Average Salary in Zambia 2026
Currency: ZMW · Updated for 2026
How much money does a person working in Zambia make?
Average Monthly Salary
9,594 ZMW
( 115,128 ZMW yearly )
~ 369 USD per month ( 4,428 USD yearly )
LOW
2,392 ZMW
92 USD
AVERAGE
9,594 ZMW
369 USD
HIGH
33,592 ZMW
1,292 USD
A person working in Zambia typically earns around 9,594 ZMW per month. Salaries range from 2,392 ZMW (lowest average) to 33,592 ZMW (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 Zambia
Median and salary distribution monthly Zambia
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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 (8,450 ZMW) represents the middle salary value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (9,594 ZMW) 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)57,564 ZMW
- 2–5 Years (Junior)74,828 ZMW
- 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)97,864 ZMW
- 10–15 Years (Experienced)115,128 ZMW
- 15+ Years (Senior)138,164 ZMW
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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 School69,082 ZMW
- Certificate80,600 ZMW
- Associate92,092 ZMW
- Bachelor's115,128 ZMW
- Master's138,164 ZMW
- PhD161,174 ZMW
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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 Zambia
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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 Zambia earn 7% more than their female counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Zambia
How much are annual salary increments? How often do employees get salary raises?
8%
Average Raise
13 months
Review Frequency
6%
Annualized Increase
Employees in Zambia are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 8% 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 Zambia is 6%.
Bonus and Incentive Rates in Zambia
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
54%
Received Bonus
46%
No Bonus
54% of surveyed staff in Zambia 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
Top 5 Highest Paying Industries
Annual average salaries
- Legal155,428 ZMW
- Aviation149,656 ZMW
- Information Technology149,656 ZMW
- Banking143,910 ZMW
- Pharmaceuticals143,910 ZMW
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Salaries for Popular Jobs
Sample job titles and their average salaries
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | 287,820 ZMW | 23,998 ZMW |
| Pilot | 230,256 ZMW | 19,188 ZMW |
| Software Developer | 207,220 ZMW | 17,264 ZMW |
| Data Scientist | 195,728 ZMW | 16,302 ZMW |
| Financial Manager | 184,210 ZMW | 15,340 ZMW |
| Database Administrator | 172,692 ZMW | 14,404 ZMW |
| Engineer | 161,174 ZMW | 13,442 ZMW |
| Marketing Manager | 149,656 ZMW | 12,480 ZMW |
| Project Manager | 143,910 ZMW | 11,986 ZMW |
| Accountant | 126,646 ZMW | 10,556 ZMW |
| Hotel Manager | 115,128 ZMW | 9,594 ZMW |
| Nurse | 103,610 ZMW | 8,632 ZMW |
| Graphic Designer | 97,864 ZMW | 8,164 ZMW |
| Chef | 86,346 ZMW | 7,202 ZMW |
| Teacher | 80,600 ZMW | 6,708 ZMW |
Salary Comparison By City
Average annual salaries by city
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Lusaka | 132,392 ZMW |
| Kitwe | 120,874 ZMW |
| Ndola | 120,874 ZMW |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more?
9,126 ZMW
Private Sector
10,062 ZMW
Public Sector
+10%
Public sector employees in Zambia earn 10% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Hourly Wage in Zambia
52 ZMW
per hour
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Zambia is 52 ZMW. This means that the average person in Zambia earns approximately 52 ZMW for every worked hour. Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (52 × 5 × 8)
Cost of Living in Zambia
Estimated monthly expenses
Rent
962 ZMW
/month
Food
312 ZMW
/month
Transport
104 ZMW
/month
Utilities
156 ZMW
/month
Compare Your Salary
See how your salary compares with the average in Zambia and explore top-paying jobs.