A person working in Libya typically earns around 2,290 LYD per month. Salaries range from 580 LYD (lowest average) to 10,200 LYD (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.
Salaries in Libya range from 580 LYD per month (minimum salary) to 10,200 LYD per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
The median salary is 2,290 LYD per month, which means that half (50%) of the population are earning less than 2,290 LYD while the other half are earning more than 2,290 LYD. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of the population are earning less than 1,290 LYD while 75% of them are earning more than 1,290 LYD. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population are earning less than 6,250 LYD while 25% are earning more than 6,250 LYD.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of 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. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
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 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
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 24% more than those who only managed to attain a cerificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Libya costs anywhere from 11,400 Libyan Dinar(s) to 34,300 Libyan Dinar(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on your situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if you can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Libya earn 7% more than their female counterparts on avergae across all sectors.
Male | 2,350 LYD | |
Female | -7% | 2,200 LYD |
Employees in Libya are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 5% every 28 months.
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
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
Banking | 5% | |
Energy | 1% | |
Information Technology | 6% | |
Healthcare | 2% | |
Travel | 7% | |
Construction | 3% | |
Education | 8% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Libya for the year 2021. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Junoir Level | 3% - 5% | |
Mid-Career | 6% - 9% | |
Senior Level | 10% - 15% | |
Top Management | 15% - 20% |
The difference in increment rates is somehow justified because employers put more effort to retain more experienced staff since they are harder to acquire than less experienced ones.
65% of surveyed staff in Libya reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 35% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 6% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 35% | |
No Bonus | 65% |
The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
Finance | High | |
Architecture | High | |
Sales | High | |
Business Development | High | |
Marketing / Advertising | High | |
Information Technology | Moderate | |
Healthcare | Moderate | |
Insurance | Moderate | |
Customer Service | Moderate | |
Human Resources | Moderate | |
Construction | Low | |
Transport | Low | |
Hospitality | Low |
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Accounting and Finance | |
Accountant | 1,620 LYD |
Accounting Assistant | 1,300 LYD |
Accounting Manager | 3,400 LYD |
Bookkeeper | 1,130 LYD |
Chartered Accountant | 2,050 LYD |
Corporate Treasurer | 3,110 LYD |
Financial Analyst | 3,080 LYD |
Financial Manager | 4,640 LYD |
Internal Auditor | 2,210 LYD |
Administration / Reception / Secretarial | |
Administrative Assistant | 1,270 LYD |
Office Manager | 2,070 LYD |
Receptionist | 840 LYD |
Secretary | 1,060 LYD |
Advertising / Grapic Design / Events | |
Art Director | 2,250 LYD |
Creative Director | 2,370 LYD |
Graphic Designer | 1,530 LYD |
Photographer | 1,270 LYD |
Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense | |
Aerospace Engineer | 3,020 LYD |
Air Traffic Controller | 2,650 LYD |
Flight Attendant | 1,610 LYD |
Pilot | 4,070 LYD |
Architecture | |
Architect | 2,920 LYD |
CAD Drafter | 1,230 LYD |
Automotive | |
Mechanic | 920 LYD |
Service Advisor | 1,600 LYD |
Banking | |
Bank Branch Manager | 4,130 LYD |
Teller | 890 LYD |
Bilingual | |
Teacher | 1,700 LYD |
Translator | 2,050 LYD |
Business Planning | |
Business Analyst | 3,000 LYD |
Business Development Manager | 3,780 LYD |
Project Manager | 2,680 LYD |
Care Giving and Child Care | |
Nanny | 930 LYD |
Nursery Teacher | 870 LYD |
Construction / Building / Installation | |
Civil Engineer | 2,100 LYD |
Construction Project Manager | 3,880 LYD |
Health and Safety Officer | 1,080 LYD |
Customer Service and Call Center | |
Call Center Representative | 890 LYD |
Customer Service Manager | 3,190 LYD |
Customer Service Representative | 900 LYD |
Engineering | |
Electrical Engineer | 2,380 LYD |
Engineer | 2,170 LYD |
Mechanical Engineer | 2,250 LYD |
Executive and Management | |
Chief Executive Officer | 5,500 LYD |
Chief Financial Officer | 4,740 LYD |
General Manager | 4,130 LYD |
Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering | |
Chef | 1,500 LYD |
Executive Chef | 1,640 LYD |
Hotel Manager | 4,030 LYD |
Travel Agent | 1,470 LYD |
Waiter / Waitress | 750 LYD |
Health and Medical | |
Dentist | 5,420 LYD |
Dietitian | 4,760 LYD |
Laboratory Technician | 1,790 LYD |
Nurse | 1,780 LYD |
Human Resources | |
Human Resources Manager | 3,400 LYD |
Human Resources Officer | 1,340 LYD |
Information Technology | |
Computer Technician | 1,830 LYD |
Database Administrator | 2,390 LYD |
Developer / Programmer | 2,220 LYD |
Information Technology Manager | 3,950 LYD |
Network Engineer | 2,090 LYD |
Law Enforcement / Security / Fire | |
Police Officer | 1,450 LYD |
Legal | |
Attorney | 4,710 LYD |
Legal Assistant | 1,170 LYD |
Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment | |
Journalist | 2,700 LYD |
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology | |
Biomedical Engineer | 1,890 LYD |
Pharmacist | 2,960 LYD |
Sales Retail and Wholesale | |
Cashier | 850 LYD |
Sales Manager | 3,940 LYD |
Sales Representative | 1,520 LYD |
Teaching / Education | |
Elementary School Teacher | 1,630 LYD |
Secondary School Teacher | 1,890 LYD |
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Libya earn 7% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 2,200 LYD | |
Public Sector | +7% | 2,360 LYD |