How much do the average Thai person earn ?

[KhunBENQ]

10 minutes ago, 2baht said:

I would imagine on a nationwide basis the average would be somewhere around 60.000 baht per month. The top one percent of the population controls 66% of the wealth.

60k to 70k is top ranks in government/police.

Freshman at police are ridiculously low paid under 20k.

The average immigration officer that serves you is in the 30k+ range.

These numbers are publicly available. In Thai only and not a quick find.

It's of course not the first such thread more like the 100th.

When on the desktop I might find them.

This 350k number for a company employee per month!!!?

Even in management.

What a joke. 

[sandyf]

7 hours ago, Baron Samedi said:

I've been trying to find relevant data about who earns how much in Thailand.

Couldn't find anything detailed enough to be interesting / relevant.

Ridiculous post and completely irrelevant.

Only a foreigner would think that earnings are related to class.

[ArnieP]

These are actual people in Udon. Not made up, imagined, or fantasy earnings:

 

Hospital nurse (Govt) 19,000฿ per month

Bank clerk 19,000฿ per month

7-11 worker 11,000฿ pm (doing 12 hour daily shifts)

Teacher (state school) 15,000฿ per month

[BonMot]

I can also tell you and inform TV that I had a student that I worked with on international scholarships circa 2017.

 

Her mother radiologist and father epidemiologist and the combined income was 70k. She government hospital and he government employed. No idea income or side jobs.

 

I think Thais make far less than we imagine that's the magic of the economy.... Depressed wages

[Dan O]

I'm always amused at how many on here talk like, Bkk, Pattaya, Phuket, the north east and north west are all that exists. But I guess that's just because a large percentage of expats are up there.  As for average salaries many of the quotes on here of salaries over 80k baht are few and probably centered around their close friends. Even in Bkk most are below that amount unless your a true business owner which are not the average. 9 to 30k are more typical for the average worker. Agro salaries which is a large portion of the general population is closer to 9 to 15k.   30 to 100k are closer to mid level for the majority. Above that your pressing to upper level, which does not include the extreme upper class or corrupt. 

[gomangosteen]

All that's cone out of this is that we collectively have nfi about the earnings nationwide. As I detailed in last week's thread on the same topic, how to factor in annual bonuses and allowances. My partner's company paid senior staff bonus in gold this year, won't show in any 'average' calculation.

 

These are the Bank of Thailand average nationwide wage earnings by category as at 30 September 2022, based upon wage deposits coded to employment classification.

Not broken down by region, or 'class' of employee. 

Pointless comparing to averages in other countries; Thai rates, Thai tax (low), Thai economy (my own example I was on contract in NZ May-Aug this year, 38% tax plus superannuation contribution plus insurances etc I came out with about half)

 

BoT September 2022

Legislator, senior officials and managers    31,449.56  
Professionals    28,022.56 
Technicians and associate professionals 22,534.11
Clerks 15,813.31
Service workers, shop and market sales workers 12,178.29
Skilled agricultural and fishery workers  7,006.48 
Craftsmen and related trades workers  12,136.87 
Plant and machine operators and assemblers    12,213.89
Elementary occupations    8,629.69 
Workers not included elsewhere    20,108.53

[Dmaxdan]

8 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

Thai spouse and siblings (most are settled in Bangkok) earn between 150,000-350,000THB per month. 

 

Their friends from school, university and work would presumably earn around the same, but I (or we) have never asked or really wondered. 

Yes but how much do they actually earn after they have deducted your monthly contribution?

[worgeordie]

What is an average Thai person ? 

regards worgeordie

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, Peterw42 said:

GDP of a region doesn't always equate to wages/salary of a region. A rice paddy in issan contributes to the GDP/exports, but the wage would be 3-4 people on 300 baht a day, Alternatively, 10 gov employees in Bangkok aren't producing anything

We pay our farm workers 350 baht a day. Plus Lao Khow.

[Dan O]

10 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

We pay our farm workers 350 baht a day. Plus Lao Khow.

Boy now there's a generous employer.  

[Kwasaki]

Can of worms it starts from Thais doing nothing and poncing off the family to people who inherited from family and are billionaires.

 

All l know of is my friend a govt teacher working Sukhothai on 16,000 a month and does some private work on the side, and still studying so he can get a higher grade and get to be a head teacher on 60,000 bath per month plus. 

 

A friend working Big'C' food hall who works 12 hours a day 7 days a week for 8000 baht a month. 

 

My Mrs self-employed has a small cafe' restaurant that varies from 200 baht per 8 hour day to 2000 + a bit per day. 

[gomangosteen]

9 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

We pay our farm workers 350 baht a day. Plus Lao Khow.

Yup. Not taxed, not banked, won't show up in the figures - daily wage payment v salary.

 

Brother-in-law has a farm contracting business in Sa Kaeo. Full-on in sugar harvest time the workers are on 700/day plus, then back to around half that for general tractor work, planting, fertilizer spreading, spraying, for much of the year.  Cash, their earnings won't show up in any survey either.

