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Average Salary in Sri Lanka 2024

How much money does a person working in Sri Lanka make?


Average Monthly Salary
90,100 LKR
( 1,080,000 LKR yearly)

LOW
22,700
LKR
AVERAGE
90,100
LKR
HIGH
401,000
LKR
All salary figures displayed here are per month except when noted otherwise.
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 salary after tax for every career.

A person working in Sri Lanka typically earns around 90,100 LKR. Salaries range from 22,700 LKR (lowest average) to 401,000 LKR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).


Salary Variance

This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries in Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka

Median and salary distribution Sri Lanka monthly
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Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison

5% of people earn
176,000 LKR or more
10% of people earn
137,000 to 176,000 LKR
20% of people earn
53,500 LKR or less
65% of people earn
53,500 to 137,000 LKR
Minimum Salary
22,700 LKR
Median
80,800 LKR
Maximum
401,000 LKR




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

All salary figures displayed here are per month except when noted otherwise.
  • Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary

    Salaries in Sri Lanka range from 22,700 LKR (starting salary) to 401,000 LKR (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 80,800 LKR, which means that 50% of the population in Sri Lanka earns less than that while the other half earns more. 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 in Sri Lanka earn less than 58,300 LKR while 75% of them earn more. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population earn less than 122,000 LKR while 25% earn more than that.

  • 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 into how salaries are actually distributed in Sri Lanka. Around 65% of all reported figures are in the range 53,500 LKR to 137,000 LKR. Approximately 20% fall under the 53,500 LKR cap. Ten percent of wages are from 137,000 LKR to 176,000 LKR. Only 5% of people grossed 176,000 LKR 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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Salary is primarily determined by the level of experience one possesses, with higher levels of experience resulting in higher wages.

In Sri Lanka, employees with two to five years of experience typically earn an average of 32% more than entry-level and junior workers in all industries and fields.

Individuals with more than five years of experience tend to earn an average of 36% more than those with less than five years of experience.

After ten years of work, salaries increase by 21%, with an additional 14% increase for those who have worked for over 15 years.

These figures should be used as rough estimates, as considering individual job titles can lead to more accurate assessments.


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.
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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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.

The correlation between higher education and higher salary is widely acknowledged, but how much of an income increase can one expect from obtaining a degree?

We conducted a study in Sri Lanka comparing the salaries of professionals with different levels of college degrees who held similar positions in various industries.

Our results showed that individuals with a certificate or diploma earned an average of 17% more than those who only completed high school.

Those who obtained a Bachelor's Degree earned 24% more than their counterparts with a certificate or diploma.

Professionals with a Master's Degree earned 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.

Finally, those who held a PhD earned an average of 23% more than those with a Master's Degree while performing the same job.


Is investing in a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Is pursuing higher education worth the investment?

Earning a Master's degree or any post-graduate qualification in Sri Lanka is a substantial financial commitment, with tuition fees ranging from 450,000 LKR to 1,350,000 LKR and a duration of around two years. It's important to note that during this period, any salary increases are unlikely, assuming ongoing employment. Salary reviews are typically conducted after completing the program and obtaining the degree.

Many individuals pursue advanced education as a means of transitioning to higher-paying positions, and the statistics indicate that this is an effective strategy. On average, individuals who change jobs after earning a higher degree receive a salary increase of about 10% more than the typical annual raise.

Ultimately, deciding whether or not to pursue advanced education depends on a variety of factors, including the personal situation and experience. However, if one can afford the financial costs of obtaining a higher degree, the return on investment is likely to be worthwhile, with the ability to recoup the costs in approximately a year.



Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Sri Lanka

Salary comparison by gender Sri Lanka 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? In Sri Lanka, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 10% across all career fields.

Male
93,600 LKR
Female-9%
84,800 LKR
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value


Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Sri Lanka

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

Sri Lanka

Employees in Sri Lanka are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 17 months.

Annual Salary Increment Rate Sri Lanka
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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 rare 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 Sri Lanka is 6%.

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 Sri Lanka

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Annual Salary Bonus Rate Sri Lanka
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48% of surveyed staff in Sri Lanka reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 52% 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
52%
No Bonus
48%

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.

