A person working as a Drilling Engineer in Zambia typically earns around 5,100 ZMK per month. Salaries range from 2,650 ZMK (lowest) to 7,810 ZMK (highest).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Drilling Engineer salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Drilling Engineer salaries in Zambia range from 2,650 ZMK per month (minimum salary) to 7,810 ZMK per month (maximum salary).
The median salary is 4,900 ZMK per month, which means that half (50%) of people working as Drilling Engineer(s) are earning less than 4,900 ZMK while the other half are earning more than 4,900 ZMK. 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 Drilling Engineer(s) are earning less than 3,400 ZMK while 75% of them are earning more than 3,400 ZMK. Also from the diagram, 75% of Drilling Engineer(s) are earning less than 6,100 ZMK while 25% are earning more than 6,100 ZMK.
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 your wage. We broke down Drilling Engineer salaries by experience level and this is what we found.
A Drilling Engineer with less than two years of experience makes approximately 3,010 ZMK per month.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 4,050 ZMK per month, 34% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 5,260 ZMK per month, 30% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, Drilling Engineer(s) whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 6,360 ZMK per month, 21% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 6,960 ZMK per month, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 7,320 ZMK per month, 5% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
0 - 2 Years | 3,010 ZMK | |
2 - 5 Years | +34% | 4,050 ZMK |
5 - 10 Years | +30% | 5,260 ZMK |
10 - 15 Years | +21% | 6,360 ZMK |
15 - 20 Years | +9% | 6,960 ZMK |
20+ Years | +5% | 7,320 ZMK |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down Drilling Engineer salaries by education level in order to make a comparison.
When the education level is Certificate or Diploma, the average salary of a Drilling Engineer is 3,580 ZMK per month.
While someone with a Bachelor's Degree gets a salary of 5,440 ZMK per month, 52% more than someone having a Certificate or Diploma degree.
A Master's Degree gets its holder an average salary of 7,700 ZMK per month, 42% more than someone with a Bachelor's Degree.
Certificate or Diploma | 3,580 ZMK | |
Bachelor's Degree | +52% | 5,440 ZMK |
Master's Degree | +42% | 7,700 ZMK |
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Zambia costs anywhere from 30,000 Zambian Kwacha(s) to 90,000 Zambian Kwacha(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 the thoery. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
If you can afford the costs of higher education, 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 Drilling Engineer employees in Zambia earn 10% more than their female counterparts on average.
Male | 5,400 ZMK | |
Female | -9% | 4,900 ZMK |
Drilling Engineer(s) in Zambia are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 8% every 28 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 | 8% | |
Energy | 7% | |
Information Technology | 6% | |
Healthcare | 5% | |
Travel | 4% | |
Construction | 3% | |
Education | 2% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Zambia 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.
A Drilling Engineer is considered to be a low bonus-based job 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.
90% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 10% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 1% to 3% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 10% | |
No Bonus | 90% |
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 Drilling Engineer is 1% more than that of Engineering. Also, Engineering salaries are 16% less than those of All Jobs.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Acoustics Engineer | 5,230 ZMK | ![]() |