[Peterw42]

1 hour ago, Iamfalang said:

Here is the REAL Question:

 

If I said only 15,000 for a teacher with less than 5 years experience, will you help them?

9000 for 7-11, will you help them?

15000 for business owners because of COVID, will you help them?

 

I've helped Thais to the tune of about 10,000 per year.    It's not great, but I can guarantee it's WAY more than most falangs.   I asked for NOTHING in return.   Even pictures I'm not a fan of, but sometimes they want to take a picture.  I don't.  

 

If you think about money, go to America.  I personally know about 20 millionaires and I can't think of one with debt.   

 

Thinking you are special because a Thai makes nothing is the exact opposite of being special.  

 

 

 

Why are you helping Thai people, on normal Thai wages ? Does it make you think you are special ?  They are only low wages if compared to the west.

Thais live comfortable lives earning Thai wages and spending them in a Thai economy.

My neighbors in Jomtien, young guy and girl both work in 7/11 and have just got a mortgage and bought the condo next door, they didn't need a foreign benefactor.

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, Sparktrader said:

15 to 25k is avg. Some make 200k.

Some = very few, can count on one hand.

[nigelforbes]

46 minutes ago, gomangosteen said:

All that's cone out of this is that we collectively have nfi about the earnings nationwide. As I detailed in last week's thread on the same topic, how to factor in annual bonuses and allowances. My partner's company paid senior staff bonus in gold this year, won't show in any 'average' calculation.

 

These are the Bank of Thailand average nationwide wage earnings by category as at 30 September 2022, based upon wage deposits coded to employment classification.

Not broken down by region, or 'class' of employee. 

Pointless comparing to averages in other countries; Thai rates, Thai tax (low), Thai economy (my own example I was on contract in NZ May-Aug this year, 38% tax plus superannuation contribution plus insurances etc I came out with about half)

 

BoT September 2022

Legislator, senior officials and managers    31,449.56  
Professionals    28,022.56 
Technicians and associate professionals 22,534.11
Clerks 15,813.31
Service workers, shop and market sales workers 12,178.29
Skilled agricultural and fishery workers  7,006.48 
Craftsmen and related trades workers  12,136.87 
Plant and machine operators and assemblers    12,213.89
Elementary occupations    8,629.69 
Workers not included elsewhere    20,108.53

Less than 6% of the population pay taxes via the equivalent to PAYE, tax deducted at source, The Revenue is desperately trying to expand this tax net. The BOT figures only reflect earnings of workers where tax is paid at source, that means the other 94% of the population are not included, hence the category of "workers not included elsewhere of 20 mill". The Thai workforce is about 26 million people.

[KhunLA]

What's average ?

 

You also can't judge by govt stats of medium income.   Through the top 1-5-20% earnings in with the bottom 50% earners skews any results.

 

Just like everywhere, minimum wage jobs and not careers, and should be stepping stones to bettering your financial position in the future.

 

Flipping burgers or cashier at 7-11 aren't career moves unless going into management of.

 

People's incomes are what the make of themselves.  

[Dan O]

12 minutes ago, gomangosteen said:

Yup. Not taxed, not banked, won't show up in the figures - daily wage payment v salary.

 

Brother-in-law has a farm contracting business in Sa Kaeo. Full-on in sugar harvest time the workers are on 700/day plus, then back to around half that for general tractor work, planting, fertilizer spreading, spraying, for much of the year.  Cash, their earnings won't show up in any survey either.

Not showing up on tax rolls and wage calculations amounts to exactly nothing in value to the average agro worker or typical Thai trying to survive and live. This is what corruption and nepatism have given to thailand, a substandard of living that's un-escapable while those up the food chain steal the benefits of those at the bottom. 

[owl sees all]

25 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

A friend working Big'C' food hall who works 12 hours a day 7 days a week for 8000 baht a month. 

Do they get free food? Have to factor that in. Three meals a day. Must be worth 90 baht a day?

 

The ladies in our local Big C food hall all seem to be happy souls. Big money don't always make you happy.

 

I buy my chicken-foot soup from one stall. Three big bags of soup for 40 baht. That does me for six meals.

[nigelforbes]

Population = 70 million (2020)

 

Labor Force = 39 million (2019)

 

"Just three million Thais out of 67 million regularly pay income taxes".

 

https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.IN?locations=TH

 

https://asiafoundation.org/2015/04/15/thailand-and-taxes/#:~:text=Just three million Thais out,greater the tax management costs.

 

[Kwasaki]

8 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Do they get free food? Have to factor that in. Three meals a day. Must be worth 90 baht a day?

 

The ladies in our local Big C food hall all seem to be happy souls. Big money don't always make you happy.

 

I buy my chicken-foot soup from one stall. Three big bags of soup for 40 baht. That does me for six meals.

I guess they do get free food and She likes her Big'C' job her husband works away a lot and earns good money and he pays all the household bills so it's pocket money and company for her. 

 

Many don't work in our village and get money from the govt, have 2 brother in-laws and a sister in-law who do nowt because they get money from the govt.

