Key Facts: Austria vs Syria Wages
- Austria Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Austria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,800 /mo ($4,425.29 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Wirtschaft) (2026-02-24), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Austria
Syria
Updated 2026-02-25
Austria has no statutory minimum wage, while Syria sets a floor of $16/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,425/mo in Austria versus $120/mo in Syria, a 36.8:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Austria is 15.5x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Austria has higher GDP per capita ($73,911 vs $4,772). Austria's unemployment rate is 5.6% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Austria | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | None | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €3,800 /mo $4,425.29 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €2,500 /mo $2,911.38 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | €33,500 /yr $39,012.46 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Austria is higher.
Work Week
- Austria
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Arbeitszeitgesetz). Daily maximum is 8 hours (normal) or 10 hours (with overtime). Since 2018, daily working time can be extended to 12 hours and weekly to 60 hours in exceptional cases with compensatory rest. Overtime is compensated at 150% or with time off in lieu (1:1.5). EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
- Syria
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 set 48 hours/week as the standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Enforcement is impossible across most of the country due to conflict. Government employees in Damascus and other major cities are the primary remaining formal workforce.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Austria mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Austria
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Austria or Syria?
In Austria, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD).
How much more does the average worker earn in Austria compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Austria is €3,800/mo ($4,425.29 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Austria earn approximately 3584% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Austria and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Austria earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
How do work hours compare between Austria and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Austria. Workers in Austria work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Austria working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.
What is the cost of living difference between Austria and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Austria has the higher GDP per capita at $73,911, which is 15.5x that of Syria at $4,772. From Austria's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.