ISLAMABAD, Nov 25 (Wealth Pakistan): Pakistan’s average monthly wage for paid employees has increased to Rs39,042 in 2024-25, showing a substantial rise compared with the previous Labour Force Survey, according to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
National wage trends
The Labour Force Survey 2024-25 provides detailed wage statistics covering payment patterns, wage groups, occupational divisions, provincial differences and gender-based variations. According to the Labour Force Survey 2024-25 document available with Wealth Pakistan, the national average monthly wage increased from Rs24,028 in 2020-21 to Rs39,042 in 2024-25.
The survey notes that male paid employees earned an average of Rs39,302 per month in 2024-25, compared with Rs24,643 in the previous survey. Female paid employees earned an average of Rs37,347 compared with Rs20,117 in 2020-21. Although men continue to earn slightly more, women recorded a higher proportional increase in wages.
Wage groups and distribution
The survey documents how paid employees are distributed across wage brackets. The distribution highlights differences in earnings across low, middle and higher wage groups. It also reflects the concentration of workers in specific earning categories depending on factors such as education, occupation and region.
Provincial and rural–urban disparities
Wage distribution varies across provinces, reflecting differences in local labour markets and economic structures. Although detailed provincial figures are included in the full wage tables, the national trend of rising wages is consistent across all regions.
The survey also compares urban and rural earnings. Urban employees tend to be concentrated in higher wage groups, whereas rural workers are more widely spread across lower wage categories. These patterns highlight structural differences between urban and rural labour markets.
Wages across occupations
The survey provides wage averages for major occupational groups. These include:
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legislators, senior officials and managers
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professionals
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technicians and associate professionals
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clerks
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service workers and shop sales workers
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skilled agricultural and fishery workers
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craft and related trades workers
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plant and machine operators and assemblers
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elementary occupations
Higher wages are generally recorded in managerial, professional and technical occupations. Lower wage averages are found in elementary and service-related occupations.
Wage differences by industry
The Labour Force Survey documents wage patterns across major industry divisions such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade, transport and storage, communication, and community and personal services.
Sectors such as manufacturing, construction and transport show varied wage levels depending on skill requirements and employment arrangements. The survey also records differences in wages between formal and informal sector employees. Formal sector workers consistently receive higher average wages across provinces and gender groups.
Wage payment frequency
The survey includes information on how often employees receive wages. Monthly payments remain the most common and are particularly widespread in formal jobs. Weekly wage payments are more common in informal work, especially in construction and certain service occupations.
Methodology and data coverage
Wage data is collected through direct interviews with household members. The Labour Force Survey is based on 53,974 household interviews carried out across 3,796 primary sampling units. Fieldwork was conducted in four quarters from July 2024 to June 2025. Wage estimates use 2023 census-based projections adjusted by an annual growth rate of 2.075 percent.
Demographic and educational wage patterns
Wage distributions vary significantly by age group. Older workers generally earn higher wages due to experience and occupational progression. Younger workers tend to cluster in lower wage categories.
Education also plays a major role in wage outcomes. Higher levels of schooling are associated with higher earnings. Workers with technical or vocational training often record higher wages in skilled occupations compared with those who lack formal training.