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

What is an average Thai person ? 

regards worgeordie

5'2", 40 kg, brown eyes and long straight brown hair.

[Ralf001]

50 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

. 

 

A friend working Big'C' food hall who works 12 hours a day 7 days a week for 8000 baht a month. 

 

 

That employer is breaking numerous Thai labour laws.

[Kwasaki]

6 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

That employer is breaking numerous Thai labour laws.

Yeah Thai laws are enforced everyday. ????

[Ralf001]

28 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Yeah Thai laws are enforced everyday. ????

Thai Labour Court is very strict on employers.

 

That friend will hit pay dirt when she leaves and goes after the (ex)employer.

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

I concur with most of the figures here. A vast number of Thais make the minimum 7-11 salary of 9k baht a month. A secretary at one of my former schools made this. A primary school teacher in my village makes this. Members of my extended fam in the BKK service industry make this.

 

A vast number of Thais make even less, as said, by selling food in the markets or around the villages. It's why you see many shops selling in bulk, bags of snacks, packs of sausages and meatballs, cases of sodas, and stacks of the cups and lids to serve them in ice with. It's a huge part of their employment base, though shouldn't be, as they ought to be doing more meaningful work, yet it isn't there.

 

Indeed, most teachers make around 15k, then could move up to 40-50k with seniority. And as discussed in another thread, much of this is subject to corruption. Upon hiring they're informed that the privilege of this sought after govt position comes with a monthly salary cut for the school director. Or it could come upfront, as the 9k teacher in my village wasn't able to find a position, until her dad finally coughed up 100k baht for it to appear.

 

But, why pay 100k to only get 9k back a month? And why are the teachers often seen with new cars, big houses, and latest iPhones? Ah, that's because the esteemed govt position also comes with an unofficial extra salary, the special govt loans they're allowed to keep taking out, and get into massive debt with.

[Kwasaki]

15 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Thai Labour Court is very strict on employers.

 

That friend will hit pay dirt when she leaves and goes after the (ex)employer.

Dunno also 7-11 workers and intern nurses are on peanut wages so I don't know where your going with bringing the law into the Thai work situation, if my Mrs don't get any customers the 2 that work with her only get food no money, they understand that. 

[Kwasaki]

11 minutes ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

I concur with most of the figures here. A vast number of Thais make the minimum 7-11 salary of 9k baht a month. A secretary at one of my former schools made this. A primary school teacher in my village makes this. Members of my extended fam in the BKK service industry make this.

 

A vast number of Thais make even less, as said, by selling food in the markets or around the villages. It's why you see many shops selling in bulk, bags of snacks, packs of sausages and meatballs, cases of sodas, and stacks of the cups and lids to serve them in ice with. It's a huge part of their employment base, though shouldn't be, as they ought to be doing more meaningful work, yet it isn't there.

 

Indeed, most teachers make around 15k, then could move up to 40-50k with seniority. And as discussed in another thread, much of this is subject to corruption. Upon hiring they're informed that the privilege of this sought after govt position comes with a monthly salary cut for the school director. Or it could come upfront, as the 9k teacher in my village wasn't able to find a position, until her dad finally coughed up 100k baht for it to appear.

 

But, why pay 100k to only get 9k back a month? And why are the teachers often seen with new cars, big houses, and latest iPhones? Ah, that's because the esteemed govt position also comes with an unofficial extra salary, the special govt loans they're allowed to keep taking out, and get into massive debt with.

Spot on,  like I said the threads a can of worms.

My police friend is the rank under a chief of police in his province, road block share outs apart from bars also letting gambling places etc stay open got him to that position.

He is going to retire soon because to get to the chief police position is too expensive. 

 

[GarryP]

3 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Google tell me average wage in USA ,AUS and UK are as follows (converted to baht at todays rate).

 

USA - 220,000.00

AUS 110,000.00

UK - 170,000.00

 

Me thinks your claim "the low end of your ridiculous figures are higher than average wage in".

 

Is not accurate !!

 

FWIW I have a Thai friend who is very high up in a multinational company based here in Chonburi, he is on 500k+ a month, high earners like that are few and far between but the do skew any "average wage" calculations.

I'd check out median salaries rather than average. It gives a better picture. 

[owl sees all]

A lady in Ban Dung's Daisha (construction supplies), was telling me and the Mrs that she was thinking of moving to Udon Thani. There was a job being advertised in Global house, for an internal rep, with construction knowledge.

 

Monthly salary was 9.5k. Free on-site food while on shift. And, if the applicant could speak decent English, the salary jumped up to 13k a month.

[GarryP]

3 hours ago, BonMot said:

Grads from top universities start at 12k in BKK assuming they can find work at all.

 

Wife makes about 22.5k central BKK media company. 45hrs week. 3.5 weeks holiday, sick leave, SSO. Pay rise is 750-1250 annum depending on earnings. Bonus is seemingly always 10k.

 

I think bank managers prolly make about 40k. Teachers 15+ years at good public secondaries under 40k. My guess 711 Bangkok central and many fast food b70 hr

I thought the government introduced a minimum starting salary of 15k for those with a university degree.