Average Salary in Panama 2026

Currency: USD · Updated for 2026

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How much money does a person working in Panama make?

Average Monthly Salary

1,100 USD

( 13,200 USD yearly )

~ 1,100 USD per month ( 13,200 USD yearly )

LOW

275 USD

275 USD

AVERAGE

1,100 USD

1,100 USD

HIGH

3,850 USD

3,850 USD

A person working in Panama typically earns around 1,100 USD per month. Salaries range from 275 USD (lowest average) to 3,850 USD (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 Panama

Median and salary distribution monthly Panama

275 USD
Minimum
605 USD
25th
968 USD
Median
1,100 USD
Average
1,540 USD
75th
3,850 USD
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 (968 USD) represents the middle salary value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (1,100 USD) 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)6,600 USD
  2. 2–5 Years (Junior)8,580 USD
  3. 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)11,220 USD
  4. 10–15 Years (Experienced)13,200 USD
  5. 15+ Years (Senior)15,840 USD

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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 School7,920 USD
  2. Certificate9,240 USD
  3. Associate10,560 USD
  4. Bachelor's13,200 USD
  5. Master's15,840 USD
  6. PhD18,480 USD

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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 Panama

13,200 USD
Male+11%
11,748 USD
Female-11%

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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 Panama earn 11% more than their female counterparts on average across all sectors.

Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Panama

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

7%

Average Raise

13 months

Review Frequency

6%

Annualized Increase

Employees in Panama are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 7% every 13 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 Panama is 6%.

Bonus and Incentive Rates in Panama

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?

53%

Received Bonus

47%

No Bonus

53% of surveyed staff in Panama reported receiving at least one form of monetary bonus.

Average Bonus Rate

6%

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. Legal17,820 USD
  2. Aviation17,160 USD
  3. Information Technology17,160 USD
  4. Banking16,500 USD
  5. Pharmaceuticals16,500 USD

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Salaries for Popular Jobs

Sample job titles and their average salaries

Job TitleAnnual SalaryMonthly Salary
Surgeon33,000 USD2,750 USD
Pilot26,400 USD2,200 USD
Software Developer23,760 USD1,980 USD
Data Scientist22,440 USD1,870 USD
Financial Manager21,120 USD1,760 USD
Database Administrator19,800 USD1,650 USD
Engineer18,480 USD1,540 USD
Marketing Manager17,160 USD1,430 USD
Project Manager16,500 USD1,375 USD
Accountant14,520 USD1,210 USD
Hotel Manager13,200 USD1,100 USD
Nurse11,880 USD990 USD
Graphic Designer11,220 USD935 USD
Chef9,900 USD825 USD
Teacher9,240 USD770 USD

Salary Comparison By City

Average annual salaries by city

CityAverage Salary
Panama City15,180 USD
Colón13,860 USD
David13,860 USD

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more?

1,045 USD

Private Sector

1,155 USD

Public Sector

+11%

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

Average Hourly Wage in Panama

6 USD

per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Panama is 6 USD. This means that the average person in Panama earns approximately 6 USD for every worked hour. Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (52 × 5 × 8)

Cost of Living in Panama

Estimated monthly expenses

Rent

128 USD

/month

Food

41 USD

/month

Transport

15 USD

/month

Utilities

20 USD

/month

Compare Your Salary

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary in Panama?
The average salary in Panama is approximately 13,200 USD per year, or 1,100 USD per month before taxes. Salaries range from 275 USD (minimum) to 3,850 USD (maximum).
What is the difference between median and average salary?
The median salary (968 USD) is the middle value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (1,100 USD) 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 Panama?
The highest paying industries in Panama 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.