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Average Salary in Lagos 2023

How much money does a person working in Lagos make?


Average Monthly Salary
351,000 NGN
( 4,210,000 NGN yearly)

LOW
88,800
NGN
AVERAGE
351,000
NGN
HIGH
1,570,000
NGN

A person working in Lagos typically earns around 351,000 NGN per month. Salaries range from 88,800 NGN (lowest average) to 1,570,000 NGN (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.

Pay Scale and Salaries in Lagos

Median and salary distribution Lagos monthly
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Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison

5% of people earn
653,000 NGN or more
10% of people earn
511,000 to 653,000 NGN
20% of people earn
199,000 NGN or less
65% of people earn
199,000 to 511,000 NGN
Minimum Salary
88,800
NGN
Median
299,000
NGN
Maximum
1,570,000
NGN


Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range

  • Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary

    Salaries in Lagos range from 88,800 NGN per month (starting salary) to 1,570,000 NGN per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). This is not the minimum wage as per the law, only the lowest reported number in the salary survey that had thousands of participants and professionals from all over the country.

  • Median Salary

    The median salary is 299,000 NGN per month, which means that half (50%) of the population are earning less than 299,000 NGN while the other half are earning more than 299,000 NGN. 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.

  • Percentiles and Salary Scale

    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 216,000 NGN while 75% of them are earning more than 216,000 NGN. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population are earning less than 454,000 NGN while 25% are earning more than 454,000 NGN.

  • Pay Scale Structure

    We grouped the most common and recurring salaries into brackets to give more insight into what salary to expect. This method is more accurate than just the average salary and gives more insights on how salaries are actually distributed. Around 65% of all reported figures are in the range 199,000 NGN to 511,000 NGN. Approximatly 20% fall under the 199,000 NGN cap. Ten percent of wages are from 511,000 NGN to 653,000 NGN. Only 5% of people grossed 653,000 NGN or more.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does a person's salary progress over time?

Salary Comparison By Experience Level
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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 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.


Change in salary based on experience varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of many different jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.

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.

On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years* experience mark.
* Based on the average change in salary over time. Salary variations differ from person to person.

Salary Comparison By Education

How does the education level affect your salary?

Salary Comparison By Education
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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.


Change in salary based on education varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of multiple jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.

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.


Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?

A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Nigeria costs anywhere from 1,690,000 Naira(s) to 5,080,000 Naira(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.



Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender

Salary comparison by gender Nigeria monthly
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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 Nigeria earn 7% more than their female counterparts on avergae across all sectors.

Male
348,000 NGN
Female-6%
326,000 NGN
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Nigeria

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

Nigeria

Employees in Nigeria are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 8% every 19 months.

Annual Salary Increment Rate Nigeria
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The figures provided here are averages of numbers. Those figures should be taken as general guidelines. Salary increments will vary from person to person and depend on many factors, but your performance and contribution to the success of the organization remain the most important factors in determining how much and how often you will be granted a raise.

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.

How to calculate the salary increment percentage?

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 Nigeria is 5%.

Annual Increment Rate By Industry 2022

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 Nigeria for the year 2022. 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.


Average Salary Increase Rate by Experience Level

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.

Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs

World Average Annual Salary Increment
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Salary Packages and Schemes

Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.

Bonus and Incentive Rates in Nigeria

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Annual Salary Bonus Rate Nigeria
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51% of surveyed staff in Nigeria reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 49% 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
49%
No Bonus
51%

Types of Bonuses Considered

Individual Performance-Based Bonuses

The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.

Company Performance Bonuses

Occasionally, 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 Bonuses

Granted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.

Holiday / End of Year Bonuses

These types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.

Bonuses Are Not Commissions!

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.


Bonus Rates Comparison by Career Field

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

What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?

The main two types of jobs

Revenue GeneratorsSupporting 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:
A graphics designer working for a graphics designing company.

Example:
A graphic designer in the marketing department of a hospital.


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.

Try to work for companies where your skills can generate revenue. We can't all generate revenue and that's perfectly fine.

Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level

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.

Salary Trend and Forecast in Nigeria

How are Nigeria salaries changing over time? The chart below shows the average salary change in the past few years.

Average Salary 2019
309,000 NGN
Average Salary 2020+3%
317,000 NGN
Average Salary 2021+2%
322,000 NGN
Average Salary 2022+3%
332,000 NGN
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salaries in Nigeria are on the rise in the year 2023 based on recent submitted salaries and reports. As displayed in the chart, salaries in 2022 are 3% higher than those of 2021. The trend suggests a slow yet continuous increase in pay in 2024 and future years. These numbers may vary from industry to another.

