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Key Facts: Iran vs Thailand Wages

Iran Minimum Wage
﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD)
Thailand Minimum Wage
฿10,400/mo ($319.46 USD)
Iran Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
﷼400,000,000 /mo ($588.24 USD)
Thailand Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
฿15,700 /mo ($482.26 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), Ministry of Labour / National Wage Committee (2026-05-27)

Iran flag Iran Thailand flag Thailand

Updated 2026-05-27

Iran flag Iran

Minimum Wage

﷼692,731 /hr

$1.02 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

﷼400,000,000 /mo

Thailand flag Thailand

Minimum Wage

฿10,400 /mo

$319.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

฿15,700 /mo

Min wage: -100% Iran vs Thailand Avg. salary: +22% Iran vs Thailand

The minimum wage in Iran is roughly 314 times lower than in Thailand in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Iran at $588/mo compared to $482/mo in Thailand. Thailand has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 0.8% compared to 8.3%.

Iran has lower GDP per capita ($19,874 vs $24,712). Iran's unemployment rate is 8.3% compared to Thailand's 0.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Iran and Thailand
Metric Iran Thailand
Minimum wage /hr ﷼692,731 $1.02
Minimum wage /day ﷼5,541,850 $8.15 ฿400 $12.29
Minimum wage /mo ﷼166,255,500 $244.49 ฿10,400 $319.46
Minimum wage /yr ﷼1,995,066,000 $2,933.92 ฿124,800 $3,833.51
Avg. gross salary /mo ﷼400,000,000 /mo $588.24 ฿15,700 /mo $482.26
Avg. net salary /mo N/A/mo ฿14,915 /mo $458.15
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.

Thailand

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Protection Act sets maximum 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week for general work (42 hours for hazardous work). Overtime at 1.5x base rate. Holiday work at 1x additional. Holiday overtime at 3x. Employees cannot be forced to work more than 36 overtime hours per week.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Iran earns 31259% less per hour in USD terms than one in Thailand. Standard work weeks differ: Iran mandates 44 hours while Thailand mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Iran are $45 vs $15,334 in Thailand.

See this comparison from Thailand's perspective: Thailand vs Iran

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Iran or Thailand?

In Iran, the minimum wage is ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD). In Thailand, it is ฿10,400/mo ($319.46 USD). Thailand has the higher rate by 31259% 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 Thailand?

The average gross salary in Iran is ﷼400,000,000/mo ($588.24 USD), compared to ฿15,700/mo ($482.26 USD) in Thailand. In USD terms, workers in Iran earn approximately 22% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Iran and Thailand 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 Thailand.

How do work hours compare between Iran and Thailand?

Thailand 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 Thailand?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Thailand has the higher GDP per capita at $24,712, which is 1.2x that of Iran at $19,874. From Iran's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower 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.