Key Facts: El Salvador vs Mali Wages
- El Salvador Minimum Wage
- $2.13/hr
- Mali Minimum Wage
- CFA192.30/hr ($0.35 USD)
- El Salvador Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $500 /mo ($500 USD)
- Mali Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA120,000 /mo ($215.44 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión Social (Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare) — El Salvador (2026-02-25), Mali Ministry of Labour and Civil Service / ILO (2026-02-25)
El Salvador 
Mali
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in El Salvador is roughly 6 times higher than in Mali in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $500/mo in El Salvador versus $215/mo in Mali, a 2.3:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in El Salvador is 4.0x that of Mali, underscoring the structural economic divide.
From El Salvador's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, El Salvador's minimum wage buys more than Mali's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in El Salvador is $5 international dollars, compared to $1 in Mali. El Salvador has higher GDP per capita ($13,264 vs $3,315). El Salvador's unemployment rate is 3.3% compared to Mali's 2.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | El Salvador | Mali |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $2.13 | CFA192.30 $0.35 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | CFA1,538 $2.76 |
| Minimum wage /mo | $408.80 | CFA40,000 $71.81 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | CFA480,000 $861.76 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $500 /mo | CFA120,000 /mo $215.44 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $435 /mo | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | $3,600 /yr | CFA360,000 /yr $646.32 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means El Salvador is higher.
Work Week
- El Salvador
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Standard workweek is 44 hours, typically spread over 6 days (8 hours/day plus 4 hours on Saturday, or 5.5 days). Overtime (beyond 44 hours/week) is paid at 2x the regular rate — one of the highest overtime premiums in the region. Work on the mandatory weekly rest day (usually Sunday) or on public holidays is also compensated at double the regular rate. Night work (7pm-6am) limited to 7 hours/day, 39 hours/week.
- Mali
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.15x pay
Labour Code (Law No. 92-020 of 23 September 1992, amended) sets standard hours at 40 per week (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime rates: 115% for day hours; 130% for hours between 21:00 and 05:00 on weekdays; 150% for Sunday daytime; 200% for night hours on Sundays/holidays. Workers are entitled to 2.5 days of paid leave per month worked (30 days/year). Friday prayers (Jumu'ah) are accommodated — Mali is ~90% Muslim.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Mali to El Salvador would see a 517% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: El Salvador mandates 44 hours while Mali mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in El Salvador are $94 vs $14 in Mali.
See this comparison from Mali's perspective: Mali vs El Salvador
Compare El Salvador with...
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El Salvador vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
El Salvador vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
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El Salvador vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in El Salvador or Mali?
In El Salvador, the minimum wage is $2.13/hr. In Mali, it is CFA192.30/hr ($0.35 USD). El Salvador has the higher rate by 517% in USD terms. That nominal gap does not account for local prices; see the purchasing power comparison below for a cost-of-living-adjusted view. Workers in Mali may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in El Salvador compared to Mali?
The average gross salary in El Salvador is $500/mo, compared to CFA120,000/mo ($215.44 USD) in Mali. In USD terms, workers in El Salvador earn approximately 132% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between El Salvador and Mali is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in El Salvador earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Mali.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, El Salvador or Mali?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in El Salvador can afford more than those in Mali. The PPP-adjusted rate is $5 in El Salvador and $1 in Mali. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 428% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Mali appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between El Salvador and Mali?
El Salvador has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Mali. Workers in El Salvador work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Mali 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 El Salvador and Mali?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. El Salvador has the higher GDP per capita at $13,264, which is 4.0x that of Mali at $3,315. From El Salvador'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.