Average Salary in Syria

1. Average Wages

The average salary in Syria has been significantly impacted by the protracted conflict that has affected the country since 2011. As a result of the ongoing crisis, economic conditions have been unstable, and this has inevitably affected salaries across various sectors. Prior to the conflict, Syria had a growing economy that was diversifying away from agriculture and oil; however, this progress was halted and reversed due to the war. The average salary in Syria is difficult to gauge accurately due to the fluctuation of currency value, the informal economy, and a lack of recent verifiable data.

Despite these challenges, some reports have attempted to provide estimates on wages. As per available information, the average monthly salary in Syria varies widely depending on the region, sector, and whether the employer is part of the formal or informal economy. In government-controlled areas, salaries also differ due to varying government pay scales and employment benefits. However, due to inflation and depreciation of the Syrian Pound (SYP), even these figures have been rendered less meaningful over time. It’s noted that many Syrians have to rely on multiple sources of income or support from relatives abroad to meet basic needs.

In Syria, the typical monthly salary is around 149,000 Syrian pounds (SYP). This can vary quite a bit, with some people making as little as 37,600 SYP and others making up to 663,000 SYP on average (and even more in some cases).

Additionally, various international organizations and NGOs operating within the country have their own pay scales, which can be higher than local averages. Thus, the average salary in Syria is a complex topic with no single figure accurately representing the entire workforce. However, in an attempt to provide some context, it has been reported that the average monthly salary may range from as low as 50,000 SYP to over 100,000 SYP in some sectors, with a large segment of the population earning at the lower end of this scale.

2. Factors That Influence Salaries

• Conflict and Recovery: The ongoing conflict has severely impacted economic infrastructure, human capital, and the labor market, leading to salary fluctuations. Post-war recovery efforts and reconstruction also influence salary scales, particularly in professions related to these activities.
• Cost of Living: Variations in the cost of living, significantly influenced by inflation rates and availability of goods, can affect salary levels as employers may adjust wages to help employees cope with living expenses.
• Foreign Aid and NGO Presence: The presence of international agencies and non-governmental organizations tends to result in higher salaries for local employees working within these entities compared to domestic averages.
• Worker Supply and Demand: The demand for certain skill sets, especially in industries less affected by the crisis, can push wages higher for qualified individuals. Conversely, an oversupply of workers in other sectors can depress wages.
• Informal Economy: A significant portion of the workforce operates in the informal economy, where wages are not regulated and can vary greatly depending on the employer and job type.
• Remittances: Many Syrian families receive remittances from relatives working abroad. While not a direct factor in local salary determination, this external income can affect household earnings and economic behavior.
• Sanctions and Trade Restrictions: International sanctions and trade restrictions impact the economy at large, which trickles down to wage setting, as businesses face increased costs and limited market access.
• Exchange Rates: Fluctuations in the value of the Syrian Pound against foreign currencies can significantly impact real incomes, particularly for those whose work is tied to the global economy.

3. Minimal Wages (Monthly and Hourly)

In Syria, the minimum wage is a topic of fluctuating relevance due to the country’s unstable economic environment. Although there is an official government-mandated minimum wage, it struggles to keep up with rampant inflation and often fails to provide a living wage for individuals and families. The last known figures placed the minimum monthly wage at approximately 47,000 Syrian Pounds (SYP), but it must be noted that this amount hardly meets the basic needs, rendering the statistic nearly obsolete when considering the real cost of living.

Syria’s minimum wage ranges from 9,765 to 14,760 Syrian pounds per month, plus benefits, including compensation for meals, uniforms, and transportation. Syria’s minimum wage was last changed in 1st of January 2023.

There is no standard calculation for an hourly minimum wage in Syria. Employment agreements often do not adhere to structured payment systems, as is common in more stable economies. Work hours and compensation are frequently negotiated directly between the employer and employee, which means that actual wages can vary considerably from one workplace to another, often influenced by the severity of local economic conditions and the nature of the work being performed.

