840 IQD | 1,404,320 IQD |
| Software Developer | 15,167,180 IQD | 1,264,150 IQD |
| Data Scientist | 14,323,540 IQD | 1,193,410 IQD |
| Financial Manager | 13,481,210 IQD | 1,123,980 IQD |
| Database Administrator | 12,638,880 IQD | 1,053,240 IQD |
| Engineer | 11,796,550 IQD | 982,500 IQD |
| Marketing Manager | 10,954,220 IQD | 913,070 IQD |
| Project Manager | 10,532,400 IQD | 877,700 IQD |
| Accountant | 9,268,250 IQD | 772,900 IQD |
| Hotel Manager | 8,425,920 IQD | 702,160 IQD |
| Nurse | 7,583,590 IQD | 631,420 IQD |
| Graphic Designer | 7,161,770 IQD | 597,360 IQD |
| Chef | 6,319,440 IQD | 526,620 IQD |
| Teacher | 5,897,620 IQD | 491,250 IQD |
Salary Comparison By City
Average annual salaries by city
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Baghdad | 9,690,070 IQD |
| Basra | 8,847,740 IQD |
| Mosul | 8,847,740 IQD |
| Erbil | 8,847,740 IQD |
| Kirkuk | 8,847,740 IQD |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more?
666,790 IQD
Private Sector
737,530 IQD
Public Sector
+11%
Public sector employees in Iraq earn 11% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Hourly Wage in Iraq
3,930 IQD
per hour
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Iraq is 3,930 IQD. This means that the average person in Iraq earns approximately 3,930 IQD for every worked hour. Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (52 × 5 × 8)
Cost of Living in Iraq
Estimated monthly expenses
Rent
49,780 IQD
/month
Food
15,720 IQD
/month
Transport
6,550 IQD
/month
Utilities
7,860 IQD
/month
Compare Your Salary
See how your salary compares with the average in Iraq and explore top-paying jobs.