A person working in Oil / Gas / Energy / Mining in Zambia typically earns around 5,400 ZMK per month. Salaries range from 1,960 ZMK (lowest average) to 12,500 ZMK (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different Oil / Gas / Energy / Mining careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Assistant Yard Manager | 5,130 ZMK |
Associate Analyst | 5,760 ZMK |
Associate Landman | 2,420 ZMK |
Auxiliary Equipment Operator | 2,170 ZMK |
Biomass Plant Technician | 2,820 ZMK |
Biomass Power Plant Manager | 7,650 ZMK |
Chemical Plant Operator | 4,310 ZMK |
Chief Contract Compliance Engineer | 5,500 ZMK |
Completions Engineer | 5,180 ZMK |
Cost Controller | 3,950 ZMK |
Crude Oil Marketing Representative | 5,960 ZMK |
Dispatcher | 2,420 ZMK |
Distribution Manager | 7,970 ZMK |
Dragline Operator | 2,540 ZMK |
Driller Offsider | 1,940 ZMK |
Dump Truck Driver | 2,110 ZMK |
Electric and Gas Operations Manager | 12,300 ZMK |
Energy Advisor | 8,050 ZMK |
Energy Analyst | 7,630 ZMK |
Energy Auditor | 7,010 ZMK |
Energy Dispatch Director | 9,700 ZMK |
Energy Technical Assistant | 3,270 ZMK |
Energy Technical Manager | 6,520 ZMK |
Energy Technical Trainer | 4,780 ZMK |
Exploration Manager | 9,280 ZMK |
Field Safety Auditor | 6,180 ZMK |
Fluids Engineer | 5,550 ZMK |
Fuel Cell Engineer | 5,790 ZMK |
Fuel Cell Technician | 2,880 ZMK |
Fuels Handler | 2,580 ZMK |
Gas Compressor Operator | 2,390 ZMK |
Gas Distribution Plant Operator | 4,620 ZMK |
Gas Supply Manager | 8,770 ZMK |
Geologist | 9,800 ZMK |
Geophysicist | 10,100 ZMK |
Geothermal Production Manager | 9,730 ZMK |
Geothermal Technician | 3,760 ZMK |
HSE Engineer | 5,390 ZMK |
HSE Officer | 3,420 ZMK |
HSEQ Administrator | 3,750 ZMK |
Inspector | 5,080 ZMK |
Instructor | 4,510 ZMK |
Instrument Designer | 4,390 ZMK |
Lead Technical Field Advisor | 6,870 ZMK |
Logistics and Tool Coordinator | 4,670 ZMK |
Maintenance Engineer | 5,470 ZMK |
Maintenance Superintendent | 4,860 ZMK |
Material Controller | 3,610 ZMK |
Mine Engineer | 5,500 ZMK |
Mine Surveyor | 5,920 ZMK |
Mining Project Administrator | 4,740 ZMK |
Mining Project Assistant | 3,880 ZMK |
Mining Project Controls Consultant | 6,390 ZMK |
Mining Project Coordinator | 4,840 ZMK |
Mining Project Engineer | 5,130 ZMK |
Mining Project Manager | 6,980 ZMK |
Mining Site Manager | 7,200 ZMK |
Mining Team Leader | 6,120 ZMK |
NDT Technician | 3,330 ZMK |
Oil Service Unit Operator | 2,960 ZMK |
Oil Trader | 7,070 ZMK |
Oilwell Pumper | 2,020 ZMK |
Petroleum Engineer | 6,190 ZMK |
Petroleum Geologist | 10,100 ZMK |
Petroleum Pump System Operator | 2,990 ZMK |
Pipeline Technician | 2,030 ZMK |
Power Coordinator | 3,520 ZMK |
Power Plant Operations Manager | 10,800 ZMK |
Power Plant Operator | 4,540 ZMK |
Radio Operator | 2,330 ZMK |
Reliability Engineer | 5,660 ZMK |
Reservoir Engineer | 5,130 ZMK |
Risk Analyst | 6,560 ZMK |
Roughneck | 5,850 ZMK |
Scaffolder | 3,590 ZMK |
Shutdown Engineer | 4,490 ZMK |
Solar Energy Installation Manager | 7,970 ZMK |
Solar Energy Systems Engineer | 5,850 ZMK |
Solar Photovoltaic Installer | 3,480 ZMK |
Solar Thermal Technician | 3,450 ZMK |
Supply Operations Manager | 8,780 ZMK |
Sustainability Specialist | 8,800 ZMK |
System Development Advisor | 6,070 ZMK |
Tanker Truck Driver | 2,130 ZMK |
Utility Operator | 2,930 ZMK |
Wind Energy Project Manager | 7,600 ZMK |
![]() 1,960 ZMK |
![]() 4,940 ZMK |
![]() 12,500 ZMK |
Oil / Gas / Energy / Mining salaries in Zambia range from 1,960 ZMK per month (starting average salary) to 12,500 ZMK 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.
The median salary is 4,940 ZMK per month, which means that half (50%) of people working in Oil / Gas / Energy / Mining are earning less than 4,940 ZMK while the other half are earning more than 4,940 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 people working in Oil / Gas / Energy / Mining are earning less than 3,790 ZMK while 75% of them are earning more than 3,790 ZMK. Also from the diagram, 75% of people working in Oil / Gas / Energy / Mining are earning less than 6,170 ZMK while 25% are earning more than 6,170 ZMK.
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 2,840 ZMK to 5,180 ZMK. Approximatly 20% fall under the 2,840 ZMK cap. Ten percent of wages are from 5,180 ZMK to 6,240 ZMK. Only 5% of people grossed 6,240 ZMK or more.
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 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 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 Zambia who work in Oil / Gas / Energy / Mining earn 10% more than their female counterparts on average.
Male | 5,620 ZMK | |
Female | -9% | 5,090 ZMK |
Oil / Gas / Energy / Mining professionals in Zambia are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 7% every 26 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 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.
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.
Oil / Gas / Energy / Mining is considered to be a moderate bonus-based field. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
64% of surveyed staff in Oil / Gas / Energy / Mining reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 36% 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 | 36% | |
No Bonus | 64% |
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.
Average Salary 2019 | 4,800 ZMK | |
Average Salary 2020 | +4% | 4,970 ZMK |
Average Salary 2021 | +3% | 5,110 ZMK |
Average Salary 2022 | +2% | 5,210 ZMK |
Oil / Gas / Energy / Mining salaries in Zambia are rising in the year 2023 based on recent submitted salaries and reports. As displayed in the chart, salaries in 2022 are 2% 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.
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.
This minimum pay rate per hour for a person in Zambia is 11 ZMK. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
The average salary for Oil / Gas / Energy / Mining is 10% less than that of All Jobs.
City | Average Salary |
Lusaka | 6,240 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 |
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 4,940 ZMK and 6,170 ZMK. This is a very rough estimate and your experience and education will play a very huge part into your final earnings.
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.
The base salary for Oil / Gas / Energy / Mining in Zambia is ranges from 3,790 ZMK to 6,170 ZMK. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range in a grain of salt.
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