A person working in Macao typically earns around 7,490 MOP. Salaries range from 1,890 MOP (lowest average) to 33,300 MOP (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries in Macao vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
![]() 1,890 MOP |
![]() 6,910 MOP |
![]() 33,300 MOP |
Salaries in Macao range from 1,890 MOP (starting salary) to 33,300 MOP (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 6,910 MOP, which means that 50% of the population in Macao earns less than that while the other half earns more. 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 in Macao earn less than 4,990 MOP while 75% of them earn more. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population earn less than 10,500 MOP while 25% earn more than that.
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 into how salaries are actually distributed in Macao. Around 65% of all reported figures are in the range 4,580 MOP to 11,800 MOP. Approximately 20% fall under the 4,580 MOP cap. Ten percent of wages are from 11,800 MOP to 15,000 MOP. Only 5% of people grossed 15,000 MOP or more.
Salary is primarily determined by the level of experience one possesses, with higher levels of experience resulting in higher wages.
In Macao, employees with two to five years of experience typically earn an average of 32% more than entry-level and junior workers in all industries and fields.
Individuals with more than five years of experience tend to earn an average of 36% more than those with less than five years of experience.
After ten years of work, salaries increase by 21%, with an additional 14% increase for those who have worked for over 15 years.
These figures should be used as rough estimates, as considering individual job titles can lead to more accurate assessments.
The correlation between higher education and higher salary is widely acknowledged, but how much of an income increase can one expect from obtaining a degree?
We conducted a study in Macao comparing the salaries of professionals with different levels of college degrees who held similar positions in various industries.
Our results showed that individuals with a certificate or diploma earned an average of 17% more than those who only completed high school.
Those who obtained a Bachelor's Degree earned 24% more than their counterparts with a certificate or diploma.
Professionals with a Master's Degree earned 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, those who held a PhD earned an average of 23% more than those with a Master's Degree while performing the same job.
Earning a Master's degree or any post-graduate qualification in Macao is a substantial financial commitment, with tuition fees ranging from 37,400 MOP to 112,000 MOP and a duration of around two years. It's important to note that during this period, any salary increases are unlikely, assuming ongoing employment. Salary reviews are typically conducted after completing the program and obtaining the degree.
Many individuals pursue advanced education as a means of transitioning to higher-paying positions, and the statistics indicate that this is an effective strategy. On average, individuals who change jobs after earning a higher degree receive a salary increase of about 10% more than the typical annual raise.
Ultimately, deciding whether or not to pursue advanced education depends on a variety of factors, including the personal situation and experience. However, if one can afford the financial costs of obtaining a higher degree, the return on investment is likely to be worthwhile, with the ability to recoup the costs in approximately a year.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? In Macao, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 19% across all career fields.
Male | 8,140 MOP | |
Female | -16% | 6,830 MOP |
Employees in Macao are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 5% every 28 months.
The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare 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
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.
61% of surveyed staff in Macao reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 39% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 2% to 7% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 39% | |
No Bonus | 61% |
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 | 5,220 MOP |
Accounting Assistant | 4,190 MOP |
Accounting Manager | 11,100 MOP |
Bookkeeper | 3,590 MOP |
Chartered Accountant | 6,640 MOP |
Corporate Treasurer | 10,300 MOP |
Financial Analyst | 9,550 MOP |
Financial Manager | 15,500 MOP |
Internal Auditor | 6,920 MOP |
Administration / Reception / Secretarial | |
Administrative Assistant | 3,930 MOP |
Office Manager | 6,770 MOP |
Receptionist | 2,980 MOP |
Secretary | 3,510 MOP |
Advertising / Graphic Design / Events | |
Art Director | 7,820 MOP |
Creative Director | 7,680 MOP |
Graphic Designer | 4,560 MOP |
Photographer | 4,230 MOP |
Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense | |
Aerospace Engineer | 9,300 MOP |
Air Traffic Controller | 8,200 MOP |
Flight Attendant | 5,230 MOP |
Pilot | 13,500 MOP |
Architecture | |
Architect | 8,970 MOP |
CAD Drafter | 3,830 MOP |
Automotive | |
Mechanic | 2,800 MOP |
Service Advisor | 5,420 MOP |
Banking | |
Bank Branch Manager | 13,300 MOP |
Teller | 2,920 MOP |
Bilingual | |
Teacher | 6,060 MOP |
Translator | 6,640 MOP |
Business Planning | |
Business Analyst | 9,020 MOP |
Business Development Manager | 12,200 MOP |
Project Manager | 8,750 MOP |
Care Giving and Child Care | |
Nanny | 3,020 MOP |
Nursery Teacher | 2,850 MOP |
Construction / Building / Installation | |
Civil Engineer | 6,980 MOP |
Construction Project Manager | 12,100 MOP |
Health and Safety Officer | 3,380 MOP |
Customer Service and Call Center | |
Call Center Representative | 2,730 MOP |
Customer Service Manager | 10,200 MOP |
Customer Service Representative | 2,910 MOP |
Engineering | |
Electrical Engineer | 7,270 MOP |
Engineer | 7,360 MOP |
Mechanical Engineer | 7,350 MOP |
Executive and Management | |
Chief Executive Officer | 16,800 MOP |
Chief Financial Officer | 15,800 MOP |
General Manager | 13,200 MOP |
Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering | |
Chef | 4,670 MOP |
Executive Chef | 5,690 MOP |
Hotel Manager | 13,400 MOP |
Travel Agent | 4,610 MOP |
Waiter / Waitress | 2,370 MOP |
Health and Medical | |
Dentist | 17,500 MOP |
Dietitian | 15,000 MOP |
Laboratory Technician | 5,830 MOP |
Nurse | 6,150 MOP |
Human Resources | |
Human Resources Manager | 11,100 MOP |
Human Resources Officer | 4,460 MOP |
Information Technology | |
Computer Technician | 5,920 MOP |
Database Administrator | 7,400 MOP |
Developer / Programmer | 7,450 MOP |
Information Technology Manager | 12,000 MOP |
Network Engineer | 6,670 MOP |
Law Enforcement / Security / Fire | |
Police Officer | 4,340 MOP |
Legal | |
Attorney | 14,600 MOP |
Legal Assistant | 4,040 MOP |
Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment | |
Journalist | 8,730 MOP |
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology | |
Biomedical Engineer | 6,330 MOP |
Pharmacist | 9,360 MOP |
Sales Retail and Wholesale | |
Cashier | 2,970 MOP |
Sales Manager | 12,700 MOP |
Sales Representative | 4,930 MOP |
Teaching / Education | |
Elementary School Teacher | 5,010 MOP |
Secondary School Teacher | 5,960 MOP |
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 fixed 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 a person in Macao is 11 MOP. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in Macao is 25% on average across all career fields.
Private Sector | 6,660 MOP | |
Public Sector | +25% | 8,310 MOP |
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 Macao would range anywhere between 6,910 MOP and 10,500 MOP.
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 salary after tax for every career.
The base salary in Macao ranges from 1,890 MOP to 4,990 MOP. 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 with a grain of salt.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn 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