Wages

[farangoon]

Long time lurker, first time poster. I was curious about the average monthly wage in Bangkok, someone told me recently it was between 6,000 and 8,000 Baht a month, is this true? and if so how do they do it?

One of the reasons I'm asking is that with the current financial situation I need to start economizing, so maybe I can pick up a few tips from the locals.

[yabaaaa]

Sugest you go to the nearest supermarket for your answer. Look for the "wrapping dept" ask for a ball of string. Take it home cut it into various lengths and hold them up to the light., compare each one........ there is your answer

[rick75]

Yeh that is spot on earings for a large percentage of Bkk workers, start by living in a unit where the rent is 1500bht-2000bht a month, no bigger than 20sqm, share it with 1 or 2 other people and you are on your way to savings.

Travel everywhere by local bus,

Work 6 days a week so you have no time to spend any of the little money you earn, are you getting the picture.

[Maizefarmer]

Long time lurker, first time poster. I was curious about the average monthly wage in Bangkok, someone told me recently it was between 6,000 and 8,000 Baht a month, is this true? and if so how do they do it?

One of the reasons I'm asking is that with the current financial situation I need to start economizing, so maybe I can pick up a few tips from the locals.

Its a bit more than that - around 10K - 12K - but yes, there are some folk who earn 6K - 8k and folk who earn less>

8k is more typical of rural aeras and up North.

[DP25]

It's not difficult. Live in an under 2000 baht per month room, maybe shared, eat 20-30 baht street food every meal, and take the bus everywhere. You'd even have some left over for some lao khao or a night at the karaoke.

[runner]

easy. you'll notice that a single cheap studio(~2,000/month) might be shared by several thais. how much do they spend on accomodation? almost nil. also, they might have a rice cooker and make a lot of their own food, and always they drink water. so, if you want to economize, do the same. not a life I'd want to live though.

oh, and I think the avg. wage is about 15,000 in Thailand.

[lectito]

From the National Statistical Office of Thailand, these were the average monthly Household incomes in 2006 (these are household incomes, and are skewed by a few billionaires with high incomes):

Whole Kingdom: 17,787 Baht

Municipal Areas: 26,948 Baht

Non-Municipal: 13,552 Baht

Greater Bangkok: 33,088 Baht

Central Thailand: 19,279 Baht

North Thailand: 13,146 Baht

North-East Thailand: 11,815 Baht

Southern Thailand: 18,668 Baht

A more detailed breakdown is in the attachment (including a breakdown of the percentage of individual's incomes). The breakdown suggests the overall, 60% of people in Thailand have an income of less than 5,000 Baht a month. In Bangkok, 60% of people have an income of less than 10,000 Baht a month. Thai_Incomes_By_Percentage.pdf

[mhatami]

From the National Statistical Office of Thailand, these were the average monthly Household incomes in 2006 (these are household incomes, and are skewed by a few billionaires with high incomes):

Whole Kingdom: 17,787 Baht

Municipal Areas: 26,948 Baht

Non-Municipal: 13,552 Baht

Greater Bangkok: 33,088 Baht

Central Thailand: 19,279 Baht

North Thailand: 13,146 Baht

North-East Thailand: 11,815 Baht

Southern Thailand: 18,668 Baht

A more detailed breakdown is in the attachment (including a breakdown of the percentage of individual's incomes). The breakdown suggests the overall, 60% of people in Thailand have an income of less than 5,000 Baht a month. In Bangkok, 60% of people have an income of less than 10,000 Baht a month. Thai_Incomes_By_Percentage.pdf

I have 7 employees in my shop in MBK and they make 7k plus commission, which could be between 10k to 13k per month

[londonthai]

if you live in an extended family, like many thai do (even in bangkok), than you can save money on accommodation, preparing food for the whole family, transport (sharing a car).

accommodation is the biggest single expenditure, just moving from the town centre to the suburbs can save you a forune over the years, not sacrifising the quality of living and actually benefitting you from cleaner air and greenery.

shopping on the local street market would safe you on supermarket prices, street vendors do have bargains as well. Second grade fruits/vegetables migh be down to half price, especially in the evening/before closure time.

Buying in bulk, instead of small packaging is another tip.

the best is to move in with thai for sometimes, to see their way of living.

another thing, from which native do benefit, is exchange of services within an extended family, rather than paying for them dearly.

[barrybike]

this question is like how long is a piece of string ...not all thais earn the same money .some of them have good jobs too you know ..did you ever look at all the top of range cars in bangkok traffic ......they are not on 10 or 20 thou baht a month ......

[barrybike]

easy. you'll notice that a single cheap studio(~2,000/month) might be shared by several thais. how much do they spend on accomodation? almost nil. also, they might have a rice cooker and make a lot of their own food, and always they drink water. so, if you want to economize, do the same. not a life I'd want to live though.

oh, and I think the avg. wage is about 15,000 in Thailand.

no ive never seen thais drinking anything but water ...come on ....go to any good thai restaurant in bangkok of a friday night i assure you they wont be drinking water

[runner]

this question is like how long is a piece of string ...not all thais earn the same money .some of them have good jobs too you know ..did you ever look at all the top of range cars in bangkok traffic ......they are not on 10 or 20 thou baht a month ......

I've never quite understood it myself how they afford all the nice cars. They must spend a huge proportion of their budgets on their car payments(cars must be a major status symbol here?). Because I see as many nice cars in Thailand as I see back home.

