Average Salary in Brazil

The 8th largest economy in the world in 2024, Brazil, had an average monthly salary of BRL 2,979 net (USD 524.71) in 2023. Hence, the average salary in Brazil on a yearly basis was BRL 35,748 net (USD 6,296.55), according to the Brazilian Government.

Please note:

• All data in this article are based on official statistics and reports, such as those from the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística or the World Bank. Data is linked at the end of the article.
• In Brazil, wages are benchmarked as usual real earnings across the country, which refers to typical or average earnings adjusted for inflation.
• The official currency of Brazil is BRL (The Brazilian real, R$).
• One R$ equals 0.18 USD when writing this article. Please double-check the exchange rate at the time of reading.

Key statistics and macros:

• Average annual salary: BRL 35,748 net (USD 6,296.55). Source: Brazilian Government
• Average monthly salary: BRL 2,979 net (USD 524.71). Source: Brazilian Government
• Average monthly income per capita: R$ 1,893(USD 333.43), ranging between R$ 945(USD 166.45) in Maranhão to R$ 3,357 (591.29) in the Federal District. Source: Agencia IBGE Noticias
• Minimum wage: BRL 1,412 (USD 248.71. Source: Ministry of Labor
• Gender pay gap: 19.4%Source: World Economic Forum.The gender wage gap is even wider for women of color. Black women earn 68% of what white men do.
• Brazil has an exceptional economic performance, surpassing IMF projections, with a high real GDP growth.
• One of the industries in high demand in Brazil is tech, with over 1,000 startups per million people, the highest rate globally.

Average salary in Brazil

The average salaries in Brazil have increased by 7.5% in 2023 in relation to 2022, according to the Brazilian Government.

Therefore, the resident population has seen real higher average salaries, with a monthly net average of BRL 2,979 (USD 524.71) and a yearly BRL 35,748 net (USD 6,296.55).

Note that these higher salaries refer to “real average earnings,” which includes the average amount of income or earnings adjusted for inflation, providing a clearer picture of the actual purchasing power of income over time.

Minimum wage

Brazil’s minimum wage in 2024 is BRL 1,412 (USD 248.71). Therefore, the daily minimum wage per day is BRL 47,07 at an hourly rate of BRL 6,42. This minimum wage is guaranteed monthly and represents double the minimum salary in 2010 and an increase of BRL 110 from 2023.

In Brazil, the federal government sets the minimum wage, meaning it applies uniformly across all regions. However, individual states can implement their own minimum wages for specific industries or categories of workers as long as these are above the national minimum. The Brazilian Congress regularly reviews and approves changes to the minimum wage, often indexing it to inflation and other economic factors.

It is important to note that in Brazil, citizens who command higher salaries, specifically up to BRL 2,640 per month, which is twice the minimum wage, are exempt from paying income tax.

Average salary by region

As in every country, depending on a region’s economic development, the national average is slightly skewed. Each geographical location has a diverse economy with a different income distribution.

The Southeast region, which includes major cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, consistently has the highest wages due to its concentration of high-paying industries, services, and economic opportunities.

For instance, the average monthly wage in São Paulo is around BRL 2,810. The higher average salary in this region reflects the higher cost of living and bigger demand for skilled labor. Other cities in this region, such as Campinas and Belo Horizonte, also offer relatively high wages compared to the national average.

Here is a breakdown of the per capita nominal income in different regions of Brazil, according to the Continuous National Household Sample Survey 2023:

Average salary by occupation

As in most countries, the average income heavily depends on someone’s profession and stage in their career. Other factors, such as university degrees or competitiveness in the job market, also determine how much the workforce earns, but someone’s profession impacts it heavily.

In Brazilian companies, the high-paying sectors are technology, oil and gas, and finance, which offer higher wages, while agriculture and retail tend to pay less.

​Highest paying jobs

Data from Salaryexplorer demonstrates that the highest-paid roles are in the medical and judicial fields, with surgeons/doctors and judges at the top. Surgeons and doctors earn an impressive average monthly salary of around USD 7,398, likely due to the specialized skills associated with healthcare.

Judges follow with an average monthly salary of USD 5,327, reflecting the high level of expertise and authority required in the judicial system.

Average salary by industry

High-paying sectors like healthcare, technology, and managerial positions offer salaries well above the national average, driven by specialized skills and market demand. On the other hand, industries such as retail, construction, and administration tend to have lower compensation, particularly in entry-level positions.

One of the industries in high demand in Brazil is tech. For that reason, software developers and other tech employees are highly rewarded financially. The country is experiencing rapid growth in its tech sector, with over 1,000 startups per million people, the highest rate globally, according to Techbridgelatam.com.

