A person working in Engineering in Rwanda typically earns around 584,000 RWF per month. Salaries range from 185,000 RWF (lowest average) to 1,240,000 RWF (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different Engineering careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Acoustics Engineer | 548,000 RWF |
Assembly Engineering Technician | 450,000 RWF |
Assistant Chief Engineer | 640,000 RWF |
Associate Engineer | 546,000 RWF |
Autocad Operator | 366,000 RWF |
Automation Engineer | 649,000 RWF |
Avionic System Support Engineer | 577,000 RWF |
Biochemical Engineer | 567,000 RWF |
BMS Engineer | 534,000 RWF |
Bridge and Lock Tender | 317,000 RWF |
Broadcast Engineer | 563,000 RWF |
CAD Design Engineer | 580,000 RWF |
CAD Designer | 381,000 RWF |
CAE Engineer | 551,000 RWF |
Ceramics Engineer | 513,000 RWF |
Civil Engineer | 628,000 RWF |
Commissioning Engineer | 569,000 RWF |
Communications Engineer | 608,000 RWF |
Condition Monitoring Engineer | 495,000 RWF |
Contract Associate Engineer | 577,000 RWF |
Control Systems Engineer | 586,000 RWF |
Controls Engineer | 563,000 RWF |
Controls Software Engineer | 515,000 RWF |
Corrosion Engineer | 535,000 RWF |
Design Engineer | 611,000 RWF |
Drafter | 352,000 RWF |
Drafting Manager | 700,000 RWF |
Drilling Engineer | 569,000 RWF |
Electrical Draughtsman | 285,000 RWF |
Electrical Engineer | 631,000 RWF |
Electrical Engineering Manager | 808,000 RWF |
Electromechanical Engineering Technologist | 603,000 RWF |
Electromechanical Equipment Assembler | 319,000 RWF |
Energy Engineer | 626,000 RWF |
Engine Assembler | 257,000 RWF |
Engineer | 644,000 RWF |
Engineering Account Manager | 682,000 RWF |
Engineering Chief Designer | 650,000 RWF |
Engineering Consultant | 824,000 RWF |
Engineering Key Account Manager | 859,000 RWF |
Engineering Lab Technician | 566,000 RWF |
Engineering Planning Manager | 817,000 RWF |
Engineering Production Manager | 1,060,000 RWF |
Engineering Project Analyst | 656,000 RWF |
Engineering Project Coordinator | 664,000 RWF |
Engineering Project Director | 1,240,000 RWF |
Engineering Project Manager | 822,000 RWF |
Engineering Research and Development Manager | 922,000 RWF |
Engineering Safety Coordinator | 455,000 RWF |
Engineering Sales Manager | 770,000 RWF |
Engineering Technician | 455,000 RWF |
Engineering Technologist | 465,000 RWF |
Environmental Engineer | 586,000 RWF |
Equipment Engineer | 535,000 RWF |
Equipment Engineering Manager | 757,000 RWF |
Estimator | 485,000 RWF |
Fabrication Specialist | 424,000 RWF |
Fabricator | 267,000 RWF |
Facade Engineer | 592,000 RWF |
Fiber Analyst | 330,000 RWF |
Field Engineer | 584,000 RWF |
Field Engineering Manager | 1,030,000 RWF |
Fire Engineer | 565,000 RWF |
Fitter and Turner | 196,000 RWF |
Forestry Strategic Planner | 669,000 RWF |
Generation Engineer | 618,000 RWF |
Genetic Engineer | 670,000 RWF |
Geological Engineer | 628,000 RWF |
Geotechnical Engineer | 636,000 RWF |
Heavy Equipment Mechanic | 306,000 RWF |
Highway Engineer | 584,000 RWF |
HSE Professional | 545,000 RWF |
HVAC Engineer | 611,000 RWF |
HVAC Supervisor | 535,000 RWF |
Industrial Engineer | 542,000 RWF |
Industrial Engineering Technologist | 542,000 RWF |
Instrument Engineer | 556,000 RWF |
Instrumentation and Control Engineer | 556,000 RWF |
Instrumentation Engineer | 603,000 RWF |
Instrumentation Manager | 591,000 RWF |
Irrigation Engineer | 592,000 RWF |
Licensed Aircraft Engineer | 641,000 RWF |
Locomotive Engineer | 542,000 RWF |
Maintenance Engineer | 561,000 RWF |
Maintenance Fitter | 200,000 RWF |
Maintenance Manager | 608,000 RWF |
Manufacturing Engineer | 564,000 RWF |
Marine Engineer | 577,000 RWF |
Materials Engineer | 551,000 RWF |
Materials Researcher | 556,000 RWF |
Materials Technician | 409,000 RWF |
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer | 654,000 RWF |
Mechanical Design Engineer | 599,000 RWF |
Mechanical Designer | 525,000 RWF |
Mechanical Engineer | 649,000 RWF |
Mechanical Engineering Manager | 838,000 RWF |
Mechanical Inspector | 564,000 RWF |
Mechatronics Engineer | 611,000 RWF |
Mining Engineer | 561,000 RWF |
Oil and Petrochemical Engineer | 626,000 RWF |
Optical Engineer | 569,000 RWF |
Optical Instrument Assembler | 291,000 RWF |
PCB Assembler | 204,000 RWF |