Assembly Engineering Technician | 4,000 ZMK | ![]() |
Assistant Chief Engineer | 6,050 ZMK | ![]() |
Associate Engineer | 4,730 ZMK | ![]() |
Autocad Operator | 3,250 ZMK | ![]() |
Automation Engineer | 5,740 ZMK | ![]() |
Avionic System Support Engineer | 5,150 ZMK | ![]() |
Biochemical Engineer | 4,710 ZMK | ![]() |
BMS Engineer | 4,890 ZMK | ![]() |
Bridge and Lock Tender | 2,780 ZMK | ![]() |
Broadcast Engineer | 5,210 ZMK | ![]() |
CAD Design Engineer | 5,330 ZMK | ![]() |
CAD Designer | 3,370 ZMK | ![]() |
CAE Engineer | 5,120 ZMK | ![]() |
Ceramics Engineer | 4,670 ZMK | ![]() |
Civil Engineer | 5,500 ZMK | ![]() |
Commissioning Engineer | 4,950 ZMK | ![]() |
Communications Engineer | 5,990 ZMK | ![]() |
Condition Monitoring Engineer | 4,670 ZMK | ![]() |
Contract Associate Engineer | 4,800 ZMK | ![]() |
Control Systems Engineer | 5,290 ZMK | ![]() |
Controls Engineer | 5,110 ZMK | ![]() |
Controls Software Engineer | 4,470 ZMK | ![]() |
Corrosion Engineer | 4,740 ZMK | ![]() |
Design Engineer | 5,680 ZMK | ![]() |
Drafter | 3,300 ZMK | ![]() |
Drafting Manager | 6,320 ZMK | ![]() |
Drilling Engineer | 5,100 ZMK | ![]() |
Electrical Draughtsman | 2,780 ZMK | ![]() |
Electrical Engineer | 6,010 ZMK | ![]() |
Electrical Engineering Manager | 7,420 ZMK | ![]() |
Electromechanical Engineering Technologist | 5,540 ZMK | ![]() |
Electromechanical Equipment Assembler | 2,820 ZMK | ![]() |
Energy Engineer | 5,600 ZMK | ![]() |
Engine Assembler | 2,280 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineer | 5,690 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Account Manager | 6,280 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Chief Designer | 6,260 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Consultant | 7,500 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Key Account Manager | 7,830 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Lab Technician | 5,210 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Planning Manager | 7,620 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Production Manager | 9,300 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Project Analyst | 5,960 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Project Coordinator | 6,340 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Project Director | 11,300 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Project Manager | 7,510 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Research and Development Manager | 8,190 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Safety Coordinator | 4,000 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Sales Manager | 7,290 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Technician | 4,160 ZMK | ![]() |
Engineering Technologist | 3,950 ZMK | ![]() |
Environmental Engineer | 4,980 ZMK | ![]() |
Equipment Engineer | 4,840 ZMK | ![]() |
Equipment Engineering Manager | 7,290 ZMK | ![]() |
Estimator | 4,730 ZMK | ![]() |
Fabrication Specialist | 3,800 ZMK | ![]() |
Fabricator | 2,540 ZMK | ![]() |
Facade Engineer | 5,130 ZMK | ![]() |
Fiber Analyst | 3,080 ZMK | ![]() |
Field Engineer | 5,420 ZMK | ![]() |
Field Engineering Manager | 9,200 ZMK | ![]() |
Fire Engineer | 5,250 ZMK | ![]() |
Fitter and Turner | 1,750 ZMK | ![]() |
Forestry Strategic Planner | 6,070 ZMK | ![]() |
Generation Engineer | 5,300 ZMK | ![]() |
Genetic Engineer | 5,920 ZMK | ![]() |
Geological Engineer | 5,280 ZMK | ![]() |
Geotechnical Engineer | 5,470 ZMK | ![]() |
Heavy Equipment Mechanic | 2,970 ZMK | ![]() |
Highway Engineer | 5,340 ZMK | ![]() |
HSE Professional | 4,730 ZMK | ![]() |
HVAC Engineer | 5,940 ZMK | ![]() |
HVAC Supervisor | 4,740 ZMK | ![]() |
Industrial Engineer | 5,080 ZMK | ![]() |