Salaries for popular jobs. Salaries by occupations.

Job TitleAverage Salary
Accounting and Finance
Accountant67,100 LKR
Accounting Assistant52,700 LKR
Accounting Manager134,000 LKR
Bookkeeper44,400 LKR
Chartered Accountant87,900 LKR
Corporate Treasurer122,000 LKR
Financial Analyst119,000 LKR
Financial Manager181,000 LKR
Internal Auditor89,400 LKR

Administration / Reception / Secretarial
Administrative Assistant49,100 LKR
Office Manager77,500 LKR
Receptionist43,300 LKR
Secretary40,700 LKR

Advertising / Graphic Design / Events
Art Director94,100 LKR
Creative Director96,700 LKR
Graphic Designer56,800 LKR
Photographer50,500 LKR

Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense
Aerospace Engineer119,000 LKR
Air Traffic Controller102,000 LKR
Flight Attendant61,200 LKR
Pilot156,000 LKR

Architecture
Architect111,000 LKR
CAD Drafter48,100 LKR

Automotive
Mechanic34,500 LKR
Service Advisor64,000 LKR

Banking
Bank Branch Manager174,000 LKR
Teller33,400 LKR

Bilingual
Teacher74,200 LKR
Translator87,900 LKR

Business Planning
Business Analyst113,000 LKR
Business Development Manager154,000 LKR
Project Manager120,000 LKR

Care Giving and Child Care
Nanny37,200 LKR
Nursery Teacher33,500 LKR

Construction / Building / Installation
Civil Engineer88,400 LKR
Construction Project Manager155,000 LKR
Health and Safety Officer42,400 LKR

Customer Service and Call Center
Call Center Representative34,900 LKR
Customer Service Manager130,000 LKR
Customer Service Representative36,300 LKR

Engineering
Civil Engineer83,200 LKR
Electrical Engineer89,700 LKR
Engineer87,000 LKR
Mechanical Engineer84,100 LKR

Executive and Management
Chief Executive Officer207,000 LKR
Chief Financial Officer188,000 LKR
General Manager169,000 LKR
Project Manager100,000 LKR

Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering
Chef58,700 LKR
Executive Chef68,400 LKR
Hotel Manager163,000 LKR
Receptionist36,500 LKR
Travel Agent59,600 LKR
Waiter / Waitress29,900 LKR

Health and Medical
Dentist232,000 LKR
Dietitian186,000 LKR
Laboratory Technician66,800 LKR
Nurse73,500 LKR

Human Resources
Human Resources Manager134,000 LKR
Human Resources Officer54,300 LKR

Information Technology
Computer Technician74,400 LKR
Database Administrator92,300 LKR
Developer / Programmer89,400 LKR
Information Technology Manager151,000 LKR
Network Engineer82,900 LKR

Law Enforcement / Security / Fire
Police Officer54,100 LKR

Legal
Attorney182,000 LKR
Legal Assistant49,300 LKR

Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment
Journalist110,000 LKR

Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
Biomedical Engineer77,600 LKR
Pharmacist122,000 LKR

Sales Retail and Wholesale
Cashier35,900 LKR
Sales Manager168,000 LKR
Sales Representative57,600 LKR

Teaching / Education
Elementary School Teacher64,000 LKR
Secondary School Teacher77,500 LKR

Average Hourly Wage in Sri Lanka


520 LKR per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) for all employees in Sri Lanka is 520 LKR.This is the rate that the average individual gets paid 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 fixed 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?

The minimum pay rate per hour for a person in Sri Lanka is 130 LKR. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.

Salary Comparison By City

CityAverage Salary
Colombo107,000 LKR

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in Sri Lanka is 8% on average across all career fields.

Private Sector
86,300 LKR
Public Sector+8%
92,900 LKR
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 Sri Lanka?

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 Sri Lanka would range anywhere between 80,800 LKR and 122,000 LKR.

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 salary after tax for every career.

Base / Basic Salary

The base salary in Sri Lanka ranges from 22,700 LKR to 58,300 LKR. 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 with 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 the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn 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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