A complete, sourced guide to salaries, taxes, and cost of living in Pakistan — built for job seekers, professionals, students, expats, employers, and researchers comparing pay across 500+ professions and 15 industries.
Figures above are illustrative national averages — see Methodology for how they're calculated.
Pakistan's economy centres on textiles, agriculture, and a fast-growing IT and freelance services sector, with Karachi as the commercial and financial capital, Lahore as a major industrial and cultural hub, and Islamabad as the administrative centre. A growing share of skilled tech professionals earn significantly above the national average by working remotely for international clients and being paid in foreign currency.
National average figures are low in USD terms, reflecting currency valuation and broader economic conditions, but purchasing power for many day-to-day goods and services is considerably higher than the raw dollar figures suggest.
All figures on this page are shown in USD for cross-country comparison and represent national average estimates — actual pay varies enormously, particularly between traditional local-market roles and internationally-facing tech and services roles.
| Profession | Industry | Avg. Monthly | Avg. Annual | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | Technology | $560 | $6,700 | $4,800 – $10,400 |
| Data Scientist | Technology | $580 | $6,950 | $5,000 – $10,800 |
| Product Manager | Technology | $630 | $7,550 | $5,450 – $11,700 |
| Web Developer | Technology | $420 | $5,050 | $3,650 – $7,850 |
| IT Support Specialist | Technology | $280 | $3,350 | $2,400 – $5,200 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $390 | $4,700 | $3,400 – $7,300 |
| Physician (General) | Healthcare | $1,100 | $13,200 | $9,500 – $20,500 |
| Dentist | Healthcare | $880 | $10,600 | $7,650 – $16,400 |
| Pharmacist | Healthcare | $650 | $7,800 | $5,600 – $12,100 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $480 | $5,750 | $4,150 – $8,900 |
| Civil Engineer | Engineering | $450 | $5,400 | $3,900 – $8,350 |
| Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $460 | $5,500 | $3,950 – $8,500 |
| Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $500 | $6,000 | $4,300 – $9,300 |
| Electrician | Construction | $330 | $3,950 | $2,850 – $6,100 |
| Plumber | Construction | $310 | $3,700 | $2,650 – $5,750 |
| Construction Worker | Construction | $230 | $2,750 | $2,000 – $4,250 |
| Architect | Construction | $430 | $5,150 | $3,700 – $8,000 |
| Teacher (K-12) | Education | $290 | $3,500 | $2,500 – $5,400 |
| University Professor | Education | $450 | $5,400 | $3,900 – $8,350 |
| School Administrator | Education | $410 | $4,900 | $3,550 – $7,600 |
| Retail Sales Associate | Retail | $170 | $2,050 | $1,500 – $3,200 |
| Retail Store Manager | Retail | $280 | $3,350 | $2,400 – $5,200 |
| Chef | Hospitality | $270 | $3,250 | $2,350 – $5,050 |
| Waiter / Waitress | Hospitality | $160 | $1,900 | $1,350 – $2,950 |
| Hotel Manager | Hospitality | $330 | $3,950 | $2,850 – $6,100 |
| Factory Worker | Manufacturing | $210 | $2,500 | $1,800 – $3,900 |
| Production Manager | Manufacturing | $430 | $5,150 | $3,700 – $8,000 |
| Government Administrator | Government | $330 | $3,950 | $2,850 – $6,100 |
| Police Officer | Government | $320 | $3,850 | $2,750 – $5,950 |
| Truck Driver | Transportation | $260 | $3,100 | $2,250 – $4,800 |
| Logistics Manager | Transportation | $420 | $5,050 | $3,650 – $7,850 |
| Marketing Manager | Marketing | $500 | $6,000 | $4,300 – $9,300 |
| Digital Marketing Specialist | Marketing | $330 | $3,950 | $2,850 – $6,100 |
| Corporate Lawyer | Legal | $780 | $9,350 | $6,750 – $14,500 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $290 | $3,500 | $2,500 – $5,400 |
| Sales Representative | Sales | $300 | $3,600 | $2,600 – $5,600 |
| Account Executive | Sales | $420 | $5,050 | $3,650 – $7,850 |
| Customer Service Representative | Customer Service | $200 | $2,400 | $1,750 – $3,700 |
| Call Center Manager | Customer Service | $340 | $4,100 | $2,950 – $6,350 |
| Accountant | Finance | $370 | $4,450 | $3,200 – $6,900 |
| Financial Analyst | Finance | $440 | $5,300 | $3,800 – $8,200 |
| Investment Banker | Finance | $860 | $10,300 | $7,400 – $16,000 |
| HR Manager | Various | $490 | $5,900 | $4,250 – $9,150 |
| Graphic Designer | Various | $280 | $3,350 | $2,400 – $5,200 |
Figures are illustrative national average estimates rounded for readability, not exact statistical values. See Methodology for how these are calculated.
For professionals earning in foreign currency (common in Pakistan's IT and freelance-services sector) against a comparatively low local cost of living, savings potential in USD terms can be strong; for those earning purely local-market salaries, savings are more constrained given broader economic conditions.
National average asking rent for a one-bedroom apartment is roughly $100–$160/month, but can exceed $300/month in upscale Karachi or Islamabad neighbourhoods and drop well below $80/month in smaller cities.
