Key Facts: Colombia Wages
- Country
- Colombia (COL)
- Continent
- South America
- Currency
- Colombian Peso (COP)
- Minimum Wage
- COP7,295.44 /hr ($1.77 USD)
- Average Gross Monthly Salary
- COP2,200,000 /month
- Average Gross Annual Salary
- COP28,600,000 /year
- Median Individual Income
- COP16,800,000 /year
- Standard Work Week
- 44 hours
- Data Source
- Ministerio del Trabajo y Seguridad Social; 2026 SMLMV per Decretos 1469 y 1470 de 2025 + Decreto 0159 de 2026 (auxilio de transporte)
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-27
Colombia — Average Salary & Wages
Colombian Peso (COP) Data verified Jan 2026 Sources
The average salary in Colombia is
COP28,600,000 a year
But half of all workers earn less than COP16,800,000 .
The average is lifted by bonuses and high earners. Most workers earn less than that.
The minimum wage in Colombia is COP7,295.44/hr ($1.77 USD) as of 2026. The average gross monthly salary is COP2,200,000 ($532.69 USD). The median monthly income is COP1,400,000 ($338.98 USD).
Median income significantly below average due to large informal sector. Over half of workers earn close to or below minimum wage.
Average monthly earnings for formal employed workers. Annual includes 13th salary (prima de servicios). Net estimated at ~88% after mandatory health (4%) and pension (4%) employee contributions, and income tax (low at this income level). Large informal sector workers typically earn less.
• SECTOR RATES
With transport allowance
COP2,000,000 /mo
Since 2026-01-01
Base salary (1,750,905) plus mandatory auxilio de transporte (249,095) per Decreto 0159 de 2026, for workers earning up to 2× SMLMV.
Minimum Wage Trend
Since 2020, the minimum wage has grown +99% in nominal terms.
• PPP ADJUSTED
In Colombia, the minimum wage has the purchasing power of $5.05/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 Colombia earns COP1,264,519/mo. That is 57% of the average gross salary.
- Monthly (full-time)
- COP1,264,519 at min. wage
- Share of avg. salary
- 57% gross, before tax
- USD equivalent
- $306.18/mo monthly
- Nominal growth
- +99% since 2020
Wage Breakdown
- Hourly
- COP7,295.44
- Monthly
- COP1,750,905
- Annual
- COP22,761,76513 monthly payments (prima de servicios mandatory in Colombia)
Salario Minimo Legal Mensual Vigente (SMLMV). 2026 rate per Decreto 1469 de 2025: COP 1,750,905/month (9.54% increase from 1,423,500 in 2025). Auxilio de transporte 2026: COP 249,095/month per Decreto 0159 de 2026 — applies to workers earning up to 2× SMLMV. Combined floor: COP 2,000,000/month exactly. The prima de servicios (13th salary) is paid in two installments (June and December), so annual uses 13 months. Colombia is reducing the workweek under Ley 2101 de 2021 from 48h to 42h in steps; as of 2026-01-01 the maximum is 44h/week, reaching 42h by July 2026.
Work Week
- Standard
- 44 hrs/wk
- Maximum
- 44 hrs/wk
- Overtime
- 1.25x pay
Colombia is reducing the workweek from 48 to 42 hours under Ley 2101 de 2021 in annual steps. As of 2026-01-01, the maximum is 44 hours/week. The final step (44h → 42h) takes effect July 2026. Daytime overtime: 25% premium. Night overtime: 75% premium. Sunday/holiday work: 75% premium (175% if also overtime).
How Colombia Compares
| Metric | Colombia | South America Avg. | South America Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. wage (USD equiv.) | $1.77/hr | $2.67/hr | $12.38/hr (Falkland Islands) |
| Avg. salary (USD equiv.) | $532.69/mo | $656.42/mo | $1,405.33/mo (Trinidad and Tobago) |
Countries with Similar Minimum Wages
| Country | Min. Wage /hr (USD) |
|---|---|
| Samoa | $1.75 |
| Kosovo | $1.79 |
| Lebanon | $1.81 |
| Morocco | $1.83 |
| South Africa | $1.84 |
| Colombia | $1.77 |
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Falkland Islands Cost of Living
Wages tell half the story. See purchasing power, prices, and quality-of-life context for Colombia on our sister site.
Cost of living in Colombia on costofliving.is →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Colombia?
The minimum wage in Colombia is COP7,295.44/hr (approximately $1.77 USD), effective since 2026-01-01. Salario Minimo Legal Mensual Vigente (SMLMV). 2026 rate per Decreto 1469 de 2025: COP 1,750,905/month (9.54% increase from 1,423,500 in 2025). Auxilio de transporte 2026: COP 249,095/month per Decreto 0159 de 2026 — applies to workers earning up to 2× SMLMV. Combined floor: COP 2,000,000/month exactly. The prima de servicios (13th salary) is paid in two installments (June and December), so annual uses 13 months. Colombia is reducing the workweek under Ley 2101 de 2021 from 48h to 42h in steps; as of 2026-01-01 the maximum is 44h/week, reaching 42h by July 2026.
What is the average salary in Colombia?
The average gross monthly salary in Colombia is COP2,200,000 (approximately $532.69 USD). Average monthly earnings for formal employed workers. Annual includes 13th salary (prima de servicios). Net estimated at ~88% after mandatory health (4%) and pension (4%) employee contributions, and income tax (low at this income level). Large informal sector workers typically earn less. Source: DANE (Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica) (2025).
How many hours is the standard work week in Colombia?
The standard work week in Colombia is 44 hours, with a legal maximum of 44 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.25x the normal rate. Colombia is reducing the workweek from 48 to 42 hours under Ley 2101 de 2021 in annual steps. As of 2026-01-01, the maximum is 44 hours/week. The final step (44h → 42h) takes effect July 2026. Daytime overtime: 25% premium. Night overtime: 75% premium. Sunday/holiday work: 75% premium (175% if also overtime).
How has the minimum wage in Colombia changed over time?
The minimum wage in Colombia has changed as follows: COP877,803 in 2020, COP908,526 in 2021, COP1,000,000 in 2022, COP1,160,000 in 2023, COP1,300,000 in 2024, COP1,423,500 in 2025, COP1,750,905 in 2026. This represents 7 recorded adjustments.
What is the minimum wage in Colombia in USD?
The minimum wage in Colombia converts to approximately $1.77/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 Colombia in USD?
The average gross monthly salary in Colombia is approximately $532.69 per month in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
How does Colombia's minimum wage compare to the South America average?
Colombia's minimum wage ranks #8 out of 13 countries with statutory minimum wages in South America, placing it near the median for South America.
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