4. Gender Wage Gap

The gender wage gap in Syria is a persistent issue, reflective of broader societal and economic challenges. Factors contributing to this gap include deeply ingrained gender roles, differences in education and job training opportunities, and direct discrimination in terms of pay and employment opportunities. The conflict has intensified these disparities, as it often forces women into the role of primary breadwinners without ensuring equal pay for equal work.

Before the conflict, Syrian women were already facing barriers to entering the workforce and climbing the professional ladder. Since the outbreak of hostilities, these obstacles have been compounded by the need to care for family members and manage households in crisis, limiting their ability to pursue professional goals. In addition, women who do find work are frequently employed in sectors that are undervalued and underpaid.

The lack of comprehensive and current data makes it difficult to quantify the exact extent of the gender wage gap in Syria, especially given the large informal economy where much of women’s labor goes unrecorded. Nonetheless, reports and case studies suggest that the wage gap is significant and that efforts to achieve gender parity in earnings are hindered by both economic instability and social norms.

5. Highest Paying Occupations

In a country deeply affected by conflict and economic instability like Syria, the highest paying occupations tend to be in sectors that have managed to remain somewhat stable or required during these turbulent times. These professions often demand specific skills, education, or connections that are not widely accessible to the general population. Here are some of the highest paying jobs in Syria:

• Medical Professionals: Doctors, especially specialists, and surgeons command high salaries due to the critical need for healthcare services and the scarcity of qualified professionals.
• Telecommunication Engineers: With the increasing importance of connectivity and communication technology, skilled engineers in this sector are in demand and well-compensated.
• UN and NGO Officials: Employees of international organizations often receive salaries that are higher than the local standards due to the international nature of the funding and the specialized skill sets required.
• Construction and Project Managers: Involved in rebuilding infrastructure, these professionals are essential for reconstruction efforts and can earn sizeable incomes.
• Pharmacists: The medical field remains one of the most important during conflicts, and pharmacists play a crucial role in it, leading to better pay scales than many other professions.
• Legal Professionals: Lawyers with the capacity to navigate the complex legal environment of Syria, particularly those specializing in business or international law, can demand higher fees for their services.
• Business Executives: High-level managers working for large domestic companies or multinational corporations operating in Syria may receive considerable remuneration, although opportunities are limited.
• Informatics and IT Specialists: With digital transformation becoming essential even in conflict zones, IT experts, particularly those involved in cybersecurity and networking, are valued and paid accordingly.
• Education Professionals: Knowledgeable and experienced educators, especially at higher education institutions or private schools, tend to earn more than their counterparts in public education systems.
• Diplomats and International Relations Experts: Individuals representing foreign governments or working in international relations may enjoy significant salaries due to the sensitive and complex nature of their work.

It’s important to note that while these occupations may offer higher salaries than average, the number of positions available is often limited, and competition for these roles is intense. Additionally, the actual income of these professionals can be significantly impacted by the overall economic conditions and security situation in the country.

6. Annual Average Wage Growth

The concept of annual average wage growth in Syria is quite complex due to the ongoing conflict and its profound impact on the economy. Reliable data are scarce, and the Syrian currency’s rapid devaluation further complicates any analysis of wage trends. However, understanding that nominal wage increases do not necessarily translate into real wage growth is crucial, particularly in an inflationary context like Syria’s.

Throughout the conflict, sporadic wage adjustments have occurred, often as part of the government’s attempts to ease economic pressures on the population. Despite nominal increases in wages, these are frequently outpaced by inflation, resulting in a decline in purchasing power for Syrian workers. In some instances, salaries have remained stagnant while living costs have surged, effectively causing a reduction in real income. This has led to a situation where even with nominal wage growth, workers find it increasingly difficult to afford basic goods and services.

