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Key Facts: Kazakhstan Wages

Country
Kazakhstan (KAZ)
Continent
Asia
Currency
Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT)
Minimum Wage
₸496 /hr ($1.05 USD)
Average Gross Monthly Salary
₸380,000 /month
Average Gross Annual Salary
₸4,560,000 /year
Median Individual Income
₸2,400,000 /year
Standard Work Week
40 hours
Data Source
Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population; 2024 figure of KZT 85,000/mo confirmed current per Republican Budget Law; 2025 and 2026 figures need primary source verification next session
Last Updated
2026-05-04
Kazakhstan flag

Kazakhstan — Average Salary & Wages

Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT) Data verified Jan 2024 Sources

The average salary in Kazakhstan is

₸4,560,000 a year

But half of all workers earn less than ₸2,400,000 .

The average is lifted by bonuses and high earners. Most workers earn less than that.

Minimum wage ₸496 /hr, up 201% in 6 years Average pay ranks #102 of 206 worldwide Take-home is about 90% of gross

The minimum wage in Kazakhstan is ₸496/hr ($1.05 USD) as of 2026. The average gross monthly salary is ₸380,000 ($805.08 USD). The median monthly income is ₸200,000 ($423.73 USD).

Estimated. Median is substantially below the mean due to high oil-sector wages pulling the average up. Rural incomes, particularly in southern regions, are significantly lower than urban.

Average monthly nominal wage across all sectors. Oil and mining sectors pay significantly above average (2-3x), skewing the national figure upward. Net estimated after 10% individual income tax (flat rate) and mandatory pension contributions (10% employee). Regional variation is large: Atyrau and Mangystau oblasts (oil regions) have averages 2-3x the national figure.

About the Kazakhstan economy

Kazakhstan operates the largest economy in Central Asia, with GDP of $288.406 billion at official exchange rates in 2024. Oil and gas extraction anchors the economy, alongside coal, iron ore, copper, gold, and uranium mining (OpenFactBook). Kazakhstan has been the world's largest uranium producer since 2009, mining about 23,270 tonnes in 2024. Industry generates 31.4 percent of output, services 58.2 percent, and agriculture 3.9 percent (2024 est.). Crude petroleum leads exports, followed by gold, radioactive chemicals, and refined copper. Real GDP grew 4.8 percent in 2024, supported by rising oil production and infrastructure investment.

The labor force totals approximately 10.285 million workers as of 2024. Unemployment stands at 4.8 percent in 2024, down slightly from 4.9 percent in the two prior years. Youth unemployment for workers aged 15 to 24 is 3.8 percent, with the female rate at 4.8 percent and the male rate at 3 percent (OpenFactBook, 2024 est.). Inflation has eroded purchasing power in recent years; consumer prices rose 8.8 percent in 2024 after 14.7 percent in 2023 and 15 percent in 2022. About 5.2 percent of the population lived below the national poverty line in 2023.

Kazakhstan sets a single national monthly minimum wage with no regional variation. The rate is 85,000 tenge per month, roughly $157 at current exchange rates. The government raised it from 70,000 tenge in January 2024 and has frozen it at that level for 2026, reversing earlier signals of an increase to just over 90,000 tenge. Approximately 170,000 workers earn the minimum wage, and another 160,000 earn close to 100,000 tenge per month. The tenge has weakened steadily against the dollar, averaging 468.962 per US dollar in 2024 compared with 412.953 in 2020, which compresses dollar-denominated wage comparisons.

Minimum Wage Trend

Since 2018, the minimum wage has grown +201% in nominal terms.

Nominal wage
Compare Kazakhstan with other countries

• PPP ADJUSTED

₸496/hr $3.06/hr purchasing power

In Kazakhstan, the minimum wage has the purchasing power of $3.06/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 Kazakhstan earns ₸85,000/mo. That is 22% of the average gross salary.

