How Much Does the Average Person Make in Turkey?

Turkey has become an increasingly popular destination for businesses looking to outsource work or open offices abroad. With its young, well-educated workforce and strategic location between Europe and Asia Turkey offers many benefits for companies seeking skilled labor at competitive rates.

For those considering expanding to or partnering with Turkey an important factor is understanding the average salaries and wages that workers there can expect to earn. This allows you to budget properly and offer competitive compensation packages.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the average salary in Turkey, discussing how pay differs based on job, experience level, location, and other factors. Read on to learn more about average incomes in Turkey.

Average Monthly and Annual Salary in Turkey

According to the most recent data the average monthly salary in Turkey is approximately 3200 TRY (Turkish Lira). This equates to an average annual salary of around 38,400 TRY.

To put these figures into perspective, the current exchange rate is approximately 1 TRY to 0.053 USD. So the average monthly salary of 3,200 TRY equals about 170 USD per month or 2,040 USD per year.

Of course, salaries vary greatly depending on the specific job, industry, experience level, and geographic location. Later we’ll break down average pay in more detail. First, let’s look at Turkey’s minimum wage.

Minimum Wage in Turkey

Turkey’s minimum wage is set by the government and updated periodically. As of 2022, the monthly minimum wage in Turkey was 4,250 TRY per month (about 225 USD).

The minimum wage applies to all workers, regardless of sector or location. Many entry-level jobs pay around the minimum wage, while more skilled or specialized roles tend to pay above the minimum.

Average Salary by Job and Industry

Salaries can differ drastically between industries and job positions in Turkey. Here are some examples of average monthly salaries by job category:

• Engineering roles – 8,000 to 12,000 TRY ($424 to $636)

• Teaching positions – 5,000 to 8,000 TRY ($265 to $424)

• Healthcare professionals – 6,000 to 10,000 TRY ($318 to $530)

• Sales and marketing jobs – 5,000 to 10,000 TRY ($265 to $530)

• Administrative/office work – 3,500 to 6,000 TRY ($186 to $318)

• Tourism/hospitality – 3,000 to 5,000 TRY ($159 to $265)

• Manufacturing/trades – 3,000 to 6,000 TRY ($159 to $318)

As you can see, salaries for professional positions like engineering, healthcare, and education tend to be substantially higher than wages earned in sectors like hospitality or manufacturing.

Location also plays a major role in determining average pay in Turkey, which we’ll explore next.

Geographic Differences in Salary

Your earning potential can vary significantly depending on where in Turkey you work. Major metropolitan areas offer the highest salaries on average while smaller towns and rural areas have lower average wages.

Here are some examples of average monthly salaries by city:

• Istanbul – 4,000 to 8,000 TRY ($212 to $424)

• Ankara – 4,000 to 7,000 TRY ($212 to $371)

• Izmir– 3,500 to 6,000 TRY ($186 to $318)

• Antalya – 3,000 to 5,000 TRY ($159 to $265)

• Bursa – 3,000 to 5,000 TRY ($159 to $265)

• Eastern Anatolia region – 2,000 to 4,000 TRY ($106 to $212)

Clearly major cities like Istanbul and Ankara provide the best opportunities for earning higher salaries. But bear in mind that the cost of living is also higher in these large metropolitan areas.

How Experience Level Impacts Salary

Along with job type and location, the amount of professional experience you have directly correlates to your earning potential in Turkey.

Below is an overview of how salaries tend to increase with experience:

• 0-2 years of experience – ~3,000 TRY/month

• 2-5 years of experience – ~4,000 to 6,000 TRY/month

• 5-10 years of experience – ~6,000 to 10,000 TRY/month

• 10-20 years of experience – ~10,000 to 15,000 TRY/month

• 20+ years of experience – ~15,000 to 25,000 TRY/month

As you can see, each additional 5 years of experience typically corresponds to a salary increase of 1,000 to 3,000 TRY per month. Those with 10+ years of experience can expect to earn substantially higher wages.

Average Salary Differences By Education

In most occupations, the higher degree you hold the higher your earning potential. Let’s look at how salaries differ by education level:

• High school diploma – ~3,000 to 4,000 TRY/month

• Associate’s degree – ~4,000 to 6,000 TRY/month

• Bachelor’s degree – ~5,000 to 8,000 TRY/month

• Master’s degree – ~6,000 to 10,000 TRY/month

• Doctoral degree – ~8,000 to 15,000 TRY/month

While a high school diploma is often sufficient for entry-level roles, pursuing higher education opens doors to more advanced, specialized positions.

On average, those with a bachelor’s degree earn around 1,000 to 2,000 TRY more per month compared to only having a high school education. The gap grows even wider when looking at master’s and doctoral degree holders.

How Much Is Income Tax in Turkey?

An important factor impacting take-home pay is income tax. The income tax rate in Turkey ranges from 15% to 40% depending on your salary bracket:

• 15% for annual income below 49,000 TRY
• 20% for income between 49,001 and 120,000 TRY
• 27% for income between 120,001 and 610,000 TRY
• 35% for income between 610,001 and 1,500,000 TRY
• 40% for income above 1,500,000 TRY

Lower income segments benefit from Turkey’s relatively low baseline 15% income tax rate. But those earning higher salaries pay progressively more.

In addition to income tax, employees also pay social security contributions of around 15%, which covers benefits like healthcare and retirement.

Comparing Public vs. Private Sector Salaries

Another factor impacting earning potential in Turkey is whether you work for the public or private sector.

According to recent data, the average salary for private sector jobs is approximately 20% higher compared to similar positions in the public sector.

However, public sector jobs do come with greater job security, more generous vacation time, and better pension/retirement benefits. So pay isn’t the only consideration when choosing between public or private employment.

Salary Satisfaction and Standards of Living in Turkey

While salaries in Turkey are lower on average than many Western European nations, the standard of living is also substantially lower. For example, rental prices in Turkish cities are around 50% lower than comparable major cities in Western Europe.

This means that many workers can enjoy satisfactory standards of living on relatively lower salaries in Turkey, especially within lower income tax brackets. Even new university graduates can potentially earn enough to live comfortably if they secure full-time professional employment.

However, workers supporting families solely on minimum wage or lower level incomes still face financial challenges. Overall, the Turkish employment market remains robust with solid job opportunities across many sectors and room for above average salary growth with experience.

The Bottom Line

We’ve covered a lot of ground summarizing average salaries at various job levels and industries within Turkey. The key points to remember are:

• The current average salary is around 3,200 TRY per month (38,400 TRY annually)

• Major cities like Istanbul and Ankara offer better pay but also higher living costs

• Higher degrees and more years of experience correspond to substantially higher earnings

• Private sector roles tend to pay around 20% more than comparable public sector jobs

• Even on relatively lower salaries, standards of living can be quite satisfactory, especially in lower income tax brackets

While individual earning potential varies greatly, Turkey offers sound employment opportunities. With its balance of quality of life and moderate cost of living, Turkey remains advantageous for foreigners seeking to work abroad.