Key Facts: Guatemala Wages
- Country
- Guatemala (GTM)
- Continent
- North America
- Currency
- Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)
- Minimum Wage
- Q15.34 /hr ($2 USD)
- Average Gross Monthly Salary
- Q5,800 /month
- Average Gross Annual Salary
- Q69,600 /year
- Median Individual Income
- Q28,000 /year
- Standard Work Week
- 48 hours
- Data Source
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión Social — Guatemala
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-25
Guatemala — Average Salary & Wages
Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ) Data verified Jan 2026 Sources
The average salary in Guatemala is
Q69,600 a year
But half of all workers earn less than Q28,000 .
The average is lifted by bonuses and high earners. Most workers earn less than that.
The minimum wage in Guatemala is Q15.34/hr ($2 USD) as of 2026. The average gross monthly salary is Q5,800 ($756.19 USD). The median monthly income is Q2,333.33 ($304.22 USD).
Median individual income approximately GTQ 2,300/month. Significant inequality between urban Guatemala City and rural indigenous communities.
Average monthly income for formal sector workers. The informal sector (~70% of employment) has significantly lower wages. Urban workers earn substantially more than rural workers.
• SECTOR RATES
Agricultural sector
Q3,577 /mo
Since 2026-01-01
Minimum for agricultural workers
Maquila / Export sector
Q3,764 /mo
Since 2026-01-01
Minimum for maquila and export processing zone workers
Minimum Wage Trend
Since 2021, the minimum wage has grown +27% in nominal terms.
• PPP ADJUSTED
In Guatemala, the minimum wage has the purchasing power of $4.62/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 Guatemala earns Q2,659/mo. That is 46% of the average gross salary.
- Monthly (full-time)
- Q2,659 at min. wage
- Share of avg. salary
- 46% gross, before tax
- USD equivalent
- $346.68/mo monthly
- Nominal growth
- +27% since 2021
Wage Breakdown
- Hourly
- Q15.34
- Monthly
- Q3,681Non-agricultural sector rate. Agricultural: GTQ 3,577/mo; Maquila/export: GTQ 3,764/mo.
- Annual
- Q44,17212 months base salary
Guatemala's minimum wage is set by government decree annually. For 2026, rates increased ~7%. The economy is divided into three sectors: agricultural (GTQ 3,577/mo), non-agricultural (GTQ 3,681/mo), and maquila/export (GTQ 3,764/mo). Workers also receive a mandatory monthly productivity bonus (Bonificación Incentivo) of GTQ 250, which is added on top of the base minimum wage. The Bono 14 (mid-year bonus) and Aguinaldo (Christmas bonus) are also mandatory — each equivalent to one month's salary.
Work Week
- Standard
- 48 hrs/wk
- Maximum
- 48 hrs/wk
- Overtime
- 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets maximum ordinary work at 8 hours/day (daytime), 6 hours/day (nighttime), for a maximum of 48 hours/week (daytime) or 36 hours/week (nighttime). Overtime paid at 150% of regular rate.
How Guatemala Compares
| Metric | Guatemala | North America Avg. | North America Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. wage (USD equiv.) | $2/hr | $5.81/hr | $17.13/hr (Bermuda) |
| Avg. salary (USD equiv.) | $756.19/mo | $1,569.85/mo | $6,228/mo (United States) |
Countries with Similar Minimum Wages
| Country | Min. Wage /hr (USD) |
|---|---|
| Ecuador | $1.96 |
| Paraguay | $1.94 |
| Brunei | $2.06 |
| Jamaica | $2.07 |
| Honduras | $1.92 |
| Guatemala | $2 |
Related Wage Comparisons
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Barbados Cost of Living
Wages tell half the story. See purchasing power, prices, and quality-of-life context for Guatemala on our sister site.
Cost of living in Guatemala on costofliving.is →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Guatemala?
The minimum wage in Guatemala is Q15.34/hr (approximately $2 USD), effective since 2026-01-01. Guatemala's minimum wage is set by government decree annually. For 2026, rates increased ~7%. The economy is divided into three sectors: agricultural (GTQ 3,577/mo), non-agricultural (GTQ 3,681/mo), and maquila/export (GTQ 3,764/mo). Workers also receive a mandatory monthly productivity bonus (Bonificación Incentivo) of GTQ 250, which is added on top of the base minimum wage. The Bono 14 (mid-year bonus) and Aguinaldo (Christmas bonus) are also mandatory — each equivalent to one month's salary.
What is the average salary in Guatemala?
The average gross monthly salary in Guatemala is Q5,800 (approximately $756.19 USD). Average monthly income for formal sector workers. The informal sector (~70% of employment) has significantly lower wages. Urban workers earn substantially more than rural workers. Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) — Encuesta Nacional de Empleo e Ingresos (2024).
How many hours is the standard work week in Guatemala?
The standard work week in Guatemala is 48 hours, with a legal maximum of 48 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Labour Code sets maximum ordinary work at 8 hours/day (daytime), 6 hours/day (nighttime), for a maximum of 48 hours/week (daytime) or 36 hours/week (nighttime). Overtime paid at 150% of regular rate.
How has the minimum wage in Guatemala changed over time?
The minimum wage in Guatemala has changed as follows: Q2,893.21 in 2021, Q2,989.36 in 2022, Q3,073.06 in 2023, Q3,124 in 2024, Q3,441 in 2025, Q3,681 in 2026. This represents 6 recorded adjustments.
What is the minimum wage in Guatemala in USD?
The minimum wage in Guatemala converts to approximately $2/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 Guatemala in USD?
The average gross monthly salary in Guatemala is approximately $756.19 per month in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
How does Guatemala's minimum wage compare to the North America average?
Guatemala's minimum wage ranks #25 out of 32 countries with statutory minimum wages in North America, placing it below the median for North America.
From Insights
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