Average Salary in Panama 2026
Currency: USD · Updated for 2026
How much money does a person working in Panama make?
Average Monthly Salary
1,100 USD
( 13,200 USD yearly )
~ 1,100 USD per month ( 13,200 USD yearly )
LOW
275 USD
275 USD
AVERAGE
1,100 USD
1,100 USD
HIGH
3,850 USD
3,850 USD
A person working in Panama typically earns around 1,100 USD per month. Salaries range from 275 USD (lowest average) to 3,850 USD (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 Panama
Median and salary distribution monthly Panama
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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 (968 USD) represents the middle salary value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (1,100 USD) 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)6,600 USD
- 2–5 Years (Junior)8,580 USD
- 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)11,220 USD
- 10–15 Years (Experienced)13,200 USD
- 15+ Years (Senior)15,840 USD
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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 School7,920 USD
- Certificate9,240 USD
- Associate10,560 USD
- Bachelor's13,200 USD
- Master's15,840 USD
- PhD18,480 USD
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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 Panama
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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 Panama earn 11% more than their female counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Panama
How much are annual salary increments? How often do employees get salary raises?
7%
Average Raise
13 months
Review Frequency
6%
Annualized Increase
Employees in Panama are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 7% every 13 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 Panama is 6%.
Bonus and Incentive Rates in Panama
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
53%
Received Bonus
47%
No Bonus
53% of surveyed staff in Panama reported receiving at least one form of monetary bonus.
Average Bonus Rate
6%
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
- Legal17,820 USD
- Aviation17,160 USD
- Information Technology17,160 USD
- Banking16,500 USD
- Pharmaceuticals16,500 USD
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Salaries for Popular Jobs
Sample job titles and their average salaries
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | 33,000 USD | 2,750 USD |
| Pilot | 26,400 USD | 2,200 USD |
| Software Developer | 23,760 USD | 1,980 USD |
| Data Scientist | 22,440 USD | 1,870 USD |
| Financial Manager | 21,120 USD | 1,760 USD |
| Database Administrator | 19,800 USD | 1,650 USD |
| Engineer | 18,480 USD | 1,540 USD |
| Marketing Manager | 17,160 USD | 1,430 USD |
| Project Manager | 16,500 USD | 1,375 USD |
| Accountant | 14,520 USD | 1,210 USD |
| Hotel Manager | 13,200 USD | 1,100 USD |
| Nurse | 11,880 USD | 990 USD |
| Graphic Designer | 11,220 USD | 935 USD |
| Chef | 9,900 USD | 825 USD |
| Teacher | 9,240 USD | 770 USD |
Salary Comparison By City
Average annual salaries by city
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Panama City | 15,180 USD |
| Colón | 13,860 USD |
| David | 13,860 USD |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more?
1,045 USD
Private Sector
1,155 USD
Public Sector
+11%
Public sector employees in Panama earn 11% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Hourly Wage in Panama
6 USD
per hour
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Panama is 6 USD. This means that the average person in Panama earns approximately 6 USD for every worked hour. Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (52 × 5 × 8)
Cost of Living in Panama
Estimated monthly expenses
Rent
128 USD
/month
Food
41 USD
/month
Transport
15 USD
/month
Utilities
20 USD
/month
Compare Your Salary
See how your salary compares with the average in Panama and explore top-paying jobs.