Monthly (full-time)
₸85,000 at min. wage
Share of avg. salary
22% gross, before tax
USD equivalent
$180.08/mo monthly
Nominal growth
+201% since 2018

Wage Breakdown

Hourly
₸496
Daily
₸2,833Monthly wage divided by 30 days
Monthly
₸85,000
Annual
₸1,020,00012 monthly payments

Minimum wage (ең төменгі жалақы) is set annually in the Law on the Republican Budget. The 2024 rate of KZT 85,000 was a significant increase from KZT 70,000 in 2023. The minimum wage must not be less than the minimum subsistence level (прожиточный минимум). Kazakhstan does not have a 13th month salary by law, though bonuses are common in some sectors.

Work Week

Standard
40 hrs/wk
Maximum
40 hrs/wk
Overtime
1.5x pay

Labour Code sets standard working time at 40 hours/week. Overtime is limited to 2 hours/day and must be compensated at 150% of the normal rate. Reduced working hours apply to workers aged 14-18 and those in hazardous conditions. Five-day work week is standard.

How Kazakhstan Compares

How Kazakhstan wages compare to Asia averages and highest values
Metric Kazakhstan Asia Avg.
Min. wage (USD equiv.) $1.05/hr $2.61/hr
Avg. salary (USD equiv.) $805.08/mo $1,185.31/mo

Countries with Similar Minimum Wages

Countries with minimum wages similar to Kazakhstan
Country Min. Wage /hr (USD)
Cape Verde $1.05
Tuvalu $1.03
Algeria $1.02
Iran $1.02
Solomon Islands $1.01
Kazakhstan $1.05

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Cost of Living

Wages tell half the story. See purchasing power, prices, and quality-of-life context for Kazakhstan on our sister site.

Cost of living in Kazakhstan on costofliving.is →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum wage in Kazakhstan?

The minimum wage in Kazakhstan is ₸496/hr (approximately $1.05 USD), effective since 2024-01-01. Minimum wage (ең төменгі жалақы) is set annually in the Law on the Republican Budget. The 2024 rate of KZT 85,000 was a significant increase from KZT 70,000 in 2023. The minimum wage must not be less than the minimum subsistence level (прожиточный минимум). Kazakhstan does not have a 13th month salary by law, though bonuses are common in some sectors.

What is the average salary in Kazakhstan?

The average gross monthly salary in Kazakhstan is ₸380,000 (approximately $805.08 USD). Average monthly nominal wage across all sectors. Oil and mining sectors pay significantly above average (2-3x), skewing the national figure upward. Net estimated after 10% individual income tax (flat rate) and mandatory pension contributions (10% employee). Regional variation is large: Atyrau and Mangystau oblasts (oil regions) have averages 2-3x the national figure. Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms (2024).

How many hours is the standard work week in Kazakhstan?

The standard work week in Kazakhstan is 40 hours, with a legal maximum of 40 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Labour Code sets standard working time at 40 hours/week. Overtime is limited to 2 hours/day and must be compensated at 150% of the normal rate. Reduced working hours apply to workers aged 14-18 and those in hazardous conditions. Five-day work week is standard.

How has the minimum wage in Kazakhstan changed over time?

The minimum wage in Kazakhstan has changed as follows: ₸28,284 in 2018, ₸42,500 in 2019, ₸42,500 in 2020, ₸42,500 in 2021, ₸60,000 in 2022, ₸70,000 in 2023, ₸85,000 in 2024. This represents 7 recorded adjustments.

What is the minimum wage in Kazakhstan in USD?

The minimum wage in Kazakhstan converts to approximately $1.05/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 Kazakhstan in USD?

The average gross monthly salary in Kazakhstan is approximately $805.08 per month in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.

How does Kazakhstan's minimum wage compare to the Asia average?

Kazakhstan's minimum wage ranks #23 out of 34 countries with statutory minimum wages in Asia, placing it below the median for Asia.

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