A person working in Sri Lanka typically earns around 89,800 LKR per month. Salaries range from 22,700 LKR (lowest average) to 401,000 LKR (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 Sri Lanka range from 22,700 LKR per month (minimum salary) to 401,000 LKR per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
The median salary is 91,600 LKR per month, which means that half (50%) of the population are earning less than 91,600 LKR while the other half are earning more than 91,600 LKR. 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 51,400 LKR while 75% of them are earning more than 51,400 LKR. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population are earning less than 251,000 LKR while 25% are earning more than 251,000 LKR.
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 Sri Lanka costs anywhere from 449,000 Sri Lanka Rupee(s) to 1,350,000 Sri Lanka Rupee(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 Sri Lanka earn 10% more than their female counterparts on avergae across all sectors.
Male | 93,300 LKR | |
Female | -9% | 84,500 LKR |
Employees in Sri Lanka are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 17 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 | 6% | |
Energy | 3% | |
Information Technology | 9% | |
Healthcare | 6% | |
Travel | 3% | |
Construction | 9% | |
Education | 6% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Sri Lanka 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.
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% |
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 | 67,100 LKR |
Accounting Assistant | 52,700 LKR |
Accounting Manager | 134,000 LKR |
Bookkeeper | 44,400 LKR |
Chartered Accountant | 87,900 LKR |
Corporate Treasurer | 122,000 LKR |
Financial Analyst | 119,000 LKR |
Financial Manager | 181,000 LKR |
Internal Auditor | 89,400 LKR |
Administration / Reception / Secretarial | |
Administrative Assistant | 49,100 LKR |
Office Manager | 77,500 LKR |
Receptionist | 43,300 LKR |
Secretary | 40,700 LKR |
Advertising / Grapic Design / Events | |
Art Director | 94,100 LKR |
Creative Director | 96,700 LKR |
Graphic Designer | 56,800 LKR |
Photographer | 50,500 LKR |
Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense | |
Aerospace Engineer | 119,000 LKR |
Air Traffic Controller | 102,000 LKR |
Flight Attendant | 61,200 LKR |
Pilot | 156,000 LKR |
Architecture | |
Architect | 111,000 LKR |
CAD Drafter | 48,100 LKR |
Automotive | |
Mechanic | 34,500 LKR |
Service Advisor | 64,000 LKR |
Banking | |
Bank Branch Manager | 174,000 LKR |
Teller | 33,400 LKR |
Bilingual | |
Teacher | 74,200 LKR |
Translator | 87,900 LKR |
Business Planning | |
Business Analyst | 113,000 LKR |
Business Development Manager | 154,000 LKR |
Project Manager | 120,000 LKR |
Care Giving and Child Care | |
Nanny | 37,200 LKR |
Nursery Teacher | 33,500 LKR |
Construction / Building / Installation | |
Civil Engineer | 88,400 LKR |
Construction Project Manager | 155,000 LKR |
Health and Safety Officer | 42,400 LKR |
Customer Service and Call Center | |
Call Center Representative | 34,900 LKR |
Customer Service Manager | 130,000 LKR |
Customer Service Representative | 36,300 LKR |
Engineering | |
Civil Engineer | 83,200 LKR |
Electrical Engineer | 89,700 LKR |
Engineer | 87,000 LKR |
Mechanical Engineer | 84,100 LKR |
Executive and Management | |
Chief Executive Officer | 207,000 LKR |
Chief Financial Officer | 188,000 LKR |
General Manager | 169,000 LKR |
Project Manager | 100,000 LKR |
Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering | |
Chef | 58,700 LKR |
Executive Chef | 68,400 LKR |
Hotel Manager | 163,000 LKR |
Receptionist | 36,500 LKR |
Travel Agent | 59,600 LKR |
Waiter / Waitress | 29,900 LKR |
Health and Medical | |
Dentist | 232,000 LKR |
Dietitian | 186,000 LKR |
Laboratory Technician | 66,800 LKR |
Nurse | 73,500 LKR |
Human Resources | |
Human Resources Manager | 134,000 LKR |
Human Resources Officer | 54,300 LKR |
Information Technology | |
Computer Technician | 74,400 LKR |
Database Administrator | 92,300 LKR |
Developer / Programmer | 89,400 LKR |
Information Technology Manager | 151,000 LKR |
Network Engineer | 82,900 LKR |
Law Enforcement / Security / Fire | |
Police Officer | 54,100 LKR |
Legal | |
Attorney | 182,000 LKR |
Legal Assistant | 49,300 LKR |
Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment | |
Journalist | 110,000 LKR |
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology | |
Biomedical Engineer | 77,600 LKR |
Pharmacist | 122,000 LKR |
Sales Retail and Wholesale | |
Cashier | 35,900 LKR |
Sales Manager | 168,000 LKR |
Sales Representative | 57,600 LKR |
Teaching / Education | |
Elementary School Teacher | 64,000 LKR |
Secondary School Teacher | 77,500 LKR |
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 Sri Lanka earn 8% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 86,000 LKR | |
Public Sector | +8% | 92,500 LKR |