Key Facts: Iran vs Syria Wages
- Iran Minimum Wage
- ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Iran Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼400,000,000 /mo ($588.24 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Supreme Labour Council / ILO ILOSTAT. 2026 (Iranian year 1405) figure verified via WageIndicator (March 22, 2026 update) and Euronews coverage of 60% nominal increase amid sanctions pressure. (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Iran
Syria
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Iran is roughly 16 times lower than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $588/mo in Iran versus $120/mo in Syria, a 4.9:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Iran is 4.2x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Iran has higher GDP per capita ($19,874 vs $4,772). Iran's unemployment rate is 8.3% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Iran | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ﷼692,731 $1.02 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | ﷼5,541,850 $8.15 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼166,255,500 $244.49 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ﷼1,995,066,000 $2,933.92 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼400,000,000 /mo $588.24 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | ﷼1,440,000,000 /yr $2,117.65 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Iran is higher.
Work Week
- Iran
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.4x pay
Article 51 of the Labour Law sets ordinary working hours at 44 hours per week (8 hours/day, 6 days, with 4 hours on the sixth day — or equivalent arrangements). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 140% of the ordinary hourly rate. Friday is the official weekly rest day. Workers in hazardous conditions have reduced hours.
- 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
A minimum wage worker in Iran earns 1516% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Iran mandates 44 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Iran are $45 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Iran
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Iran or Syria?
In Iran, the minimum wage is ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 1516% 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 Iran may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Iran compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Iran is ﷼400,000,000/mo ($588.24 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Iran earn approximately 390% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Iran and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iran earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
How do work hours compare between Iran and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Iran. Workers in Iran work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Iran 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 Iran and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Iran has the higher GDP per capita at $19,874, which is 4.2x that of Syria at $4,772. From Iran'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.