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Average Salary in Colombia 2023

How much money does a person working in Colombia make?


Average Monthly Salary
4,690,000 COP
( 56,300,000 COP yearly)

LOW
1,190,000
COP
AVERAGE
4,690,000
COP
HIGH
20,900,000
COP

A person working in Colombia typically earns around 4,690,000 COP per month. Salaries range from 1,190,000 COP (lowest average) to 20,900,000 COP (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.

Pay Scale and Salaries in Colombia

Median and salary distribution Colombia monthly
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Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison

5% of people earn
8,810,000 COP or more
10% of people earn
6,900,000 to 8,810,000 COP
20% of people earn
2,680,000 COP or less
65% of people earn
2,680,000 to 6,900,000 COP
Minimum Salary
1,190,000
COP
Median
4,040,000
COP
Maximum
20,900,000
COP


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

  • Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary

    Salaries in Colombia range from 1,190,000 COP per month (starting salary) to 20,900,000 COP 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.

  • Median Salary

    The median salary is 4,040,000 COP per month, which means that half (50%) of the population are earning less than 4,040,000 COP while the other half are earning more than 4,040,000 COP. 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 are earning less than 2,920,000 COP while 75% of them are earning more than 2,920,000 COP. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population are earning less than 6,130,000 COP while 25% are earning more than 6,130,000 COP.

  • 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 on how salaries are actually distributed. Around 65% of all reported figures are in the range 2,680,000 COP to 6,900,000 COP. Approximatly 20% fall under the 2,680,000 COP cap. Ten percent of wages are from 6,900,000 COP to 8,810,000 COP. Only 5% of people grossed 8,810,000 COP 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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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.


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.

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.

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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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.


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.

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.


Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?

A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Colombia costs anywhere from 23,500,000 Colombian Peso(s) to 70,400,000 Colombian Peso(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.



Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender

Salary comparison by gender Colombia 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? Male employees in Colombia earn 12% more than their female counterparts on avergae across all sectors.

Male
4,900,000 COP
Female-11%
4,360,000 COP
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Colombia

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

Colombia

Employees in Colombia are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 7% every 19 months.

Annual Salary Increment Rate Colombia
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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 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.

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 Colombia is 4%.

Annual Increment Rate By Industry 2022

Banking
2%
Energy
4%
Information Technology
6%
Healthcare
8%
Travel
1%
Construction
3%
Education
5%

Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Colombia 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.


Average Salary Increase Rate by Experience Level

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.

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 Colombia

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Annual Salary Bonus Rate Colombia
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53% of surveyed staff in Colombia reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 47% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.

Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 5% of their annual salary.

Received Bonus
47%
No Bonus
53%

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.

Salary Trend and Forecast in Colombia

How are Colombia salaries changing over time? The chart below shows the average salary change in the past few years.

Average Salary 2019
4,270,000 COP
Average Salary 2020+3%
4,390,000 COP
Average Salary 2021+3%
4,540,000 COP
Average Salary 2022+1%
4,600,000 COP
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salaries in Colombia are on the rise in the year 2023 based on recent submitted salaries and reports. As displayed in the chart, salaries in 2022 are 1% 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.

Salary trends and forecast monthly Colombia
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Salaries for popular jobs. Salaries by occupations.

Job TitleAverage Salary
Accounting and Finance
Accountant3,080,000 COP
Accounting Assistant2,530,000 COP
Accounting Manager6,980,000 COP
Bookkeeper2,160,000 COP
Chartered Accountant4,110,000 COP
Corporate Treasurer6,380,000 COP
Financial Analyst5,720,000 COP
Financial Manager9,050,000 COP
Internal Auditor4,420,000 COP

Administration / Reception / Secretarial
Administrative Assistant2,350,000 COP
Office Manager3,950,000 COP
Receptionist2,270,000 COP
Secretary2,020,000 COP

Advertising / Grapic Design / Events
Art Director4,730,000 COP
Creative Director4,400,000 COP
Graphic Designer2,900,000 COP
Photographer2,540,000 COP

Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense
Aerospace Engineer5,740,000 COP
Air Traffic Controller5,170,000 COP
Flight Attendant3,140,000 COP
Pilot8,130,000 COP

Architecture
Architect5,560,000 COP
CAD Drafter2,330,000 COP

Automotive
Mechanic1,700,000 COP
Service Advisor3,110,000 COP

Banking
Bank Branch Manager8,480,000 COP
Teller1,700,000 COP

Bilingual
Teacher3,670,000 COP
Translator4,110,000 COP

Business Planning
Business Analyst5,850,000 COP
Business Development Manager7,000,000 COP
Project Manager6,130,000 COP

Care Giving and Child Care
Nanny1,960,000 COP
Nursery Teacher1,740,000 COP

Construction / Building / Installation
Civil Engineer4,340,000 COP
Construction Project Manager7,950,000 COP
Health and Safety Officer2,160,000 COP

Customer Service and Call Center
Call Center Representative1,770,000 COP
Customer Service Manager6,530,000 COP
Customer Service Representative1,720,000 COP

Engineering
Civil Engineer4,190,000 COP
Electrical Engineer4,650,000 COP
Engineer4,450,000 COP
Mechanical Engineer4,510,000 COP

Executive and Management
Chief Executive Officer10,200,000 COP
Chief Financial Officer9,490,000 COP
General Manager8,470,000 COP
Project Manager5,100,000 COP

Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering
Chef2,850,000 COP
Executive Chef3,270,000 COP
Hotel Manager8,270,000 COP
Receptionist1,720,000 COP
Travel Agent2,950,000 COP
Waiter / Waitress1,540,000 COP

Health and Medical
Dentist10,800,000 COP
Dietitian9,060,000 COP
Laboratory Technician3,580,000 COP
Nurse3,660,000 COP

Human Resources
Human Resources Manager7,330,000 COP
Human Resources Officer2,900,000 COP

Information Technology
Computer Technician3,390,000 COP
Database Administrator4,430,000 COP
Developer / Programmer4,330,000 COP
Information Technology Manager7,520,000 COP
Network Engineer4,090,000 COP

Law Enforcement / Security / Fire
Police Officer2,910,000 COP

Legal
Attorney8,750,000 COP
Legal Assistant2,470,000 COP

Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment
Journalist5,270,000 COP

Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
Biomedical Engineer3,980,000 COP
Pharmacist6,070,000 COP

Sales Retail and Wholesale
Cashier1,740,000 COP
Sales Manager8,280,000 COP
Sales Representative2,960,000 COP

Teaching / Education
Elementary School Teacher3,250,000 COP
Secondary School Teacher3,680,000 COP

Average Hourly Wage in Colombia


27,100 COP per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Colombia is 27,100 COP. This means that the average person in Colombia earns approximately 27,100 COP 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 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.

What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?

This minimum pay rate per hour for a person in Colombia is 6,840 COP. 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
Barranquilla4,830,000 COP
Bello4,460,000 COP
Bogota5,420,000 COP
Bucaramanga4,570,000 COP
Buenaventura4,340,000 COP
Cartagena4,790,000 COP
Cucuta4,750,000 COP
Ibague4,680,000 COP
Manizales4,250,000 COP
Medellin5,370,000 COP
Monteria4,370,000 COP
Neiva4,200,000 COP
Pereira4,350,000 COP
Santa Marta4,490,000 COP
Soacha4,670,000 COP
Soledad4,750,000 COP
Valledupar4,450,000 COP
Villavicencio4,570,000 COP

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Colombia earn 11% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.

Private Sector
4,400,000 COP
Public Sector+11%
4,880,000 COP
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 Colombia?

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 Colombia would range anywhere between 4,040,000 COP and 6,130,000 COP.

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 salart after tax for every career.

Base / Basic Salary

The base salary in Colombia is ranges from 2,920,000 COP to 6,130,000 COP. 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 in 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 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


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