Key Facts: Bolivia Wages
- Country
- Bolivia (BOL)
- Continent
- South America
- Currency
- Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)
- Minimum Wage
- Bs13.02 /hr ($1.88 USD)
- Average Gross Monthly Salary
- Bs4,200 /month
- Average Gross Annual Salary
- Bs54,600 /year
- Median Individual Income
- Bs21,600 /year
- Standard Work Week
- 48 hours
- Data Source
- Ministerio de Trabajo, Empleo y Previsión Social; 2024 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2024-05-01)
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-04
Bolivia — Average Salary & Wages
Bolivian Boliviano (BOB) Data verified Jan 2024 Sources
The average salary in Bolivia is
Bs54,600 a year
But half of all workers earn less than Bs21,600 .
The average is lifted by bonuses and high earners. Most workers earn less than that.
The minimum wage in Bolivia is Bs13.02/hr ($1.88 USD) as of 2026. The average gross monthly salary is Bs4,200 ($607.81 USD). The median monthly income is Bs1,800 ($260.49 USD).
Estimated from household survey data. Bolivia has one of the highest levels of income informality in South America, making reliable median figures difficult to establish. Significant urban-rural gap exists.
Average monthly income for formal sector workers in urban areas. Bolivia has no personal income tax (RC-IVA is refundable through invoice submissions), so net income is close to gross. Social security contributions (~12.71% employee share) are the main deduction. National average including rural and informal workers is significantly lower.
Minimum Wage Trend
Since 2018, the minimum wage has grown +21% in nominal terms.
• PPP ADJUSTED
In Bolivia, the minimum wage has the purchasing power of $5.49/hr in the United States, adjusted for local cost of living using the World Bank PPP conversion factor.
In Context
At minimum wage, a full-time worker in Bolivia earns Bs2,257/mo. That is 54% of the average gross salary.
- Monthly (full-time)
- Bs2,257 at min. wage
- Share of avg. salary
- 54% gross, before tax
- USD equivalent
- $326.63/mo monthly
- Nominal growth
- +21% since 2018
Wage Breakdown
- Hourly
- Bs13.02
- Daily
- Bs83.33Monthly wage divided by 30 days
- Monthly
- Bs2,500
- Annual
- Bs32,50013 monthly payments (12 months plus 1 aguinaldo Christmas bonus)
Salario Mínimo Nacional (SMN) of BOB 2,500/month. Set annually by supreme decree, typically effective May 1. The 2024 increase was approximately 11% from BOB 2,250 (corrected from prior data which showed 2,362). Workers also receive an aguinaldo (Christmas bonus) equal to one month's salary if employed the full year. A second bonus (doble aguinaldo) has been paid in some years when GDP growth exceeds 4.5%.
Work Week
- Standard
- 48 hrs/wk
- Maximum
- 48 hrs/wk
- Overtime
- 2x pay
General Labour Law (Ley General del Trabajo) sets maximum at 48 hours/week for daytime work, 40 hours for night work, and 44 for mixed shifts. Overtime is paid at 100% surcharge (double pay). Sunday is the mandatory rest day.
How Bolivia Compares
| Metric | Bolivia | South America Avg. | South America Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. wage (USD equiv.) | $1.88/hr | $2.67/hr | $12.38/hr (Falkland Islands) |
| Avg. salary (USD equiv.) | $607.81/mo | $656.42/mo | $1,405.33/mo (Trinidad and Tobago) |
Countries with Similar Minimum Wages
| Country | Min. Wage /hr (USD) |
|---|---|
| Moldova | $1.90 |
| Honduras | $1.92 |
| Dominica | $1.85 |
| Indonesia | $1.84 |
| South Africa | $1.84 |
| Bolivia | $1.88 |
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Falkland Islands Cost of Living
Wages tell half the story. See purchasing power, prices, and quality-of-life context for Bolivia on our sister site.
Cost of living in Bolivia on costofliving.is →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Bolivia?
The minimum wage in Bolivia is Bs13.02/hr (approximately $1.88 USD), effective since 2024-05-01. Salario Mínimo Nacional (SMN) of BOB 2,500/month. Set annually by supreme decree, typically effective May 1. The 2024 increase was approximately 11% from BOB 2,250 (corrected from prior data which showed 2,362). Workers also receive an aguinaldo (Christmas bonus) equal to one month's salary if employed the full year. A second bonus (doble aguinaldo) has been paid in some years when GDP growth exceeds 4.5%.
What is the average salary in Bolivia?
The average gross monthly salary in Bolivia is Bs4,200 (approximately $607.81 USD). Average monthly income for formal sector workers in urban areas. Bolivia has no personal income tax (RC-IVA is refundable through invoice submissions), so net income is close to gross. Social security contributions (~12.71% employee share) are the main deduction. National average including rural and informal workers is significantly lower. Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) (2024).
How many hours is the standard work week in Bolivia?
The standard work week in Bolivia is 48 hours, with a legal maximum of 48 hours. Overtime is paid at 2x the normal rate. General Labour Law (Ley General del Trabajo) sets maximum at 48 hours/week for daytime work, 40 hours for night work, and 44 for mixed shifts. Overtime is paid at 100% surcharge (double pay). Sunday is the mandatory rest day.
How has the minimum wage in Bolivia changed over time?
The minimum wage in Bolivia has changed as follows: Bs2,060 in 2018, Bs2,122 in 2019, Bs2,122 in 2020, Bs2,122 in 2021, Bs2,164 in 2022, Bs2,250 in 2023, Bs2,500 in 2024. This represents 7 recorded adjustments.
What is the minimum wage in Bolivia in USD?
The minimum wage in Bolivia converts to approximately $1.88/hr in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
What is the average salary in Bolivia in USD?
The average gross monthly salary in Bolivia is approximately $607.81 per month in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
How does Bolivia's minimum wage compare to the South America average?
Bolivia's minimum wage ranks #7 out of 13 countries with statutory minimum wages in South America, placing it near the median for South America.
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