Salary in Nepal: what people earn, by job and by law

The most recent official measure is the Nepal Living Standards Survey IV (2022/23), published by the National Statistics Office in June 2024. Among people in a long-term job paid by the month, average earnings were Rs 2,90,682 a year — about Rs 24,200 a month.

A monthly salary is the minority arrangement. In the same survey 64.9% of wage earners were paid by the day, 28.7% by the month and 6.4% on contract. The average daily wage was Rs 599 in cash, plus Rs 77 in kind — but daily-wage workers found an average of only 72 days' work a year, which came to Rs 54,632 for the year.

That is why one national "average salary" misleads: it depends on whether the average is of everyone who earns a wage (Rs 1,32,625 a year) or only of those with a monthly salary (Rs 2,90,682).

The same survey's averages for long-term jobs, by the kind of work. They are what people reported earning, not pay scales.

The least an employer may pay is Rs 19,550 a month: a basic salary of Rs 12,170 and a dearness allowance of Rs 7,380. It took effect on 1 Shrawan 2082 and remains in force for 2083/84. By the day it is Rs 754, by the hour Rs 101.

It covers private-sector workers; tea estates have their own rate. The minimum salary guide has what an employer must add on top, the take-home pay, who it covers and what to do if you are paid less.

The Ministry of Finance sets one scale for national service employees, revised from 1 Shrawan 2083 (Ministry of Finance letter 2083/84-बजेट प्रशासन-16, 20 Shrawan 2083). Starting basic salary and the top of the scale once every grade is earned, for the posts people ask about most:

• On top of basic, civil servants, teachers and health workers receive the 10% incentive allowance set in the same letter and a Rs 5,000 dearness allowance, so a section officer's first month comes to about Rs 57,864 before tax and provident fund.
• Every rank, grade and the take-home calculator: government salary scale, and by service — civil service, Nepal Police, Nepal Army, APF, teachers, health service and local level.

• Teacher: a government secondary teacher (third class) starts on Rs 48,058 basic, about Rs 57,864 with allowances. Teacher salary, government and private.
• Nurse: a government staff nurse enters at the fifth level on Rs 38,203 basic. Nurse salary, staff nurse to nursing officer.
• Doctor: a government medical officer starts at the eighth level on Rs 53,611 basic; in private hospitals the agreed minimum was Rs 48,737 in 2023. Doctor salary.
• Engineer: a government engineer starts as a section officer on Rs 48,058 basic; Payscale's 2026 median for a software engineer is about Rs 42,000 a month. Engineer salary.
• Bank: no bank publishes its current scale; the one reported in full, from 2019, ran from Rs 23,000 for a trainee assistant to Rs 147,000 for a manager. Bank salary, assistant to CEO.
• Working in Dubai: Nepal does not approve a UAE job paying less than AED 1,000 basic plus AED 400 for food, about Rs 58,300. Dubai salary in Nepali rupees.

• In government, the chief secretary, the Chief of the Army Staff and other top posts start on Rs 84,932 basic, the highest point on the scale.
• By occupation, managers earned the most in the survey: Rs 8,91,947 a year, about Rs 74,300 a month, against Rs 13,100 a month in elementary occupations.
• In private companies, the best-documented pay is bank chief executives', which their annual reports disclose: Rs 23 million to Rs 85 million a year at the largest banks. See bank salary.

• Social Security Fund: 11% of basic salary from the employee and 20% from the employer, where the employer is enrolled.
• Income tax 2083/84: 1% on the first Rs 10 lakh a year (not charged to SSF contributors), 10% on the next Rs 5 lakh, 20% on the next Rs 10 lakh, 27% on the next Rs 15 lakh and 29% above Rs 40 lakh. The income tax calculator works it out, and the salary calculator gives the take-home pay.
• Dashain allowance: one month's basic salary a year under the Labour Act, 2074, with 8.33% a month in gratuity and 10% in provident fund from the employer where it is not in the SSF. Dashain bonus, gratuity and SSF.
• The paperwork: the salary slip maker writes a monthly payslip, and a salary certificate is what a bank or an embassy usually asks for.