An excellent manufacturing hub with a young, talented labor force, Turkey is a popular outsourcing destination for many industries, like steel, textile, and IT.
The average salary in the most recent year (2023) in Turkey is about 94,000 Turkish Lira (TRY) per year. That’s roughly about 4,872 US Dollars, as per the April 2023 exchange rate.
Whether you’re planning to outsource to Turkey or move your office there, it’s best to understand the general wage information and economy.
In this article, we’ll cover the average salary in Turkey and how it differs in different aspects. We’ll also highlight three reasons why you should outsource to Turkey.
Let’s begin.
What is the average salary in Turkey?
The average monthly salary in Turkey is about 7,830 Turkish Liras (405.86 USD). This includes employee benefits such as allowances, medical, and transportation.
To find out if Turkey is the ideal destination for your business, let’s look at some other salary statistics:
1. Median salary
The median salary is the middle value from all the collected salary data.
In Turkey, the median salary is 7,830 TRY (405.86 USD) per month. This means that 50% of workers in Turkey earn more than 7,830 TRY/month, and another 50% earn less than 7,830 TRY/month.
2. Average salary range
The average salary range shows an individual’s possible maximum and minimum salary.
Turkey’s average monthly salary ranges from 1,980 TRY (102.63 USD), the lowest average, to 35,000 TRY (1814.18 USD), the highest average.
Note: Actual values for a person’s highest salary can be greater than the highest average pay, while the minimum salary can be less than the lowest average pay.
Now, let’s learn about the minimum wage in Turkey.
3. Minimum wage
Minimum wage in Turkey is set and revised every two years by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced an increase of almost 50% in the minimum wage from December 2022. Accordingly, the net minimum wage in Turkey is 10,003 TRY (518.54 USD)/month, and the gross minimum wage is about 7,603 TRY (407.63 USD)/month.
The minimum hourly wage in Turkey is 45 TRY/hour (2.33 USD). This is significantly lower than in western countries like the United States (7.25 USD/hour) and United Kingdom (11.56 USD/hour).
4. Salary percentile
Salary percentiles indicate how much a group from the total population earns. The most prominent percentiles are the 25th and 75th percentiles.
Based on the salary survey conducted by Salary Explorer in 2023, the salary percentiles in Turkey are the following:
- 25th Percentile: ±5,020 TRY per month.
- 75th Percentile: ±10,500 TRY per month.
This shows that 25% of Turks earn less than 5,020 TRY/month, whereas 75% earn more than 5,020 TRY/month.
Also, 75% of the population earns less than 10,500 TRY, while 25% earn more than 10,500 TRY monthly.
5. Average annual salary increments
In Turkey, employees generally receive an increment of 8% every 18 months, similar to South Africa and the Czech Republic.
However, the annual increment rate can differ based on several factors, like employees’ experience level and the industry they work in.
Let’s look at these in detail:
A) Experience Level
Employees with senior positions tend to receive higher increment rates than juniors and new recruits.
| Experience Level | Average Annual Salary Increment Rate |
| Top Management | 15% – 20% |
| Senior Level | 10% – 15% |
| Mid-Career | 6% – 9% |
| Junior Level | 3% – 5% |
Source: salaryexplorer.com
B) Industry
Companies within thriving industries typically give higher and frequent salary raises. However, income raises are dependent on the country’s economic status.
| Industry | Average Annual Increment Rate |
| Education/ Teaching | 8% |
| Travel | 7% |
| Information Technology | 6% |
| Banking | 5% |
| Construction | 3% |
| Healthcare | 2% |
| Energy | 1% |
Source: salaryexplorer.com
Disclaimer: All salary data are estimates. Individual income and minimum wage vary according to location, education, job title, and other factors.
Now that we’ve gone through the salary statistics, let’s look at the factors that affect salaries in Turkey.
6 factors influencing the average salary in Turkey
The average salary in Turkey differs on the individual’s work experiences, education level, location, and other factors.
Let’s compare the average annual income received based on these factors:
1. Experience
Working experience can influence a professional’s salary. Usually, those with more experience receive higher salaries.
Let’s observe how an employee’s income increases based on their professional experience in Turkey:
| Years Of Experience | Salary increase (in percentage) |
| 0-2 years | N/A |
| 2-5 years | 32% |
| 5-10 years | 36% |
| 10-15 years | 21% |
| 15-20 years | 14% |
| 20+ years | 9% |
Source: salaryexplorer.com
2. Education
Here’s what employees with different education levels receive in Turkey.
- Applicants with a certificate or diploma earn around 17% more than their peers who only completed high school.
- Employees with a Bachelor’s Degree earn about 24% more than those with a certificate or diploma.
- With a Master’s Degree, employees can receive approximately 29% more than their co-workers with a Bachelor’s Degree.
- Finally, PhD holders earn roughly 23% more than those with a Master’s Degree in the same field.
3. Type of employment
Depending on the type of employment (permanent, part-time, etc.), a person in Turkey can earn the following:
| Type of job | Average Annual Salary |
| Permanent | 885,290 TRY (47,496.36 USD) |
| Contract | 730,136 TRY (39,171.85 USD) |
| Self-employed | 684,502 TRY (36,723.59 USD) |
| Part-time | 520,222 TRY (27,909.95 USD) |
Source: averagesalarysurvey.com
4. Industry
Employees in Turkey gain varying incomes based on the industry they work in. Here are 10 sectors in Turkey that pay high salaries:
| Industry | Average Annual Salary |
| Management & Business | 1,328,847 TRY (71,292.75 USD) |
| Law | 1,226,628 TRY (65,808.69 USD) |
| Military | 969,255 TRY (52,000.61 USD) |
| Logistics, Road, Railway | 958,303 TRY (51,413.03 USD) |
| Manufacturing & Labor | 941,875 TRY (50,531.67 USD) |
| Health Care & Medical | 927,272 TRY (49,748.22 USD) |
| Hotels & Tourism | 905,368 TRY (48,573.07 USD) |
| Construction & Labor | 852,434 TRY (45,733.15 USD) |
| Sales | 836,005 TRY (44,851.74 USD) |
| Properties & Real Estates | 768,468 TRY (41,228.37 USD) |
Source: averagesalarysurvey.com
5. Job title
The average income differs depending on the individual’s title, even within the same fields. It’s also affected by the demand for specific career professionals.
