Key Facts: Paraguay Wages
- Country
- Paraguay (PRY)
- Continent
- South America
- Currency
- Paraguayan Guaraní (PYG)
- Minimum Wage
- ₲14,574 /hr ($1.94 USD)
- Average Gross Monthly Salary
- ₲4,500,000 /month
- Average Gross Annual Salary
- ₲54,000,000 /year
- Median Individual Income
- ₲26,400,000 /year
- Standard Work Week
- 48 hours
- Data Source
- Ministerio de Trabajo, Empleo y Seguridad Social (MTESS); 2024 figure corrected via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2024-07-01)
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-04
Paraguay — Average Salary & Wages
Paraguayan Guaraní (PYG) Data verified Jan 2024 Sources
The average salary in Paraguay is
₲54,000,000 a year
But half of all workers earn less than ₲26,400,000 .
The average is lifted by bonuses and high earners. Most workers earn less than that.
The minimum wage in Paraguay is ₲14,574/hr ($1.94 USD) as of 2026. The average gross monthly salary is ₲4,500,000 ($598.40 USD). The median monthly income is ₲2,200,000 ($292.55 USD).
Estimated from household survey data. Large urban-rural divide: Asunción incomes are roughly double the national median. Poverty rate remains around 25%.
Average monthly income for formal sector workers. Paraguay introduced personal income tax (IRP) relatively recently (2012), with a 10% rate on income above a threshold. Social security (IPS) contribution is ~9% for employees. Net figure is approximate. Rural and informal incomes are substantially lower.
Minimum Wage Trend
Since 2018, the minimum wage has grown +32% in nominal terms.
• PPP ADJUSTED
In Paraguay, the minimum wage has the purchasing power of $5.57/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 Paraguay earns ₲2,526,111/mo. That is 56% of the average gross salary.
- Monthly (full-time)
- ₲2,526,111 at min. wage
- Share of avg. salary
- 56% gross, before tax
- USD equivalent
- $335.92/mo monthly
- Nominal growth
- +32% since 2018
Wage Breakdown
- Hourly
- ₲14,574
- Daily
- ₲93,277Monthly wage divided by 30 days
- Monthly
- ₲2,798,309
- Annual
- ₲33,579,70812 monthly payments (aguinaldo Christmas bonus is additional)
Salario Mínimo Legal para actividades diversas no especificadas. Set by government decree. Domestic workers are entitled to at least 60% of the minimum wage. Workers receive an aguinaldo (13th salary) in December. There is no automatic indexation mechanism; adjustments are made by executive decree based on economic conditions.
Work Week
- Standard
- 48 hrs/wk
- Maximum
- 48 hrs/wk
- Overtime
- 1.5x pay
Labour Code (Código del Trabajo) sets maximum at 48 hours/week for daytime work, 42 hours for night work, and 45 for mixed shifts. Overtime: 50% surcharge for daytime, 100% for night/holiday overtime. Weekly rest on Sunday is mandatory.
How Paraguay Compares
| Metric | Paraguay | South America Avg. | South America Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. wage (USD equiv.) | $1.94/hr | $2.67/hr | $12.38/hr (Falkland Islands) |
| Avg. salary (USD equiv.) | $598.40/mo | $656.42/mo | $1,405.33/mo (Trinidad and Tobago) |
Countries with Similar Minimum Wages
| Country | Min. Wage /hr (USD) |
|---|---|
| Ecuador | $1.96 |
| Honduras | $1.92 |
| Moldova | $1.90 |
| Bolivia | $1.88 |
| Guatemala | $2 |
| Paraguay | $1.94 |
Related Wage Comparisons
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Cost of Living
Wages tell half the story. See purchasing power, prices, and quality-of-life context for Paraguay on our sister site.
Cost of living in Paraguay on costofliving.is →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Paraguay?
The minimum wage in Paraguay is ₲14,574/hr (approximately $1.94 USD), effective since 2024-07-01. Salario Mínimo Legal para actividades diversas no especificadas. Set by government decree. Domestic workers are entitled to at least 60% of the minimum wage. Workers receive an aguinaldo (13th salary) in December. There is no automatic indexation mechanism; adjustments are made by executive decree based on economic conditions.
What is the average salary in Paraguay?
The average gross monthly salary in Paraguay is ₲4,500,000 (approximately $598.40 USD). Average monthly income for formal sector workers. Paraguay introduced personal income tax (IRP) relatively recently (2012), with a 10% rate on income above a threshold. Social security (IPS) contribution is ~9% for employees. Net figure is approximate. Rural and informal incomes are substantially lower. Source: Dirección General de Estadística, Encuestas y Censos (DGEEC) (2024).
How many hours is the standard work week in Paraguay?
The standard work week in Paraguay is 48 hours, with a legal maximum of 48 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Labour Code (Código del Trabajo) sets maximum at 48 hours/week for daytime work, 42 hours for night work, and 45 for mixed shifts. Overtime: 50% surcharge for daytime, 100% for night/holiday overtime. Weekly rest on Sunday is mandatory.
How has the minimum wage in Paraguay changed over time?
The minimum wage in Paraguay has changed as follows: ₲2,112,562 in 2018, ₲2,192,839 in 2019, ₲2,192,839 in 2020, ₲2,192,839 in 2021, ₲2,289,324 in 2022, ₲2,550,307 in 2023, ₲2,798,309 in 2024. This represents 7 recorded adjustments.
What is the minimum wage in Paraguay in USD?
The minimum wage in Paraguay converts to approximately $1.94/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 Paraguay in USD?
The average gross monthly salary in Paraguay is approximately $598.40 per month in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
How does Paraguay's minimum wage compare to the South America average?
Paraguay's minimum wage ranks #6 out of 13 countries with statutory minimum wages in South America, placing it near the median for South America.
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