Salary trends and forecast monthly Nigeria
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Salaries for popular jobs. Salaries by occupations.

Job TitleAverage Salary
Accounting and Finance
Accountant240,000 NGN
Accounting Assistant188,000 NGN
Accounting Manager523,000 NGN
Bookkeeper162,000 NGN
Chartered Accountant314,000 NGN
Corporate Treasurer470,000 NGN
Financial Analyst444,000 NGN
Financial Manager690,000 NGN
Internal Auditor329,000 NGN

Administration / Reception / Secretarial
Administrative Assistant183,000 NGN
Office Manager303,000 NGN
Receptionist131,000 NGN
Secretary157,000 NGN

Advertising / Grapic Design / Events
Art Director345,000 NGN
Creative Director345,000 NGN
Graphic Designer219,000 NGN
Photographer193,000 NGN

Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense
Aerospace Engineer444,000 NGN
Air Traffic Controller381,000 NGN
Flight Attendant240,000 NGN
Pilot601,000 NGN

Architecture
Architect418,000 NGN
CAD Drafter178,000 NGN

Automotive
Mechanic131,000 NGN
Service Advisor240,000 NGN

Banking
Bank Branch Manager627,000 NGN
Teller131,000 NGN

Bilingual
Teacher266,000 NGN
Translator314,000 NGN

Business Planning
Business Analyst434,000 NGN
Business Development Manager549,000 NGN
Project Manager392,000 NGN

Care Giving and Child Care
Nanny146,000 NGN
Nursery Teacher131,000 NGN

Construction / Building / Installation
Civil Engineer319,000 NGN
Construction Project Manager575,000 NGN
Health and Safety Officer157,000 NGN

Customer Service and Call Center
Call Center Representative131,000 NGN
Customer Service Manager470,000 NGN
Customer Service Representative131,000 NGN

Engineering
Electrical Engineer340,000 NGN
Engineer327,000 NGN
Mechanical Engineer329,000 NGN

Executive and Management
Chief Executive Officer784,000 NGN
Chief Financial Officer721,000 NGN
General Manager610,000 NGN

Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering
Chef217,000 NGN
Executive Chef251,000 NGN
Hotel Manager627,000 NGN
Travel Agent219,000 NGN
Waiter / Waitress110,000 NGN

Health and Medical
Dentist827,000 NGN
Dietitian679,000 NGN
Laboratory Technician261,000 NGN
Nurse272,000 NGN

Human Resources
Human Resources Manager523,000 NGN
Human Resources Officer209,000 NGN

Information Technology
Computer Technician266,000 NGN
Database Administrator344,000 NGN
Developer / Programmer340,000 NGN
Information Technology Manager575,000 NGN
Network Engineer300,000 NGN

Law Enforcement / Security / Fire
Police Officer209,000 NGN

Legal
Attorney679,000 NGN
Legal Assistant183,000 NGN

Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment
Journalist392,000 NGN

Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
Biomedical Engineer296,000 NGN
Pharmacist444,000 NGN

Sales Retail and Wholesale
Cashier131,000 NGN
Sales Manager601,000 NGN
Sales Representative226,000 NGN

Teaching / Education
Elementary School Teacher239,000 NGN
Secondary School Teacher283,000 NGN

Average Hourly Wage in Lagos


2,030 NGN per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Lagos is 2,030 NGN. This means that the average person in Lagos earns approximately 2,030 NGN for every worked hour.


Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ ( 52 x 5 x 8 )

About The Hourly Pay Rate

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.

What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?

This minimum pay rate per hour for a person in Lagos is 510 NGN. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.

Lagos VS Nigeria

Salary Comparison Between Lagos and Nigeria monthly
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We compared salaries in Lagos and Nigeria and we found that Lagos salaries are 4% more than those of Nigeria.

Salary Comparison By City

CityAverage Salary
Benin City289,000 NGN
Ibadan323,000 NGN
Kaduna304,000 NGN
Kano336,000 NGN
Lagos351,000 NGN

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Nigeria earn 6% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.

Private Sector
328,000 NGN
Public Sector+6%
347,000 NGN
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide

What is considered to be a good and competitive salary in Lagos?

It is extremely difficult to give an exact figure of a good salary when no specific job is selected, however; an estimate can be provided based purely on the cost of living. A good compensation in Lagos would range anywhere between 299,000 NGN and 454,000 NGN.

Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)

All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salart after tax for every career.

Base / Basic Salary

The base salary in Lagos is ranges from 216,000 NGN to 454,000 NGN. The base salary depends on many factors including profession, experience, and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range in a grain of salt.


What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

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


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