Key Facts: Venezuela Wages
- Country
- Venezuela (VEN)
- Continent
- South America
- Currency
- Venezuelan Bolívar (VES)
- Minimum Wage
- Bs.D0.68 /hr ($0.02 USD)
- Average Gross Monthly Salary
- Bs.D500 /month
- Average Gross Annual Salary
- Bs.D6,000 /year
- Standard Work Week
- 40 hours
- Data Source
- Venezuelan Ministry of Labour (MINPPTRASS) / Decreto 4.653/2022 / Cendas-FVM. Confirmed: legal salario mínimo has been UNCHANGED at VES 130 since March 2022 (over 4 years frozen amid hyperinflation). Effective real income for workers is dominated by the 'ingreso integral' (bono de guerra económica + CESTATICKET food bonus), increased to USD 240/month effective 1 May 2026.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-04
Venezuela — Average Salary & Wages
Venezuelan Bolívar (VES) Data verified Jan 2022 Sources
The average salary in Venezuela is
Bs.D6,000 a year
The minimum wage in Venezuela is Bs.D0.68/hr ($0.02 USD) as of 2026. The average gross monthly salary is Bs.D500 ($13.70 USD).
Venezuela's minimum wage is among the lowest for South America, ranking #13 out of 13 countries with statutory minimum wages. Over the past 6 years, the minimum wage has decreased by 100% in nominal terms. The standard work week is 40 hours.
Highly estimated. Formal sector average wage includes government workers, state enterprise employees, and formal private sector. Many workers receive USD supplements (petróleo bonos, salary in dollars) making nominal VES figures unreliable. The informal economy comprises ~60–70% of employment. Independent economists (Cendas) publish separate minimum wage tracking adjusted for the basic food basket cost.
About the Venezuela economy
Venezuela holds the largest proven crude oil reserves in the world, estimated at 303.8 billion barrels as of 2021, and the state has long depended on petroleum for export revenue. GDP at the official exchange rate stood at $139.4 billion in 2023, with real GDP per capita of about $4,900 in 2023 in 2015 dollars, recovering slowly after the economy contracted by 15.8 percent in 2017 and 19.7 percent in 2018. Crude petroleum remains the top export, with the United States absorbing 50 percent of exports in 2023, followed by China at 10 percent and Spain at 9 percent. Consumer price inflation reached 2,355 percent in 2020, 1,589 percent in 2021, and 201 percent in 2022, a hyperinflation episode that destroyed the purchasing power of bolivar-denominated wages and pushed everyday transactions toward informal use of US dollars.
The labor force totals approximately 11.1 million workers as of 2024, out of a population of 31.8 million. Headline unemployment is estimated at 5.5 percent in 2024, with youth unemployment at 10.6 percent, though formal employment captures only part of economic activity; the government has tolerated informal use of US dollars and other international currencies to cushion the crisis, and a large share of income now flows through informal and dollarized channels. The economic decline has prompted nearly 8 million Venezuelans to emigrate, mainly to nearby countries, removing a substantial portion of the working-age population and making remittances an important household income source.
The legal minimum wage has been frozen at 130 bolivars per month since March 2022; sustained currency depreciation has reduced that figure to roughly a quarter of one US dollar. The government instead channels worker income through non-salary bonuses. As of April 2025 these comprised an economic war bonus of $120 per month plus a Cestaticket food voucher of $40 per month, paid in bolivars at the official exchange rate. In May 2026 the government raised the total monthly minimum income, called the ingreso integral, to $240, up from $190 in March 2026, without specifying the split between salary and bonuses. The bonuses do not count toward pensions, severance, or vacation pay, so the frozen 130 bolivar base wage still determines those benefit calculations.
• SECTOR RATES
Ingreso integral (bono + CESTATICKET, May 2026)
Bs.D240 /mo
Since 2026-05-01
Economic war bonus USD 200 + CESTATICKET food bonus USD 40 = USD 240/month. Announced by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez 30 April 2026 (first adjustment in over a year, +26.3% from prior USD 190). Critical: NOT counted as salary — does not contribute to pensions, severance, social security, or vacation pay. Available to public-sector workers; pensioners and informal workers do not receive.
Bono de guerra económica (May 2026)
Bs.D200 /mo
Since 2026-05-01
Economic war bonus, paid in USD-equivalent. Component of the ingreso integral.
CESTATICKET Socialista (food bonus)
Bs.D40 /mo
Since 2026-05-01
Food benefit paid alongside salary; not technically a wage component.
Minimum Wage Trend
Since 2020, the minimum wage has grown -100% in nominal terms.
In Context
At minimum wage, a full-time worker in Venezuela earns Bs.D118/mo. That is 24% of the average gross salary.