Photonics Engineer | 657,000 RWF |
Photonics Technician | 525,000 RWF |
Pipeline Engineer | 556,000 RWF |
Piping Designer | 323,000 RWF |
Piping Engineer | 535,000 RWF |
Planning Engineer | 594,000 RWF |
Pressure Vessel Inspector | 277,000 RWF |
Principal Cost Engineer | 606,000 RWF |
Principal Engineer | 570,000 RWF |
Principal Support Engineer | 618,000 RWF |
Process Engineer | 556,000 RWF |
Process Operator | 333,000 RWF |
Product Development Engineer | 633,000 RWF |
Product Development Technician | 434,000 RWF |
Product Engineer | 621,000 RWF |
Product Safety Engineer | 577,000 RWF |
Production Engineer | 584,000 RWF |
Project Engineer | 619,000 RWF |
Proposal Manager | 773,000 RWF |
Purchasing Engineer | 518,000 RWF |
Quality Assurance Engineer | 567,000 RWF |
Rail Engineer | 565,000 RWF |
Robotics Engineer | 677,000 RWF |
Robotics Technician | 480,000 RWF |
Safety Engineer | 608,000 RWF |
Safety Inspector | 455,000 RWF |
Safety Manager | 721,000 RWF |
Safety Officer | 295,000 RWF |
Sales Engineer | 624,000 RWF |
Scheduling Engineer | 556,000 RWF |
Service Engineer | 626,000 RWF |
Solar Engineer | 608,000 RWF |
Staff Engineer | 556,000 RWF |
Static Equipment Engineer | 569,000 RWF |
Stationary Engineer | 530,000 RWF |
Stress Engineer | 534,000 RWF |
Structural Analysis Engineer | 551,000 RWF |
Structural Designer | 504,000 RWF |
Structural Engineer | 597,000 RWF |
Structural Technician | 384,000 RWF |
Supply Chain Specialist | 551,000 RWF |
Surveyor | 458,000 RWF |
Technical Affairs Officer | 309,000 RWF |
Technical Assistant | 291,000 RWF |
Technical Engineer | 505,000 RWF |
Technical Support Engineer | 495,000 RWF |
Tender Engineer | 525,000 RWF |
Test Development Engineer | 574,000 RWF |
Transportation Engineer | 566,000 RWF |
Validation Engineer | 514,000 RWF |
Verification Engineer | 577,000 RWF |
Wastewater Engineer | 574,000 RWF |
Wind Energy Engineer | 570,000 RWF |
Wind Energy Operations Manager | 809,000 RWF |
Work Planner | 403,000 RWF |
Engineering salaries in Rwanda range from 185,000 RWF per month (minimum average salary) to 1,240,000 RWF per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
The median salary is 631,000 RWF per month, which means that half (50%) of people working in Engineering are earning less than 631,000 RWF while the other half are earning more than 631,000 RWF. 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 people working in Engineering are earning less than 367,000 RWF while 75% of them are earning more than 367,000 RWF. Also from the diagram, 75% of people working in Engineering are earning less than 1,010,000 RWF while 25% are earning more than 1,010,000 RWF.
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 Rwanda costs anywhere from 3,460,000 Rwanda Franc(s) to 10,400,000 Rwanda Franc(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 Rwanda who work in Engineering earn 12% more than their female counterparts on average.
Male | 616,000 RWF | |
Female | -10% | 552,000 RWF |
Engineering professionals in Rwanda are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 6% every 27 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 5% granted to employees 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 | 9% | |
Energy | 9% | |
Information Technology | 9% | |
Healthcare | 9% | |
Travel | 9% | |
Construction | 9% | |
Education | 9% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Rwanda 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.
Engineering is considered to be a moderate bonus-based field due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
61% of surveyed staff in Engineering reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 39% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 2% to 7% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 39% | |
No Bonus | 61% |
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.
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.
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.
The average salary for Engineering is 16% less than that of All Jobs.
City | Average Salary |
Kigali | 603,000 RWF |
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Rwanda earn 25% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 616,000 RWF | |
Public Sector | +25% | 768,000 RWF |