Key Facts: Tanzania Wages
- Country
- Tanzania (TZA)
- Continent
- Africa
- Currency
- Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
- Minimum Wage
- TZS1,010 /hr ($0.38 USD)
- Average Gross Monthly Salary
- TZS650,000 /month
- Average Gross Annual Salary
- TZS7,800,000 /year
- Median Individual Income
- TZS2,400,000 /year
- Standard Work Week
- 45 hours
- Data Source
- Ministry of Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities; Labour Institutions (Minimum Wage for Private Sector) Order, 2025 — Government Notice No. 605A, gazetted 13 October 2025, eff 1 January 2026 (kazi.go.tz PDF)
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-27
Tanzania — Average Salary & Wages
Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) Data verified Jan 2026 Sources
The average salary in Tanzania is
TZS7,800,000 a year
But half of all workers earn less than TZS2,400,000 .
The average is lifted by bonuses and high earners. Most workers earn less than that.
The minimum wage in Tanzania is TZS1,010/hr ($0.38 USD) as of 2026. The average gross monthly salary is TZS650,000 ($244.36 USD). The median monthly income is TZS200,000 ($75.19 USD).
Rough estimates from household budget surveys. Most Tanzanians rely on subsistence farming with limited cash income. Urban-rural divide is extreme. These figures should be treated as very approximate.
Average monthly earnings for formal sector employees. Highly unrepresentative of the overall population, as the formal sector employs less than 20% of the workforce. Net estimated after PAYE income tax (progressive, 0-30%) and social security contributions (10% employee share to NSSF/PSSSF). Dar es Salaam formal sector wages are substantially higher than other regions.
• SECTOR RATES
Agriculture / General workers
TZS175,000 /mo
Since 2026-01-01
Agriculture and general services sector floor per GN 605A; approximate.
Domestic workers
TZS80,000 /mo
Since 2026-01-01
Lowest minimum wage category per GN 605A (100% increase from TZS 40,000 in 2013).
Mining sector
TZS695,000 /mo
Since 2026-01-01
Lower bound of mining sector range (695,000-765,900 TZS) per GN 605A.
Minimum Wage Trend
Since 2010, the minimum wage has grown +119% in nominal terms.
• PPP ADJUSTED
In Tanzania, the minimum wage has the purchasing power of $1.38/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 Tanzania earns TZS175,000/mo. That is 27% of the average gross salary.
- Monthly (full-time)
- TZS175,000 at min. wage
- Share of avg. salary
- 27% gross, before tax
- USD equivalent
- $65.79/mo monthly
- Nominal growth
- +119% since 2010
Wage Breakdown
- Hourly
- TZS1,010
- Daily
- TZS5,833Agriculture/general workers rate divided by 30 days
- Monthly
- TZS175,000
- Annual
- TZS2,100,00012 monthly payments
Tanzania's minimum wages are set by the Wage Board under the Employment and Labour Relations Act (2004). GN 605A (gazetted 13 Oct 2025, eff 1 Jan 2026) completely replaced the 2013 Order. The main figure shown (~TZS 175,000/mo) is the agriculture/general workers sector floor. Sectoral rates range from TZS 80,000/mo (domestic workers) to TZS 695,000-765,900/mo (mining sector). This is the first update since the 2013 Wage Order — a 13-year gap that severely eroded real wages. Note: exact figures for all 12 sectors should be confirmed against the full GN 605A schedule at kazi.go.tz.
Work Week
- Standard
- 45 hrs/wk
- Maximum
- 45 hrs/wk
- Overtime
- 1.5x pay
Employment and Labour Relations Act sets ordinary working hours at 45 per week (9 hours/day for 5-day week, or various combinations not exceeding 45). Overtime: 150% of normal rate. Public holiday work: 200%. Maximum overtime is 50 hours in any 4-week cycle. Night work restrictions apply to pregnant women and young persons.
How Tanzania Compares
| Metric | Tanzania | Africa Avg. | Africa Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. wage (USD equiv.) | $0.38/hr | $0.91/hr | $6.06/hr (Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha) |
| Avg. salary (USD equiv.) | $244.36/mo | $381.53/mo | $1,625/mo (Mauritania) |
Countries with Similar Minimum Wages
| Country | Min. Wage /hr (USD) |
|---|---|
| Mali | $0.35 |
| Zambia | $0.33 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | $0.31 |
| Sri Lanka | $0.45 |
| Cameroon | $0.46 |
| Tanzania | $0.38 |
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Benin Cost of Living
Wages tell half the story. See purchasing power, prices, and quality-of-life context for Tanzania on our sister site.
Cost of living in Tanzania on costofliving.is →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Tanzania?
The minimum wage in Tanzania is TZS1,010/hr (approximately $0.38 USD), effective since 2026-01-01. Tanzania's minimum wages are set by the Wage Board under the Employment and Labour Relations Act (2004). GN 605A (gazetted 13 Oct 2025, eff 1 Jan 2026) completely replaced the 2013 Order. The main figure shown (~TZS 175,000/mo) is the agriculture/general workers sector floor. Sectoral rates range from TZS 80,000/mo (domestic workers) to TZS 695,000-765,900/mo (mining sector). This is the first update since the 2013 Wage Order — a 13-year gap that severely eroded real wages. Note: exact figures for all 12 sectors should be confirmed against the full GN 605A schedule at kazi.go.tz.
What is the average salary in Tanzania?
The average gross monthly salary in Tanzania is TZS650,000 (approximately $244.36 USD). Average monthly earnings for formal sector employees. Highly unrepresentative of the overall population, as the formal sector employs less than 20% of the workforce. Net estimated after PAYE income tax (progressive, 0-30%) and social security contributions (10% employee share to NSSF/PSSSF). Dar es Salaam formal sector wages are substantially higher than other regions. Source: National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) (2023).
How many hours is the standard work week in Tanzania?
The standard work week in Tanzania is 45 hours, with a legal maximum of 45 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Employment and Labour Relations Act sets ordinary working hours at 45 per week (9 hours/day for 5-day week, or various combinations not exceeding 45). Overtime: 150% of normal rate. Public holiday work: 200%. Maximum overtime is 50 hours in any 4-week cycle. Night work restrictions apply to pregnant women and young persons.
How has the minimum wage in Tanzania changed over time?
The minimum wage in Tanzania has changed as follows: TZS80,000 in 2010, TZS100,000 in 2013, TZS175,000 in 2026. This represents 3 recorded adjustments.
What is the minimum wage in Tanzania in USD?
The minimum wage in Tanzania converts to approximately $0.38/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 Tanzania in USD?
The average gross monthly salary in Tanzania is approximately $244.36 per month in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
How does Tanzania's minimum wage compare to the Africa average?
Tanzania's minimum wage ranks #22 out of 33 countries with statutory minimum wages in Africa, placing it below the median for Africa.
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