A person working as Agronomist in Zambia typically earns around 7,360 ZMK per month. Salaries range from 3,680 ZMK (lowest) to 11,400 ZMK (highest).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Agronomist salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
![]() 3,680 ZMK |
![]() 6,810 ZMK |
![]() 11,400 ZMK |
Agronomist salaries in Zambia range from 3,680 ZMK per month (starting salary) to 11,400 ZMK per month (maximum salary). 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 6,810 ZMK per month, which means that half (50%) of people working as Agronomist(s) are earning less than 6,810 ZMK while the other half are earning more than 6,810 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 Agronomist(s) are earning less than 5,590 ZMK while 75% of them are earning more than 5,590 ZMK. Also from the diagram, 75% of Agronomist(s) are earning less than 7,760 ZMK while 25% are earning more than 7,760 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 4,300 ZMK to 6,000 ZMK. Approximatly 20% fall under the 4,300 ZMK cap. Ten percent of wages are from 6,000 ZMK to 6,770 ZMK. Only 5% of people grossed 6,770 ZMK or more.
0 - 2 Years | 4,410 ZMK | |
2 - 5 Years | +32% | 5,840 ZMK |
5 - 10 Years | +34% | 7,810 ZMK |
10 - 15 Years | +19% | 9,320 ZMK |
15 - 20 Years | +8% | 10,100 ZMK |
20+ Years | +7% | 10,800 ZMK |
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 Agronomist salaries by experience level and this is what we found.
Employees with less than two years of experience makes approximately 4,410 ZMK per month.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 5,840 ZMK per month, 32% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 7,810 ZMK per month, 34% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, Agronomist whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 9,320 ZMK per month, 19% 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 10,100 ZMK per month, 8% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 10,800 ZMK per month, 7% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Certificate or Diploma | 5,840 ZMK | |
Bachelor's Degree | +37% | 8,010 ZMK |
Master's Degree | +29% | 10,300 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 Agronomist salaries by education level in order to make a comparison.
When the education level is Certificate or Diploma, the average salary is 5,840 ZMK per month.
While someone with a Bachelor's Degree gets a salary of 8,010 ZMK per month, 37% more than someone having a Certificate or Diploma degree.
People with Master's Degree have an average salary of 10,300 ZMK per month, 29% more than someone with a Bachelor's Degree.
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 Agronomist employees in Zambia earn 6% more than their female counterparts on average.
Male | 7,550 ZMK | |
Female | -6% | 7,120 ZMK |
Agronomist(s) in Zambia are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 6% every 32 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.
"Agronomist" is considered to be a moderate bonus-based job. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
62% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 38% 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 | 38% | |
No Bonus | 62% |
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 | 6,710 ZMK | |
Average Salary 2020 | +3% | 6,900 ZMK |
Average Salary 2021 | +2% | 7,010 ZMK |
Average Salary 2022 | +3% | 7,220 ZMK |
Agronomist salaries in Zambia 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.
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 minimum pay rate per hour for 'Agronomist' in Zambia is 21 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 Agronomist is 100% more than that of Gardening / Farming / Fishing. Also, Gardening / Farming / Fishing salaries are 40% less than those of All Jobs.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Agricultural and Food Science Technician | 3,560 ZMK | ![]() |
Agricultural and Food Scientist | 8,620 ZMK | ![]() |
Agricultural Consultant | 8,340 ZMK | ![]() |
Agricultural Engineer | 5,130 ZMK | ![]() |
Agricultural Inspector | 5,090 ZMK | ![]() |
Agricultural Manager | 9,160 ZMK | ![]() |
Agronomist | 7,360 ZMK | ![]() |
Animal Attendant | 2,720 ZMK | ![]() |
Animal Nutritionist | 5,070 ZMK | ![]() |
Animal Trainer | 3,300 ZMK | ![]() |
Aquaculture and Seafood Farmer | 3,030 ZMK | ![]() |
Bee Keeper | 1,740 ZMK | ![]() |
Commercial Horticulturist | 4,170 ZMK | ![]() |
Diver | 2,880 ZMK | ![]() |
Farm Manager | 7,240 ZMK | ![]() |
Farmer | 1,840 ZMK | ![]() |
Floral Designer | 2,290 ZMK | ![]() |
Foreman | 1,550 ZMK | ![]() |
Forestry and Logging Worker | 1,510 ZMK | ![]() |
Garden Center Helper | 1,620 ZMK | ![]() |
Garden Centre Manager | 4,490 ZMK | ![]() |
Gardener | 1,780 ZMK | ![]() |
General Farm Assistant | 1,700 ZMK | ![]() |
Greenhouse Assistant | 1,640 ZMK | ![]() |
Greenhouse Manager | 4,110 ZMK | ![]() |
Groundsman | 1,540 ZMK | ![]() |
Grower | 1,790 ZMK | ![]() |
Horticultural Worker | 1,690 ZMK | ![]() |
Tree Pruner | 1,660 ZMK | ![]() |
Tree Specialist | 2,610 ZMK | ![]() |
City | Average Salary |
Lusaka | 8,210 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 6,810 ZMK and 7,760 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 Agronomist in Zambia is ranges from 5,590 ZMK to 7,760 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