- Monthly (full-time)
- Bs.D118 at min. wage
- Share of avg. salary
- 24% gross, before tax
- USD equivalent
- $3.23/mo monthly
- Nominal growth
- -100% since 2020
Wage Breakdown
- Hourly
- Bs.D0.68
- Daily
- Bs.D5.42Monthly rate divided by 24 working days (6 days/week)
- Monthly
- Bs.D130
Venezuela's legal minimum wage (salario mínimo) has been UNCHANGED at VES 130/month since 15 March 2022 (Decreto 4.653/2022). With ongoing currency depreciation, real value is approximately USD 0.50–2.00/month at parallel rates — among the world's lowest in USD terms. Crucially, the Maduro government delivers worker income via a non-salary 'ingreso integral' (integral income) consisting of: (1) bono de guerra económica (economic war bonus, USD 200/month effective May 2026, raised from USD 150) + (2) CESTATICKET Socialista food bonus (USD 40/month). Total ingreso integral as of May 2026 = USD 240/month. CRITICAL CAVEAT: bonuses are non-salary, so they do NOT count toward pensions, prestaciones sociales (severance), social security, or vacation pay. Pensioners and informal workers do not benefit. The 2021 redenomination removed 6 zeros from the Bolívar Soberano to create the current Bolívar Digital (VES).
Work Week
- Standard
- 40 hrs/wk
- Maximum
- 44 hrs/wk
- Overtime
- 1.5x pay
Organic Labour Law (LOTTT) of 2012 sets the standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Certain sectors may work up to 44 hours/week. Overtime is limited to 100 hours/year and paid at a premium of at least 50%. Night work (7pm–5am) carries a 30% premium. Workers are entitled to 2 years advance notice before termination — the LOTTT provides extremely strong job security provisions. Saturday is often worked in practice in commerce/industry.
How Venezuela Compares
| Metric | Venezuela | South America Avg. | South America Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. wage (USD equiv.) | $0.02/hr | $2.67/hr | $12.38/hr (Falkland Islands) |
| Avg. salary (USD equiv.) | $13.70/mo | $656.42/mo | $1,405.33/mo (Trinidad and Tobago) |
Countries with Similar Minimum Wages
| Country | Min. Wage /hr (USD) |
|---|---|
| Rwanda | $0.01 |
| Cuba | $0.03 |
| Georgia | $0.04 |
| Malawi | $0.14 |
| Angola | $0.18 |
| Venezuela | $0.02 |
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Wages tell half the story. See purchasing power, prices, and quality-of-life context for Venezuela on our sister site.
Cost of living in Venezuela on costofliving.is →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Venezuela?
The minimum wage in Venezuela is Bs.D0.68/hr (approximately $0.02 USD), effective since 2022-03-15. Venezuela's legal minimum wage (salario mínimo) has been UNCHANGED at VES 130/month since 15 March 2022 (Decreto 4.653/2022). With ongoing currency depreciation, real value is approximately USD 0.50–2.00/month at parallel rates — among the world's lowest in USD terms. Crucially, the Maduro government delivers worker income via a non-salary 'ingreso integral' (integral income) consisting of: (1) bono de guerra económica (economic war bonus, USD 200/month effective May 2026, raised from USD 150) + (2) CESTATICKET Socialista food bonus (USD 40/month). Total ingreso integral as of May 2026 = USD 240/month. CRITICAL CAVEAT: bonuses are non-salary, so they do NOT count toward pensions, prestaciones sociales (severance), social security, or vacation pay. Pensioners and informal workers do not benefit. The 2021 redenomination removed 6 zeros from the Bolívar Soberano to create the current Bolívar Digital (VES).
What is the average salary in Venezuela?
The average gross monthly salary in Venezuela is Bs.D500 (approximately $13.70 USD). Highly estimated. Formal sector average wage includes government workers, state enterprise employees, and formal private sector. Many workers receive USD supplements (petróleo bonos, salary in dollars) making nominal VES figures unreliable. The informal economy comprises ~60–70% of employment. Independent economists (Cendas) publish separate minimum wage tracking adjusted for the basic food basket cost. Source: Cendas-FVM / ENCOVI household survey / World Bank estimates (2024).
How many hours is the standard work week in Venezuela?
The standard work week in Venezuela is 40 hours, with a legal maximum of 44 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Organic Labour Law (LOTTT) of 2012 sets the standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Certain sectors may work up to 44 hours/week. Overtime is limited to 100 hours/year and paid at a premium of at least 50%. Night work (7pm–5am) carries a 30% premium. Workers are entitled to 2 years advance notice before termination — the LOTTT provides extremely strong job security provisions. Saturday is often worked in practice in commerce/industry.
How has the minimum wage in Venezuela changed over time?
The minimum wage in Venezuela has changed as follows: Bs.D400,000 in 2020, Bs.D10 in 2021, Bs.D130 in 2022, Bs.D130 in 2023, Bs.D130 in 2024, Bs.D130 in 2025, Bs.D130 in 2026. This represents 7 recorded adjustments.
What is the minimum wage in Venezuela in USD?
The minimum wage in Venezuela converts to approximately $0.02/hr in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Note: this dollar value uses the official reference exchange rate; for this currency, high volatility or parallel/unofficial exchange rates can make the real dollar value differ substantially. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
What is the average salary in Venezuela in USD?
The average gross monthly salary in Venezuela is approximately $13.70 per month in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Note: this dollar value uses the official reference exchange rate; for this currency, high volatility or parallel/unofficial exchange rates can make the real dollar value differ substantially. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
How does Venezuela's minimum wage compare to the South America average?
Venezuela's minimum wage ranks #13 out of 13 countries with statutory minimum wages in South America, placing it among the lowest in South America.
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