PPP-Adjusted Average Wages by Country, 2024
Wages in PPP terms: official benchmark data and how to read it correctly
PPP-adjusted wage data help compare what pay can buy across countries after local price differences are considered. The broadest official cross-country wage benchmark used in this article is the OECD gross average wage series, expressed in PPP-adjusted U.S. dollars. It is a useful wage benchmark, but it should not be confused with a median-wage ranking.
Median wages remain the better concept for describing the “typical worker,” but comparable official medians are not available for a clean global ranking. The table below uses official average-wage PPP data instead. It is useful for labour-market context, productivity comparisons and purchasing-power analysis, provided it is read as an average-wage benchmark rather than a median-wage table.
Important: the table uses official PPP-adjusted average wage data. It should be read as a benchmark of earnings levels, not as a median-wage ranking for the typical worker.
Table 1 — Gross average wage, PPP-adjusted, 2024
Unit: U.S. dollars, PPP converted. Coverage: OECD countries and selected major economies reported in the OECD Pensions at a Glance 2025 average-wage table, with selected non-OECD values sourced by OECD from ILO wage data.
| Rank | Country | Gross average wage, PPP $ | Source concept |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switzerland | 102,611 | OECD gross average wage |
| 2 | Luxembourg | 90,384 | OECD gross average wage |
| 3 | Denmark | 88,971 | OECD gross average wage |
| 4 | Germany | 88,144 | OECD gross average wage |
| 5 | Belgium | 86,545 | OECD gross average wage |
| 6 | Ireland | 86,235 | OECD gross average wage |
| 7 | Netherlands | 85,877 | OECD gross average wage |
| 8 | Austria | 83,716 | OECD gross average wage |
| 9 | Norway | 82,016 | OECD gross average wage |
| 10 | Iceland | 78,723 | OECD gross average wage |
| 11 | United Kingdom | 78,216 | OECD gross average wage |
| 12 | Canada | 75,586 | OECD gross average wage |
| 13 | Australia | 72,330 | OECD gross average wage |
| 14 | Korea | 70,766 | OECD gross average wage |
| 15 | United States | 70,627 | OECD gross average wage |
| 16 | Finland | 68,073 | OECD gross average wage |
| 17 | France | 67,318 | OECD gross average wage |
| 18 | Sweden | 63,934 | OECD gross average wage |
| 19 | Saudi Arabia | 62,874 | OECD/ILO wage benchmark |
| 20 | Italy | 58,772 | OECD gross average wage |
| 21 | Japan | 58,439 | OECD gross average wage |
| 22 | New Zealand | 54,733 | OECD gross average wage |
| 23 | Israel | 54,308 | OECD gross average wage |
| 24 | Spain | 53,185 | OECD gross average wage |
| 25 | Lithuania | 52,459 | OECD gross average wage |
| 26 | Poland | 50,089 | OECD gross average wage |
| 27 | Slovenia | 48,780 | OECD gross average wage |
| 28 | Greece | 47,454 | OECD gross average wage |
| 29 | Hungary | 46,169 | OECD gross average wage |
| 30 | South Africa | 45,333 | OECD/ILO wage benchmark |
| 31 | Türkiye | 44,881 | OECD gross average wage |
| 32 | Czechia | 43,114 | OECD gross average wage |
| 33 | Portugal | 41,294 | OECD gross average wage |
| 34 | Argentina | 40,134 | OECD/ILO wage benchmark |
| 35 | Estonia | 39,686 | OECD gross average wage |
| 36 | Latvia | 39,483 | OECD gross average wage |
| 37 | Slovak Republic | 35,026 | OECD gross average wage |
| 38 | China | 34,890 | OECD/ILO wage benchmark |
| 39 | Chile | 31,076 | OECD gross average wage |
| 40 | Costa Rica | 29,386 | OECD gross average wage |
| 41 | Colombia | 20,293 | OECD gross average wage |
| 42 | Mexico | 19,311 | OECD gross average wage |
| 43 | Brazil | 16,567 | OECD/ILO wage benchmark |
| 44 | India | 12,478 | OECD/ILO wage benchmark |
| 45 | Indonesia | 8,706 | OECD/ILO wage benchmark |
The table is sorted by PPP-adjusted gross average wage. Average wage and median wage answer different questions, so the ranking should be interpreted as a benchmark of earnings levels rather than the income of the middle worker.
Chart view: countries with the highest PPP-adjusted average wages
The highest values are concentrated in high-productivity European economies. Switzerland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands all exceed 85,000 PPP-adjusted dollars. The ranking does not mirror GDP per capita exactly because wages also reflect labour-market institutions, working hours, payroll structure and the sector mix of paid employment.
How average wage differs from median wage
| Measure | What it tells readers | Main risk if misused |
|---|---|---|
| Gross average wage | General earnings level for full-time equivalent employment | Can overstate the typical worker’s pay when top earners pull the average up |
| Median wage | The middle worker’s wage, with half earning less and half earning more | Harder to compare globally because source coverage and definitions vary |
| Disposable household income | Living-standard context after taxes, transfers and household composition | Not a wage measure and should not be mixed into a wage ranking |
Methodology and sources
The table uses the OECD gross average wage benchmark in PPP-adjusted U.S. dollars. OECD defines average annual wages as annual rates paid per employee in full-time equivalent units in the total economy. The 2024 values are shown before deductions such as personal income taxes and social security contributions, and include overtime and other cash supplements where covered by the source.
This is a strong official benchmark, but it is not a replacement for median wages. Average wages are pulled upward by high earners, while medians describe the middle worker. A true median-wage ranking requires verified median earnings for each country and should not mix averages, household incomes or salary-site estimates.
FAQ
Why use average-wage data if median wages are better for the typical worker?
Because official average-wage data provide a reliable PPP benchmark with broad country coverage. Median wages are preferable for the typical worker, but they are not available in a consistent global table.
Can this be called a median-wage ranking?
No. The table is an official PPP-adjusted average-wage benchmark. A median-wage ranking needs verified median earnings for each country under a consistent definition.
Why does PPP matter?
PPP adjusts for the fact that the purchasing power of a dollar differs across countries. It is more useful than market exchange rates when the question is what wages can buy domestically.
What should readers avoid assuming from this table?
The table does not show take-home pay, household welfare or median living standards directly. Taxes, transfers, housing costs, household composition and wage inequality can all change the real experience of workers.
Primary sources
- OECD — Pensions at a Glance 2025, Average wage table:
OECD gross average wage table, 2024 - OECD — Average annual wages indicator:
OECD average annual wages definition - World Bank — PPP conversion factor:
World Bank PPP conversion factor - World Bank — International Comparison Program:
International Comparison Program - ILOSTAT — wages and earnings concepts:
ILOSTAT wages and labour income - ILO — Global Wage Report 2024–25:
ILO Global Wage Report 2024–25