• In years where the Syrian Pound has experienced sharp devaluation, nominal wage increases have not been sufficient to maintain, let alone improve, the standard of living for most workers.
• Some sectors may see more significant annual wage growth due to foreign investment or international aid, but these are exceptions rather than the rule.
• Given the lack of comprehensive economic data, some reports rely on anecdotal evidence or small-scale surveys which suggest that wage growth, where it occurs, is highly variable and closely tied to the specific dynamics of particular regions or industries within Syria.

In conclusion, while there may be instances of wage increases reported in various sectors, the overall trend suggests that average wage growth does not keep up with the rising cost of living, leading to challenging economic circumstances for many Syrians.

7. Compensation Costs (Per Hours Worked)

In many countries, thorough records of compensation costs per hour worked are maintained to analyze labor expenses and productivity. However, in the Syrian context, this form of data collection is exceedingly difficult due to the prevailing informal work relations and the absence of consistent economic policies and enforcement. Furthermore, instability and inflation significantly complicate the calculation of real compensation costs.

Where formal employment does exist, such as within government departments or international organizations, compensation costs would typically include not just the hourly wage paid to an employee but also a variety of other factors:

• Employer-paid benefits, which might cover health insurance, retirement pensions, or housing allowances, though these are often severely limited in Syria.
• Employer social security contributions, which are mandated by law but might not be consistently applied due to the informal nature of many jobs.
• Various types of leave, including holiday, sick leave, or maternity/paternity leave, which could have associated costs for employers.
• Overtime pay, which in some sectors may be required due to long working hours, although again, this may not be formally documented or compensated.

It is also important to note that a significant portion of the Syrian workforce operates in the informal economy where traditional forms of compensation, job security, and worker’s rights are largely absent. In these situations, workers might be paid in cash without any official record, and earnings can fluctuate dramatically with no guaranteed minimum wage or overtime pay. Thus, while it’s possible to estimate average compensation costs in more structured environments, these figures would not be representative of the entire labor market in Syria.

In times of relative stability, sectors like oil and gas, telecommunications, and international NGO work may have more standardized compensation structures; however, even in these areas, actual costs can be affected day-to-day by sudden changes in security, economic sanctions, and market access. Consequently, for a vast majority of the Syrian workforce, compensation costs per hour worked remain a nebulous concept heavily influenced by an array of unpredictable factors.

8. Comparison with Other Countries

Comparing Syrian salaries with those of other countries is a complex undertaking due to the unique circumstances facing Syria’s economy, including long-standing conflict, sanctions, and political instability. Nonetheless, it is clear from available data that average salaries in Syria are much lower than in most neighboring countries, as well as globally.

For instance, while an average employee in Syria might earn between 50,000 and 100,000 SYP per month, the situation is markedly different in neighboring Lebanon or Jordan. Despite Lebanon’s own economic challenges, the average monthly salary there is higher. In Jordan, which has had a more stable economy and continuous foreign investment, the difference is even more pronounced.

The gap widens substantially when Syrian salaries are compared to those in Western countries. For example, the average monthly salary in the European Union or the United States can be more than ten times higher than the upper range of average salaries in Syria. These disparities reflect not only the varied economic fortunes of these countries but also differences in the cost of living, currency valuation, labor market dynamics, and overall quality of life.

To illustrate the differences, here is a basic comparison table summarizing average monthly salaries in USD:

Country	Average Monthly Salary (USD)
Syria	$50 – $100 (Estimated conversion)
Lebanon	$450 – $600 (Crisis adjusted)
Jordan	$600 – $800
European Union	$2,000 – $4,000
United States	$3,000 – $4,000

Note: The above figures are approximate averages and are subject to change due to economic fluctuations, exchange rates, and revisions to salary data. Moreover, within each country, there will be significant variations based on industry, education level, experience, and regional cost of living.

These salary comparisons demonstrate the substantial economic divide between a war-torn country like Syria and more stable, developed regions. Recovery and stabilization efforts, along with international support for reconstruction and development, will be critical in closing this gap and improving the livelihoods of Syrian workers.