Average Salary in Afghanistan 2026

Currency: AFN · Updated for 2026

Share:

How much money does a person working in Afghanistan make?

Average Monthly Salary

33,725 AFN

( 404,700 AFN yearly )

~ 475 USD per month ( 5,700 USD yearly )

LOW

10,153 AFN

143 USD

AVERAGE

33,725 AFN

475 USD

HIGH

101,175 AFN

1,425 USD

A person working in Afghanistan typically earns around 33,725 AFN per month. Salaries range from 10,153 AFN (lowest average) to 101,175 AFN (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).

This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.

Distribution of Salaries in Afghanistan

Median and salary distribution monthly Afghanistan

10,153 AFN
Minimum
20,235 AFN
25th
30,388 AFN
Median
33,725 AFN
Average
43,878 AFN
75th
101,175 AFN
Maximum

singhyogendra.com.np

What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated.

The median (30,388 AFN) represents the middle salary value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (33,725 AFN) is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of workers, and can be skewed by extremely high or low salaries.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does a person's salary progress over time?

  1. 0–2 Years (Entry Level)202,350 AFN
  2. 2–5 Years (Junior)263,055 AFN
  3. 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)343,995 AFN
  4. 10–15 Years (Experienced)404,700 AFN
  5. 15+ Years (Senior)485,640 AFN

singhyogendra.com.np

The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.

Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average +30% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.

Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average +31% more than those with five years or less of work experience.

As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by +18% and an additional +20% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.

“On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years experience mark.”

Salary Comparison By Education

How does the education level affect your salary?

  1. High School242,820 AFN
  2. Certificate283,290 AFN
  3. Associate323,760 AFN
  4. Bachelor's404,700 AFN
  5. Master's485,640 AFN
  6. PhD566,580 AFN

singhyogendra.com.np

High SchoolCertificate

+17%

CertificateBachelor's

+43%

Bachelor'sMaster's

+20%

Master'sPhD

+17%

It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.

Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average +17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.

Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn +43% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.

Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are +20% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.

Finally, PhD holders earn +17% more than Master's Degree holders on average.

Salary Comparison By Gender

Salary comparison by gender monthly Afghanistan

404,700 AFN
Male+13%
352,089 AFN
Female-13%

singhyogendra.com.np

Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Afghanistan earn 13% more than their female counterparts on average across all sectors.

Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Afghanistan

How much are annual salary increments? How often do employees get salary raises?

10%

Average Raise

12 months

Review Frequency

9%

Annualized Increase

Employees in Afghanistan are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 10% every 12 months.

The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency

The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in Afghanistan is 9%.

Bonus and Incentive Rates in Afghanistan

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?

58%

Received Bonus

42%

No Bonus

58% of surveyed staff in Afghanistan reported receiving at least one form of monetary bonus.

Average Bonus Rate

8%

of annual salary

Types of Bonuses Considered:

• Individual Performance-Based Bonuses

• Company Performance Bonuses

• Goal-Based Bonuses

• Holiday / End of Year Bonuses

Finance: HighSales: HighInformation Technology: High

Top 5 Highest Paying Industries

Annual average salaries

  1. Legal546,345 AFN
  2. Aviation526,110 AFN
  3. Information Technology526,110 AFN
  4. Banking505,875 AFN
  5. Pharmaceuticals505,875 AFN

singhyogendra.com.np

Salaries for Popular Jobs

Sample job titles and their average salaries

Job TitleAnnual SalaryMonthly Salary
Surgeon1,011,750 AFN84,348 AFN
Pilot809,400 AFN67,450 AFN
Software Developer728,460 AFN60,705 AFN
Data Scientist687,990 AFN57,368 AFN
Financial Manager647,520 AFN53,960 AFN
Database Administrator607,050 AFN50,623 AFN
Engineer566,580 AFN47,215 AFN
Marketing Manager526,110 AFN43,878 AFN
Project Manager505,875 AFN42,174 AFN
Accountant445,170 AFN37,133 AFN
Hotel Manager404,700 AFN33,725 AFN
Nurse364,230 AFN30,388 AFN
Graphic Designer343,995 AFN28,684 AFN
Chef303,525 AFN25,276 AFN
Teacher283,290 AFN23,643 AFN

Salary Comparison By City

Average annual salaries by city

CityAverage Salary
Kabul465,405 AFN
Herat424,935 AFN
Kandahar424,935 AFN
Mazar-i-Sharif424,935 AFN

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more?

32,021 AFN

Private Sector

35,429 AFN

Public Sector

+11%

Public sector employees in Afghanistan earn 11% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.

Average Hourly Wage in Afghanistan

213 AFN

per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Afghanistan is 213 AFN. This means that the average person in Afghanistan earns approximately 213 AFN for every worked hour. Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (52 × 5 × 8)

Cost of Living in Afghanistan

Estimated monthly expenses

Rent

1,846 AFN

/month

Food

568 AFN

/month

Transport

213 AFN

/month

Utilities

284 AFN

/month

Compare Your Salary

See how your salary compares with the average in Afghanistan and explore top-paying jobs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary in Afghanistan?
The average salary in Afghanistan is approximately 404,700 AFN per year, or 33,725 AFN per month before taxes. Salaries range from 10,153 AFN (minimum) to 101,175 AFN (maximum).
What is the difference between median and average salary?
The median salary (30,388 AFN) is the middle value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (33,725 AFN) is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of workers. If your salary is higher than both, you are doing very well. If lower than both, there is room for improvement.
Which careers pay the most in Afghanistan?
The highest paying industries in Afghanistan include Legal, Aviation, Information Technology. View all top jobs →
How is this salary data calculated?
Average gross monthly salary data from the Economic Research Institute (ERI) and SalaryExpert. Figures are estimates and may vary based on experience, location, industry, and other factors. Local currency conversions use market exchange rates.

Salary data on this page is based on research from the Economic Research Institute (ERI) and SalaryExpert. Figures are estimates and may vary based on experience, location, industry, and other factors.