SALARY IN TURKEY

Turkey is a beautiful and developed country with a population of about 86 million people. Despite a large number of problems, primarily economic and political, the living standards and salaries of Turkish citizens are steadily increasing, and the situation in the labor market is improving every year. Employment today is 50%. Such a low indicator by the standards of developed countries is due to the low employment rate among women, only 31%. Unemployment in Turkey is kept at the level of 8-10%.

Turkey actively cooperates with many countries of the European Union. In general, this association is the largest economic partner of the Turkish state, which accounts for about 40% of trade and up to 70-80% of foreign direct investment. Doing business in Turkey is quite profitable. In addition, many applicants from around the world find work in Turkish companies and earn decent money.

Next, let's find out what is the minimum and average salary in Turkey in 2024, including in the context of economic sectors and professions.

Minimum wage in Turkey

According to the local Ministry of Labor and Social Security, before taxes, the official minimum wage in Turkey in 2024 is 20,002.50 turkish liras per month, which is about $620 at the current exchange rate. Each Turkish worker receives at least 658 liras ($20) daily (8 hours), 4,615 liras ($145) weekly, and 240,030 liras ($7,420) annually. After tax and social contributions, the minimum wage in Turkey equals 17,002.12 liras or 525 dollars.

Important..The minimum wage in Turkey increased in comparison with July 2023 by 49% and with January by 100%.

For comparison, in Australia, local professionals receive a minimum of 2,355 dollars per month, in Israel – 1,595, and in Poland – 1,055. That is, in many developed countries of the world, the minimum wage is higher than in Turkey. On the other hand, in less prosperous states the situation is much worse. Note that over the past five years, the Turkish starting wage has increased by 17,444.1 liras. Much of this significant growth is due to the high level of inflation, which in recent months exceeds 60-70%.

Local professionals and foreigners who have obtained a Turkish work visa to carry out professional activities in the country are required to be paid at least the minimum wage. Employers face heavy fines for failure to fulfill this requirement. Moreover, the Turkish government is actively fighting against illegal employment and only for this violation in 2024 there is an administrative penalty of 12,854 liras for companies and 6,423 liras for employees.

Average salary in Turkey

Officially at the state level, the average salary in Turkey is not published. The salaries of Turkish workers depend on experience and skills, specific company, industry and region. For example, working in Istanbul will bring about 1,300-1,600 dollars a month before taxes. Specialists with a diploma from a Turkish university or a prestigious European university can expect an income exceeding 2,000 dollars. In the field of unskilled labor salary in Turkey does not exceed 600-700 dollars.

According to Turkish analytical agencies, the average salary in Turkey in 2024 is 1,200 dollars a month before taxes. The net income of a local worker after all mandatory deductions is 850 dollars. The highest paying jobs are recorded in insurance, finance, information and communication – an average of 1,400-1,500 dollars per month. The lowest earnings are in catering, accommodation, administrative and support services – 600-650 dollars.

According to the official information of the Statistical Office of Turkey, in 2024 there are about 3.2 million unemployed persons over 15 years of age registered in the country. Officially employed are 32.2 million. By sectors of the economy employment is distributed as follows:

• Industry – 19.7%

• Service sector – 55.3%

• Agriculture – 17.7%

• Construction – 7.3%

Women earn on average 18% less than men in Turkey.

HIGHEST PAID PROFESSIONS IN TURKEY

• Senior executives: top managers, chief executive officers (CEOs) and chief financial officers.

• IT professionals: cybersecurity programmers, software developers and data processors.

• Medical professionals: qualified physicians, especially surgeons and cardiologists, and other specialists in high-demand medical fields.

• Financiers: specialists in investment banking, financial management and consulting.

• Engineers: technical specialists in oil and mining, and civil engineering.

• Legal professionals: experienced lawyers, especially those working in corporate law or with international qualifications.

• Aviation professionals: pilots and air traffic controllers.

• Marketing and sales directors: workers who are responsible for developing and implementing strategies to increase a company's market share and sales.

• Real estate experts: high salaries for professionals who deal with commercial real estate.

• Academic professionals: university professors, academics and researchers with a long career.

Cost of living in Turkey

One of the main advantages of Turkey compared to developed European countries is the relatively low cost of living. The most expensive cities are Ankara and Istanbul, while the more affordable cities are Bursa and Adana.

The main costs in Turkey are:

• Rent: 15,000-20,000 liras per month for a studio apartment in the center.

• Utility bills: 1,500-2,000 liras per month.

• Food: 5,000-7,000 liras per month per person.

• Transport: 1,200 lire per month by public transport or 3,000 lire per month by car.

• Internet/mobile phone: 500-600 liras per month.

• Clothing and leisure activities: 7,000-10,000 lire per month.

Note. Taking into account quite acceptable cost of living in Turkey, it is enough for one person to earn about 40,000-50,000 liras per month to live comfortably in this country.

Frequently asked questions about salaries in Turkey:

1. What is the average salary in Turkey?

• Before taxes, the average salary in Turkey in 2024 is around $1,200 per month.

2. What is the minimum wage in Turkey?

• The official minimum wage in Turkey in 2024 is 20,002.50 turkish liras per month (about $620).

3. What is the highest earning job in Turkey?

• The highest paid professions in Turkey are CEOs of large companies, computer programmers and doctors.

4. Which job brings the lowest income in Turkey?

• The lowest income in Turkey is received by representatives of unskilled labour – cleaners, waiters, cooks' assistants, loaders, shop assistants, maids and so on.

5. What is the average salary of programmers in Turkey?

• The average income of programmers in Turkey is estimated at $20,000-25,000 per year.

6. What is the payroll tax in Turkey?

• The income tax rate in Turkey depends on the annual income and varies from 15% (income up to 110,000 liras) to 40% (income over 958,000 liras).

7. What is the average salary in Istanbul?

• The average salary in Istanbul in 2024 is around $1,300 to $1,600 per month.

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