On the other side of the spectrum, roles like dentist and pilot can have lower wages, such as BRL 20,000, while entry-level jobs, such as cashier or receptionist, offer much lower pay, around BRL 3,000 to BRL 4,000. These variations are influenced by education, experience, and regional economic conditions.

 Average salary by education

A World Bank assessment of poverty and equity in Brazil reveals that only 17.9% of Brazilians earn degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), which is low compared to developed countries.

The Agencia de Noticias IBGE reveals that the education level correlates with the formality of employment, too. Hence, in Brazil, there are only 22.8% of workers with higher education in informal positions, while for workers without schooling or incomplete primary education, the percentage is 62.8.

A systemic problem in the entire labor market in Brazil regarding education is the racial wage disparities within education levels. For instance, the Brazilian Institute of Statistics reveals that in the case of workers with complete higher education in 2022, the following apply:

• White workers earned RBL 35.30 per hour
• Black or brown workers earned RBL 25.70 per hour
• Gap: 37.6% difference

Gender wage gap

According to the World Economic Forum, Brazil’s gender wage gap remains a persistent structural challenge, as men earn more than women by 19.4%.

The Brazilian government implemented in 2023, on Women’s Day, a package of 25 measures to combat both gender-based violence and economic disparities that affect women. One of the rules requires all types of businesses, including multinational companies, to offer the same salary for women and men.

The measures and their effects are still being analyzed, but one other systemic problem widens the gap between women and men: Racial disparities.

The gender wage gap is even wider for women of color. Black women earn 68% of what white men do.

Source: Brazilian.report

Salary growth trends in Brazil

In recent years, the average per capita income in Brazil has achieved a record high, as indicated by the IBGE survey, which has tracked this metric since 2012.

The reported income rose by 11.5% to BRL 1,848, marking a 12-year peak. This growth is largely due to improvements in the job market and the reintroduction of social programs like Bolsa Família, which directly benefits low-income households. Total household income per capita also rose significantly, boosted by a 7.5% increase in income from various sources, including wages, pensions, and rents.

Despite challenges like inflation in Brazil’s economy, this upward trend signals a gradual economic recovery that is helping improve real income for many Brazilians.

Interesting labor market facts about Brazil

Bazil’s labor market and economy come with a complex mixture of structural challenges and recent improvements, characterized by the following key points:

Labor market dynamics:

• Brazil has notably improved unemployment, reaching its lowest rate in a decade with an 8% decrease, largely driven by service sector expansion and informal employment growth.
• Deep-rooted structural inequalities continue to shape the workforce, with a pronounced gender wage gap of 19.4% that widens to 43.2% among highly educated workers, while racial wage disparities reach 61.4% between white and black/brown workers.
• Persistent high informality rates affect 40.9% of workers, with a disproportionate impact on black and brown workers (46.8%), reflecting both structural barriers to formal employment and regulatory challenges in the labor market.
• Education-linked disparities remain a challenge, with higher education showing the largest wage gaps (43.2% gender gap), suggesting that increased educational attainment alone isn’t enough to overcome systemic inequalities.
• One of the industries in high demand in Brazil is tech. Tech workers have highly paid careers. Brazil has rapid growth in its tech sector, with over 1,000 startups per million people, the highest rate globally.

Economic indicators & trends:

• Brazil has an exceptional economic performance, surpassing IMF projections, with a high real GDP growth.
• Household consumption has been growing at much higher levels than expected as inflation rates have been lowered. From 2022 to 2024, inflation has decreased by half, according to the IMF.
• The Brazilian economy is critically dependent on primary exports to other countries, including agricultural commodities like sugar and soybeans and minerals like crude oil and iron.
• Outstanding commodity sector performance, particularly in the oil industry, is reaching historic highs, driven by increased global demand and improved production efficiency in deep-water exploration.

FAQ

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Sources:

https://www.bcb.gov.br/en/statistics

https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099230007062256153/pdf/P1746910e33a8407d0b0850b8f0f5bcf18c.pdf

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/05/27/pr24183-Brazil-IMF-Staff-Completes-2024-Article-IV-Visit-to-Brazil#:~:text=%E2%80%9CBrazil’s%20economy%20has%20been%20remarkably,continue%20to%20support%20Brazil’s%20resilience

https://agenciadenoticias.ibge.gov.br/en/agencia-press-room/2185-news-agency/releases-en/39289-ibge-releases-per-capita-household-income-2023-for-brazil-and-federation-units

https://www.statista.com/statistics/276319/monthly-inflation-rate-in-brazil

https://www.salaryexplorer.com/best-paying-jobs-brazil-c30