Average Salary in Guatemala 2026
Currency: GTQ · Updated for 2026
How much money does a person working in Guatemala make?
Average Monthly Salary
5,897 GTQ
( 70,762 GTQ yearly )
~ 756 USD per month ( 9,072 USD yearly )
LOW
1,474 GTQ
189 USD
AVERAGE
5,897 GTQ
756 USD
HIGH
20,639 GTQ
2,646 USD
A person working in Guatemala typically earns around 5,897 GTQ per month. Salaries range from 1,474 GTQ (lowest average) to 20,639 GTQ (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 Guatemala
Median and salary distribution monthly Guatemala
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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 (5,187 GTQ) represents the middle salary value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (5,897 GTQ) 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?
- 0–2 Years (Entry Level)35,381 GTQ
- 2–5 Years (Junior)45,997 GTQ
- 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)60,146 GTQ
- 10–15 Years (Experienced)70,762 GTQ
- 15+ Years (Senior)84,911 GTQ
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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?
- High School42,455 GTQ
- Certificate49,530 GTQ
- Associate56,612 GTQ
- Bachelor's70,762 GTQ
- Master's84,911 GTQ
- PhD99,068 GTQ
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High School → Certificate
+17%
Certificate → Bachelor's
+43%
Bachelor's → Master's
+20%
Master's → PhD
+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 Guatemala
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Guatemala earn 12% more than their female counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Guatemala
How much are annual salary increments? How often do employees get salary raises?
9%
Average Raise
19 months
Review Frequency
7%
Annualized Increase
Employees in Guatemala are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 19 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 Guatemala is 7%.
Bonus and Incentive Rates in Guatemala
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
42%
Received Bonus
58%
No Bonus
42% of surveyed staff in Guatemala reported receiving at least one form of monetary bonus.
Average Bonus Rate
9%
of annual salary
Types of Bonuses Considered:
• Individual Performance-Based Bonuses
• Company Performance Bonuses
• Goal-Based Bonuses
• Holiday / End of Year Bonuses
Top 5 Highest Paying Industries
Annual average salaries
- Legal95,527 GTQ
- Aviation91,993 GTQ
- Information Technology91,993 GTQ
- Banking88,452 GTQ
- Pharmaceuticals88,452 GTQ
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Salaries for Popular Jobs
Sample job titles and their average salaries
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | 176,904 GTQ | 14,742 GTQ |
| Pilot | 141,523 GTQ | 11,794 GTQ |
| Software Developer | 127,374 GTQ | 10,616 GTQ |
| Data Scientist | 120,292 GTQ | 10,023 GTQ |
| Financial Manager | 113,217 GTQ | 9,438 GTQ |
| Database Administrator | 106,142 GTQ | 8,845 GTQ |
| Engineer | 99,068 GTQ | 8,252 GTQ |
| Marketing Manager | 91,993 GTQ | 7,667 GTQ |
| Project Manager | 88,452 GTQ | 7,371 GTQ |
| Accountant | 77,836 GTQ | 6,490 GTQ |
| Hotel Manager | 70,762 GTQ | 5,897 GTQ |
| Nurse | 63,687 GTQ | 5,304 GTQ |
| Graphic Designer | 60,146 GTQ | 5,015 GTQ |
| Chef | 53,071 GTQ | 4,423 GTQ |
| Teacher | 49,530 GTQ | 4,126 GTQ |
Salary Comparison By City
Average annual salaries by city
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Guatemala City | 81,377 GTQ |
| Quetzaltenango | 74,303 GTQ |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more?
5,600 GTQ
Private Sector
6,193 GTQ
Public Sector
+11%
Public sector employees in Guatemala earn 11% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Hourly Wage in Guatemala
31 GTQ
per hour
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Guatemala is 31 GTQ. This means that the average person in Guatemala earns approximately 31 GTQ for every worked hour. Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (52 × 5 × 8)
Cost of Living in Guatemala
Estimated monthly expenses
Rent
671 GTQ
/month
Food
211 GTQ
/month
Transport
78 GTQ
/month
Utilities
109 GTQ
/month
Compare Your Salary
See how your salary compares with the average in Guatemala and explore top-paying jobs.