Property prices are considerably lower in absolute USD terms than in most economies on this site, though still a major expense relative to typical local incomes — prime areas of Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad command a significant premium over other neighbourhoods.
Cities such as Faisalabad, Multan, and Hyderabad generally offer meaningfully lower housing costs than Karachi, Lahore, or Islamabad while still providing regional job markets in textiles, trade, and services.
Pakistan has a mixed healthcare system: public hospitals providing free or low-cost care, particularly relied upon by lower-income households, alongside a private healthcare sector used by those who can afford it, including many salaried professionals.
Public facilities serve a large share of the population but face significant capacity pressures. Many salaried professionals, especially in larger companies, have access to employer-sponsored health coverage or pay out-of-pocket for private care.
Private healthcare costs are low in absolute USD terms compared to Western countries, though still a meaningful expense relative to typical local salaries. Employer-provided health coverage is a valued benefit at larger companies.
Public school education is low-cost but faces well-documented quality and access challenges in many areas. Private schools — ranging from affordable to premium English-medium and international curricula — are widely used by families who can afford them, particularly in urban areas.
Public university tuition is low relative to global standards, though top public institutions are highly competitive to enter. Private university tuition varies widely, and studying abroad remains a significant aspiration and expense for many families who can afford it.
Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad have expanding bus rapid transit systems (e.g. Lahore's Metrobus, Islamabad's Metrobus), though most day-to-day transport across the country relies on motorcycles, rickshaws, and privately operated vans/buses.
Motorcycles are extremely common due to low cost and traffic maneuverability. Car ownership is a marker of middle-class status in many areas. Fuel prices are relatively volatile, subject to periodic government-set price adjustments.
The statutory maximum working week is generally 48 hours (with some sector variation). Paid annual leave entitlements are typically around 14 days per year for many formal-sector employees, alongside a number of public and religious holidays.
Remote work for international clients has grown substantially in Pakistan's IT and freelance-services sector, often paying meaningfully above local-market rates. Typical formal-sector benefits include a provident fund, medical coverage at larger companies, and paid annual leave.
Foreign nationals generally require a work visa sponsored by a Pakistani employer to work in Pakistan, with specific procedures varying by nationality and sector.
This is general information, not legal advice. For current, authoritative requirements, consult the Government of Pakistan's official visa and immigration resources, or a licensed immigration/relocation adviser.
Based on the figures shown on this page, the average salary in Pakistan is approximately $350 per month, or around $4,200 per year, though skilled IT and freelance professionals working for international clients often earn considerably more.
This reflects currency valuation, a considerably lower overall cost of living, and broader economic conditions — the figures represent national averages across a very wide range of sectors and skill levels.
This varies enormously by sector and city — professionals in IT, freelance services (especially those paid in foreign currency), and finance in Karachi, Lahore, or Islamabad often earn well above the national average.
The minimum wage is set at the provincial level and generally falls in the range of PKR 32,000–37,000 per month (roughly $115–130 USD), varying by province and periodically revised.
Pakistan's income tax for salaried individuals is progressive, from 0% to 35%, administered by the Federal Board of Revenue — see the Tax System section above. Filer status can also affect withholding tax on various transactions.
Karachi generally offers the widest range of high-paying corporate and finance roles as the country's commercial capital, with Lahore and Islamabad also offering strong opportunities in industry, tech, and government respectively.
Public healthcare is available at free or low cost, particularly relied upon by lower-income households, though many salaried professionals also use private healthcare, sometimes through employer-provided coverage.
Paid annual leave entitlements are typically around 14 days per year for many formal-sector employees, alongside a number of public and religious holidays.
Formal tech-sector roles on this page range from around $3,300/year for entry-level IT support roles to over $7,500/year for experienced product managers in local-market terms — though many freelancers and remote workers serving international clients earn considerably more, paid in foreign currency.
Yes — foreign nationals generally require a sponsored work visa. See our Visa & Employment section for where to find official guidance.
Gross salary is before deductions. Take-home pay is what remains after income tax and, where applicable, provident fund contributions — see our Take-Home Pay Examples section above.
No — the figures on this page represent base salary estimates. Annual bonuses, common at many larger employers, are not included.
Data on this page is reviewed and updated manually on a regular cycle rather than pulled from a live feed. See the "Last Updated" note near the top of this page.
Figures are informed by categories of public sources such as government labour statistics, tax authority publications, and independent compensation surveys. See our Data Sources section below.
Yes — use the Compare tool on the Global Salary Atlas homepage to compare salary, tax, and cost of living between Pakistan and any other country in our database.
Figures on this page are informed by categories of public sources, including government labour statistics, national tax authority publications, public statistical agencies, and — where relevant for broader economic context — international organizations. These are named here as examples of the type of source we draw on, not as a claim of live or automated data access.
This page is manually reviewed and updated rather than fed by a real-time data feed. See the "Last Updated" note near the top of this page, and our full Data Sources and Methodology pages for more detail on how figures across Global Salary Atlas are sourced and verified.
Spotted a figure that looks outdated? Let us know — corrections are reviewed and applied on our regular update cycle.