HOME BROWSE SALARIES BEST PAYING JOBS
Browse Salaries
Best Paying Jobs
Salary Increase Letters

Average Salary in Papua New Guinea 2023

How much money does a person working in Papua New Guinea make?


Average Monthly Salary
4,100 PGK
( 49,300 PGK yearly)

LOW
1,040
PGK
AVERAGE
4,100
PGK
HIGH
18,300
PGK

A person working in Papua New Guinea typically earns around 4,100 PGK per month. Salaries range from 1,040 PGK (lowest average) to 18,300 PGK (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 Papua New Guinea

Median and salary distribution Papua New Guinea monthly
Share This Chart
        Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/papua-new-guinea/median-and-salary-distribution-monthly-papua-new-guinea.jpg

Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison

5% of people earn
8,030 PGK or more
10% of people earn
6,290 to 8,030 PGK
20% of people earn
2,450 PGK or less
65% of people earn
2,450 to 6,290 PGK
Minimum Salary
1,040 PGK
Median
3,680 PGK
Maximum
18,300 PGK


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

  • Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary

    Salaries in Papua New Guinea range from 1,040 PGK per month (starting salary) to 18,300 PGK 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 3,680 PGK per month, which means that half (50%) of the population are earning less than 3,680 PGK while the other half are earning more than 3,680 PGK. 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 2,660 PGK while 75% of them are earning more than 2,660 PGK. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population are earning less than 5,580 PGK while 25% are earning more than 5,580 PGK.

  • 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 2,450 PGK to 6,290 PGK. Approximatly 20% fall under the 2,450 PGK cap. Ten percent of wages are from 6,290 PGK to 8,030 PGK. Only 5% of people grossed 8,030 PGK or more.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does a person's salary progress over time?

Salary Comparison By Experience Level
Share This Chart
        Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/images/salary-by-experience.jpg

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
Share This Chart
        Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/images/salary-comparison-by-education.jpg

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 Papua New Guinea costs anywhere from 20,500 Kina(s) to 61,600 Kina(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 Papua New Guinea monthly
Share This Chart
        Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/papua-new-guinea/salary-comparison-by-gender-monthly-papua-new-guinea.jpg

Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Papua New Guinea earn 11% more than their female counterparts on avergae across all sectors.

Male
4,270 PGK
Female-10%
3,850 PGK
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Papua New Guinea

How much are annual salary increments in Papua New Guinea? How often do employees get salary raises?

Papua New Guinea

Employees in Papua New Guinea are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 5% every 28 months.

Annual Salary Increment Rate Papua New Guinea
Share This Chart
        Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/papua-new-guinea/annual-salary-increment-rate-papua-new-guinea.jpg


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 Papua New Guinea is 2%.

Annual Increment Rate By Industry 2022

Banking
6%
Energy
3%
Information Technology
9%
Healthcare
6%
Travel
3%
Construction
9%
Education
6%

Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Papua New Guinea 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
Share This Chart
        Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/images/salary-increment-world.jpg

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 Papua New Guinea

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Annual Salary Bonus Rate Papua New Guinea
Share This Chart
        Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/papua-new-guinea/annual-salary-bonus-rate-papua-new-guinea.jpg

64% of surveyed staff in Papua New Guinea 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%

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 Papua New Guinea

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

Average Salary 2019
3,640 PGK
Average Salary 2020+4%
3,780 PGK
Average Salary 2021+3%
3,880 PGK
Average Salary 2022+2%
3,960 PGK
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salaries in Papua New Guinea are on the rise 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.

Salary trends and forecast monthly Papua New Guinea
Share This Chart
        Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/papua-new-guinea/salary-trends-and-forecast-monthly-papua-new-guinea.jpg

Salaries for popular jobs. Salaries by occupations.

Job TitleAverage Salary
Accounting and Finance
Accountant2,800 PGK
Accounting Assistant2,120 PGK
Accounting Manager6,110 PGK
Bookkeeper1,810 PGK
Chartered Accountant3,540 PGK
Corporate Treasurer5,520 PGK
Financial Analyst5,270 PGK
Financial Manager8,130 PGK
Internal Auditor3,920 PGK

Administration / Reception / Secretarial
Administrative Assistant2,170 PGK
Office Manager3,540 PGK
Receptionist1,520 PGK
Secretary1,780 PGK

Advertising / Grapic Design / Events
Art Director3,980 PGK
Creative Director3,890 PGK
Graphic Designer2,580 PGK
Photographer2,130 PGK

Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense
Aerospace Engineer4,930 PGK
Air Traffic Controller4,530 PGK
Flight Attendant2,620 PGK
Pilot6,830 PGK

Architecture
Architect4,790 PGK
CAD Drafter1,980 PGK

Automotive
Mechanic1,440 PGK
Service Advisor2,750 PGK

Banking
Bank Branch Manager7,530 PGK
Teller1,530 PGK

Bilingual
Teacher3,090 PGK
Translator3,540 PGK

Business Planning
Business Analyst4,770 PGK
Business Development Manager6,190 PGK
Project Manager4,580 PGK

Care Giving and Child Care
Nanny1,600 PGK
Nursery Teacher1,480 PGK

Construction / Building / Installation
Civil Engineer3,510 PGK
Construction Project Manager6,610 PGK
Health and Safety Officer1,750 PGK

Customer Service and Call Center
Call Center Representative1,450 PGK
Customer Service Manager5,280 PGK
Customer Service Representative1,570 PGK

Engineering
Electrical Engineer3,750 PGK
Engineer3,740 PGK
Mechanical Engineer3,850 PGK

Executive and Management
Chief Executive Officer8,660 PGK
Chief Financial Officer7,930 PGK
General Manager6,850 PGK

Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering
Chef2,420 PGK
Executive Chef2,900 PGK
Hotel Manager7,130 PGK
Travel Agent2,620 PGK
Waiter / Waitress1,270 PGK

Health and Medical
Dentist9,330 PGK
Dietitian7,600 PGK
Laboratory Technician3,050 PGK
Nurse3,030 PGK

Human Resources
Human Resources Manager6,110 PGK
Human Resources Officer2,380 PGK

Information Technology
Computer Technician2,990 PGK
Database Administrator4,080 PGK
Developer / Programmer3,880 PGK
Information Technology Manager6,560 PGK
Network Engineer3,480 PGK

Law Enforcement / Security / Fire
Police Officer2,450 PGK

Legal
Attorney8,070 PGK
Legal Assistant2,100 PGK

Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment
Journalist4,420 PGK

Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
Biomedical Engineer3,490 PGK
Pharmacist4,970 PGK

Sales Retail and Wholesale
Cashier1,560 PGK
Sales Manager6,780 PGK
Sales Representative2,470 PGK

Teaching / Education
Elementary School Teacher2,660 PGK
Secondary School Teacher3,170 PGK

Average Hourly Wage in Papua New Guinea


24 PGK per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Papua New Guinea is 24 PGK. This means that the average person in Papua New Guinea earns approximately 24 PGK 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 Papua New Guinea is 6 PGK. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.

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 Papua New Guinea earn 14% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.

Private Sector
3,780 PGK
Public Sector+14%
4,310 PGK
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 Papua New Guinea?

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 Papua New Guinea would range anywhere between 3,680 PGK and 5,580 PGK.

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 Papua New Guinea is ranges from 2,660 PGK to 5,580 PGK. 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


Browse Salaries

Salary Increase Letters

Best Paying Jobs
Home Salary Comparison

©Salary Explorer 2023