Industrial Engineering Technologist | 5,230 ZMK | ![]() |
Instrument Engineer | 5,000 ZMK | ![]() |
Instrumentation and Control Engineer | 5,270 ZMK | ![]() |
Instrumentation Engineer | 5,170 ZMK | ![]() |
Instrumentation Manager | 5,180 ZMK | ![]() |
Irrigation Engineer | 5,340 ZMK | ![]() |
Licensed Aircraft Engineer | 5,570 ZMK | ![]() |
Locomotive Engineer | 5,340 ZMK | ![]() |
Maintenance Engineer | 4,870 ZMK | ![]() |
Maintenance Fitter | 1,950 ZMK | ![]() |
Maintenance Manager | 5,110 ZMK | ![]() |
Manufacturing Engineer | 5,210 ZMK | ![]() |
Marine Engineer | 5,130 ZMK | ![]() |
Materials Engineer | 5,220 ZMK | ![]() |
Materials Researcher | 4,720 ZMK | ![]() |
Materials Technician | 3,790 ZMK | ![]() |
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer | 5,550 ZMK | ![]() |
Mechanical Design Engineer | 5,780 ZMK | ![]() |
Mechanical Designer | 4,420 ZMK | ![]() |
Mechanical Engineer | 5,910 ZMK | ![]() |
Mechanical Engineering Manager | 7,350 ZMK | ![]() |
Mechanical Inspector | 5,110 ZMK | ![]() |
Mechatronics Engineer | 5,890 ZMK | ![]() |
Mining Engineer | 5,310 ZMK | ![]() |
Oil and Petrochemical Engineer | 5,620 ZMK | ![]() |
Optical Engineer | 5,210 ZMK | ![]() |
Optical Instrument Assembler | 2,830 ZMK | ![]() |
PCB Assembler | 1,860 ZMK | ![]() |
Photonics Engineer | 5,870 ZMK | ![]() |
Photonics Technician | 4,990 ZMK | ![]() |
Pipeline Engineer | 5,020 ZMK | ![]() |
Piping Designer | 2,810 ZMK | ![]() |
Piping Engineer | 4,940 ZMK | ![]() |
Planning Engineer | 5,650 ZMK | ![]() |
Pressure Vessel Inspector | 2,460 ZMK | ![]() |
Principal Cost Engineer | 5,210 ZMK | ![]() |
Principal Engineer | 5,130 ZMK | ![]() |
Principal Support Engineer | 5,360 ZMK | ![]() |
Process Engineer | 5,320 ZMK | ![]() |
Process Operator | 3,120 ZMK | ![]() |
Product Development Engineer | 5,270 ZMK | ![]() |
Product Development Technician | 3,730 ZMK | ![]() |
Product Engineer | 5,500 ZMK | ![]() |
Product Safety Engineer | 5,100 ZMK | ![]() |
Production Engineer | 5,550 ZMK | ![]() |
Project Engineer | 5,830 ZMK | ![]() |
Proposal Manager | 6,910 ZMK | ![]() |
Purchasing Engineer | 5,050 ZMK | ![]() |
Quality Assurance Engineer | 5,150 ZMK | ![]() |
Rail Engineer | 5,460 ZMK | ![]() |
Robotics Engineer | 6,300 ZMK | ![]() |
Robotics Technician | 4,300 ZMK | ![]() |
Safety Engineer | 5,110 ZMK | ![]() |
Safety Inspector | 3,960 ZMK | ![]() |
Safety Manager | 6,250 ZMK | ![]() |
Safety Officer | 2,650 ZMK | ![]() |
Sales Engineer | 5,760 ZMK | ![]() |
Scheduling Engineer | 4,770 ZMK | ![]() |
Service Engineer | 5,380 ZMK | ![]() |
Solar Engineer | 5,470 ZMK | ![]() |
Staff Engineer | 5,160 ZMK | ![]() |
Static Equipment Engineer | 5,100 ZMK | ![]() |
Stationary Engineer | 4,990 ZMK | ![]() |
Stress Engineer | 4,790 ZMK | ![]() |
Structural Analysis Engineer | 5,270 ZMK | ![]() |
Structural Designer | 4,760 ZMK | ![]() |
Structural Engineer | 4,970 ZMK | ![]() |
Structural Technician | 3,400 ZMK | ![]() |
Supply Chain Specialist | 5,060 ZMK | ![]() |
Surveyor | 4,090 ZMK | ![]() |
Technical Affairs Officer | 2,620 ZMK | ![]() |
Technical Assistant | 2,690 ZMK | ![]() |
Technical Engineer | 4,570 ZMK | ![]() |
Technical Support Engineer | 4,670 ZMK | ![]() |
Tender Engineer | 4,800 ZMK | ![]() |
Test Development Engineer | 5,360 ZMK | ![]() |
Transportation Engineer | 5,060 ZMK | ![]() |
Validation Engineer | 4,950 ZMK | ![]() |
Verification Engineer | 5,150 ZMK | ![]() |
Wastewater Engineer | 5,300 ZMK | ![]() |
Wind Energy Engineer | 5,450 ZMK | ![]() |
Wind Energy Operations Manager | 6,730 ZMK | ![]() |
Work Planner | 3,620 ZMK | ![]() |
City | Average Salary |
Lusaka | 5,850 ZMK |
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Zambia earn 17% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 5,580 ZMK | |
Public Sector | +17% | 6,540 ZMK |