Here’s a list of the average annual salary for the highest paying business jobs and titles in Turkey:
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary |
| Sales Manager | 733,524 TRY (38,024.56 USD) |
| Software engineer | 525,600 TRY (27,246.15 USD) |
| Marketing Specialists | 330,720 TRY (17,143.93 USD) |
| Project Management Specialists | 317,232 TRY (16,444.73 USD) |
| Mechanical Engineer | 304,008 TRY (15,759.22 USD) |
| Market Research Analysts | 282,600 TRY (14,649.47 USD) |
| Web Developer | 269,604 TRY (13,975.78 USD) |
| Legal Compliance Officers | 334,344 TRY (17,331.79 USD) |
| Graphic Designer | 455,748 TRY (23,625.15 USD) |
| Revenue Management Analysts | 233,556 TRY (12,107.12 USD) |
| Civil Engineer | 228,408 TRY (11,840.26 USD) |
| Human Resources Specialists | 211,452 TRY (10,961.29 USD) |
| Loan Officers | 130,308 TRY (6,754.93 USD) |
Source: glassdoor.com
6. City
An employee’s average wage in Turkey can also differ based on their city. This is because of the varying cost of living in different cities.
Let’s see the average salary in Turkey’s major cities:
| City | Average Annual Salary |
| Istanbul | 901,718 TRY (46,743.43 USD) |
| Izmir | 755,690 TRY (39,173.60 USD) |
| Ankara (capital) | 722,834 TRY (37,470.41 USD) |
| Konya | 702,756 TRY (36,429.60 USD) |
| Bursa | 660,773 TRY (34,253.28 USD) |
Source: averagesalarysurvey.com
Now that we’ve done a deep-dive into the average wages, let’s examine some of Turkey’s employment practices.
Additional working provisions in Turkey
If you’re planning to outsource to Turkey, it’s best to look into their employment practices. Here are some provisions for employees as outlined in the Turkish Labor Code:
- Regular work hours in Turkey shouldn’t exceed 45 hours a week, and daily work hours should be no more than 11 hours.
- Overtime is allowed, and employers must pay 25% of their employee’s hourly wages per overtime hour.
- Employees are entitled to at least 14 days of paid annual leave after a year of service with a particular employer.
- Foreigners with highly sought-after credentials that the country deems could contribute to the economy may apply for a Turquoise Card, a special work permit.
Interested in outsourcing to Turkey? Here’s how it can benefit you.
4 remarkable benefits of outsourcing to Turkey
Turkey has always been a haven for textile manufacturers, steel industries, and IT technicians. It is also one of the best places for low-cost outsourcing and has attracted multinational companies to invest and seek talent in Turkey.
Here are 4 reasons why outsourcing to Turkey could benefit your company:
1. Access to a large talent pool
Based on Turkey’s labor statistics, the country has a labor force of about 33 million, with more than 50% working in various industries from either public or private sector.
A total of 208 universities in Turkey offer a variety of education syllabuses that aim to produce high-quality graduates. With nearly eight million students enrolled for higher education in 2019, you can expect a vibrant talent pool of graduates and job seekers in varying fields.
Turkey also has a literacy rate of at least 97%, and most of its population speaks more than one language, such as:
- Turkish (the official language of Turkey).
- Arabic.
- English.
- Mandarin.
- Other minority languages.
This is why call center companies outsource customer service services to Turkey.
2. Advanced technologies
The Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBITAK), was set up by the Turkish government to develop science and technology industries. It also manages research institutes in the country.
This, coupled with 18 Free Zones, has motivated many international investors to set up their offices or warehouses across the country. For example, companies like Google, Apple, and Microsoft have remote and onsite employees from Turkey.
Free Zones are designated areas where all business dealings are taxed lightly or not at all.
Furthermore, the country has several local telecommunication companies, like Vodafone and Turk Telekom, that provide strong internet connectivity to support seamless outsourcing.
3. High-quality services
Professional workers in Turkey, including Turkish Information Technology (IT) specialists, are usually willing to learn and update their skills. This helps improve their capability to work with foreign business partners.
In terms of the textile industry, Turkey offers a well-developed supply chain for most textile productions. Local textile manufacturers are known for producing superior-quality industrial-grade products, like cotton, polyester, and more.
Their production and distribution speed is why global textile buyers place orders from these Turkish textile factories.
4. Strategic geographical location
Turkey boasts a strategic geographical location, sharing borders with several West Asian (Georgia, Armenia) and East European countries (Greece and Bulgaria).
This allows you to access new markets and expand your business further. It also opens up opportunities for future collaborations with businesses from neighboring countries in the Middle East.
Wrapping up
Low labor costs, strategic geographical location, and advanced technological infrastructure makes Turkey a top spot for low-cost outsourcing, alongside other countries like South Africa, Armenia, and Slovakia.
If you’re considering outsourcing to Turkey, you can use the information in this article to determine if Turkey is the ideal destination for your business.