[Boater]

I've never quite understood it myself how they afford all the nice cars. They must spend a huge proportion of their budgets on their car payments(cars must be a major status symbol here?). Because I see as many nice cars in Thailand as I see back home.

i never really understood this either,

i have seen Shanty Towns where accomodation is no more then 1 K a month, but there are Brand New cars there !

[patklang]

Ever heard of higher purchase????

[LennyW]

Ever heard of higher purchase????

No, have heard of hire purchase though.

[Jimjim]

99% of Thais make about 200 baht a month. One percent make about 500,000 baht a month.

[somluck]

This is what i know.

My Thai friends told me their kids are working in 7-11 per shift of 8 hours getting only 100 baht. I am not sure if this is true. By comparison i heard a bank manager on average makes 15K per month. The Burmese kitchen helpers in restaurant makes 3k per month (but free food and lodgings). The coyote dancers make basic salary of 8k per month.

I used to know a girl who sends home 5k per month to feed her whole family of 4 (two aged parents and 2 kids) in Petchabun. I commented that surely that is not enough, she tells me they will fish and pluck wild vegetables to supplement, before i was privy to this info i used to find it funny whenever i heard her call home and ask about the fishing.

[thaihome]

This is what i know.

My Thai friends told me their kids are working in 7-11 per shift of 8 hours getting only 100 baht. I am not sure if this is true. By comparison i heard a bank manager on average makes 15K per month. The Burmese kitchen helpers in restaurant makes 3k per month (but free food and lodgings). The coyote dancers make basic salary of 8k per month.

I used to know a girl who sends home 5k per month to feed her whole family of 4 (two aged parents and 2 kids) in Petchabun. I commented that surely that is not enough, she tells me they will fish and pluck wild vegetables to supplement, before i was privy to this info i used to find it funny whenever i heard her call home and ask about the fishing.

For everyone you know at that level, I know one that make around 100k a month. One’s perspective of how much the "average" Thai makes is skewed by what Thais you know.

TH

[Moonrakers]

My wife currently make 35k / month, this will rise to 50k when she starts a new job in May.

Despite having a degree she is not hugely well educated, she is not of a particularly high rank and not a specialist in any particular field. She is jut resourceful, hard working and motivated and has two jobs. One as a marketing manager for a tour company (Only a few hours a month), and from May she well be PA to an (farang) MD.

[livinthailandos]

well as you know not all wages are same. give you some idea from at least on what I know

my thai friend works as an IT Manager, and all the duties that go with it but he has been educated in the UK, speaks, reads, writes english very well. Is a professor at madihol unversity where he gets only 40,000 but his day job as IT Manager gets him 120,000 a month, he level of skill is very high though.

Restaurants if part of hotel waiter / waitress gets between 7,000 - 10,000 or more but depends on if the hotel is 3 star, 4 star or 5 star

Hotels, again ranges can be about the same not for all positions though but some places the service charge is anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 baht.

A head senior reservation who I work with, she works really hard and has multiple duties works 11 hours 6 days a week, she gets paid 20,000 plus service and also many who work in the hotel industry get free meal and get accomdation to

[h90]

Long time lurker, first time poster. I was curious about the average monthly wage in Bangkok, someone told me recently it was between 6,000 and 8,000 Baht a month, is this true? and if so how do they do it?

One of the reasons I'm asking is that with the current financial situation I need to start economizing, so maybe I can pick up a few tips from the locals.

Its a bit more than that - around 10K - 12K - but yes, there are some folk who earn 6K - 8k and folk who earn less>

8k is more typical of rural aeras and up North.

6000 is our accounting

8000 is our CNC Operator

(but they get a 2000-3000 Bonus most month

[barrybike]

my wife was an assiastant manager- customs officer in laem chabang port ..she had brand new honda city..salary was 35 k a month .. ...now she works as a waitress in a 4* hotel here in ireland and gets 80,000 baht a month/40 hr week plus 5000 a week average tips...and overtime........she is happy but it took her a long time to adapt to this kind of job...going from office work to serving people in a hotel restaurant

[farangoon]

Thanks guys, some good answers there (a few pointless and witless ones as well) I have a better idea of how Thai's manage on such meagre wages and maybe I can take a few tips from them on how to econmize, I have to say I'm tempted to try the 2,000 baht appartment, eating street food and traveling by bus for 3 months, I'd probably save a fortune and would probably appreciate the luxuries in life more.

[way2muchcoffee]

Here are some salaries of people I am acquainted with:

Brother in Law 1 - Air Condition Company: 200/day = 4,800/mo in BKK

Brother in Law 2 - Construction (transient): 250/day = 6,000/mo in BKK

Cousin 1 - Construction: 180/day = 4,320/mo in Surin

Cousin 2 - Concrete Patio Furniture Company: 5,000/mo in Surin

Uncle - Construction Contractor:10-15,000/mo anywhere

Sister in Law - Hotel Night Manager: 19,000/mo in BKK

Friend - Executive Assistant at Language School: 17,000/mo in BKK

Friend - CFO for Travel Company: 100,000/mo in BKK

Friend - Secretary: 9,000/mo in BKK

Friend - Secretary for Foreign Company: 18,000/mo in BKK

Friend - Graphics Designer (for company and private): 30,000/mo in BKK

Friend - Convenience Store Clerk: 6,000/mo in BKK

Friend - Motorcycle Taxi Driver: 7,000/mo in BKK

Friend - Security Guard: 6,500/mo in BKK

Edited March 28, 2009 by way2muchcoffee

[Soulwy]

A very informative topic!

[sorensen]

kellysalarythailand_2007.pdf