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Employee Experience

Average Salary Comparison by Country

Global workforce mobility and employee experience are strongly shaped by salary expectations and cost-of-living differences. In 2025, understanding salary benchmarks across countries and professions is more important than ever for organizations, HR professionals, and employees making relocation or career decisions.

This guide provides the latest global salary comparisons by country and job role, highlights 2025 wage growth trends, and offers interactive salary calculators to help you estimate compensation in different regions.

*Salary data is current as of September 2025


Global Average Salary Rankings in 2025

According to the CEOWORLD 2025 Salary Index, the following countries rank highest for average monthly net salary (USD, after tax):

  1. Switzerland — $8,218

  2. Luxembourg — $6,740

  3. United States — $6,562

  4. Iceland — $6,548

  5. Norway — $5,772

  6. Denmark — $5,749

  7. Canada — $5,188

  8. Ireland — $4,729

  9. Netherlands — $4,688

  10. Singapore — $4,457

These countries consistently lead due to strong economies, high-value industries such as finance, technology, and energy, and robust worker protections.
By contrast, some developing economies still report average wages below $500 per month.

Heat map-style world map, where the colors represent average salary levels by country in 2025: Dark Green = highest salaries, light green to yellow = moderate salaries, orange to red = lower salaries.

Regional Salary Insights

Europe

  • Ireland: €3,349–€4,245 average monthly salary

  • Luxembourg: €4,086–€6,118

  • Netherlands: €3,771–€5,190

  • Portugal: Gross €1,882 ($2,121); Net €1,412 ($1,591)

Asia

  • China: ~$1,452 (urban non-private sector)

  • Armenia: ~$775

  • Cambodia: ~$336

North America

  • United States: $6,562

  • Canada: $5,188

Middle East

  • The United Arab Emirates continues to grow as a high-salary hub, particularly in energy and technology, often providing expatriates with additional housing and benefit packages.

Salary Growth Trends in 2025

  • Global average salary growth: projected at 3–4%

  • Technology roles: 6–10% growth, driven by AI, cybersecurity, and cloud computing demand

  • Green energy and sustainability roles: 10–15% growth, particularly in Europe and North America

  • Healthcare and biotechnology: above-average wage increases due to persistent labor shortages

Salary by Job Role in 2025

While averages are helpful, job roles strongly influence compensation:

  • Technology and IT: Software engineers in the U.S. earn $90k–$130k annually; in Europe €60k–€90k; in Asia $30k–$60k depending on market.

  • Finance: Investment bankers and actuaries are among the highest earners, with Switzerland and Singapore offering top-tier pay.

  • Healthcare: Doctors and medical specialists remain well-compensated in the U.S., Canada, and UAE.

  • Education: Teachers in advanced economies earn two to four times more than in developing countries, although cost-of-living adjustments are significant.

Key Takeaways

  • Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the United States lead 2025 salary rankings.

  • Technology, green energy, and healthcare sectors show the highest wage growth.

  • Interactive calculators provide accurate, personalized salary comparisons.

Interactive Global Salary Calculators

To provide real-time, personalized insights, use these salary calculators. These tools will allow you to compare salaries by role, region, and industry in real time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What is the highest-paying country in 2025?
    Switzerland leads in 2025 with an average monthly net salary of $8,218.
  • Which industries are seeing the fastest salary growth in 2025?
    Technology, green energy, and healthcare are projected to experience the highest salary growth rates worldwide.
  • How do salaries in Europe compare to Asia in 2025?
    European countries such as Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Ireland report average monthly salaries above €3,000, while many Asian nations such as China ($1,452) and Cambodia ($336) remain below $2,000 per month.
  • Where can I find salary benchmarks by job title?
    Interactive tools like iSalary, SalaryExpert, and Robert Half’s 2025 calculator provide detailed benchmarks by role and country.
  • Why do salaries vary so much between countries?
    Salary levels are influenced by economic strength, cost of living, demand for specific roles, taxation, and worker protections.