Pakistan's national average of PKR 82,100/month (~$290) reflects a workforce where the majority earns between PKR 40,000 and PKR 140,000. Karachi and Lahore command the highest salaries, while Islamabad offers a lower cost of living relative to pay. Employer statutory costs are unusually low because EOBI contributions are calculated on the minimum wage (not the employee's actual salary) and Social Security contributions are capped at the provincial minimum wage level. For professional roles, this keeps the employer multiplier at just 1.07-1.12x. Salaries for internationally hired professionals range from $250 to $3,800/month. Pakistan's IT sector has grown rapidly, with exports surpassing $3 billion.
Salary by Role in Pakistan
Monthly gross salary in USD across 15 professional roles commonly hired by international employers. Click column headers to sort.
| Role | Entry-level | Mid-level | Senior | Total cost (mid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Software Developer PKR 168K-504K/mo (mid) | $300-600 | $600-1,800 | $1,800-3,500 | $642-2,016 |
QA / Test Engineer PKR 126K-280K/mo (mid) | $250-450 | $450-1,000 | $1,000-1,800 | $482-1,120 |
UI/UX Designer PKR 126K-280K/mo (mid) | $250-450 | $450-1,000 | $1,000-1,800 | $482-1,120 |
DevOps / Cloud Engineer PKR 196K-560K/mo (mid) | $400-700 | $700-2,000 | $2,000-3,800 | $749-2,240 |
Customer Support Rep PKR 70K-126K/mo (mid) | $150-250 | $250-450 | $450-700 | $268-504 |
Customer Success Manager PKR 112K-224K/mo (mid) | $250-400 | $400-800 | $800-1,400 | $428-896 |
Executive Assistant PKR 98K-182K/mo (mid) | $200-350 | $350-650 | $650-1,100 | $375-728 |
Virtual Assistant / Admin PKR 70K-126K/mo (mid) | $150-250 | $250-450 | $450-700 | $268-504 |
Bookkeeper / Accountant PKR 98K-196K/mo (mid) | $200-350 | $350-700 | $700-1,200 | $375-784 |
Financial Analyst PKR 140K-308K/mo (mid) | $300-500 | $500-1,100 | $1,100-2,000 | $535-1,232 |
Digital Marketing Manager PKR 126K-280K/mo (mid) | $250-450 | $450-1,000 | $1,000-1,800 | $482-1,120 |
SEO Specialist PKR 98K-196K/mo (mid) | $200-350 | $350-700 | $700-1,200 | $375-784 |
Graphic Designer PKR 98K-196K/mo (mid) | $200-350 | $350-700 | $700-1,200 | $375-784 |
Content Writer / Copywriter PKR 84K-168K/mo (mid) | $150-300 | $300-600 | $600-1,000 | $321-672 |
Operations / Admin Manager PKR 84K-168K/mo (mid) | $200-300 | $300-600 | $600-1,000 | $321-672 |
"Total cost (mid)" applies the 1.07-1.12x multiplier. All figures in USD.
Employer Costs
Pakistan's employer costs are unusually low because EOBI is calculated on the minimum wage (not actual salary) and Social Security is capped at the provincial minimum wage level. For professional roles, mandatory contributions are a small fraction of gross pay.
A mid-level developer in Lahore earning PKR 300,000/month (~$1,071 USD) costs approximately: PKR 300,000 salary + PKR 2,000 EOBI (5% of min wage, not actual salary) + PKR 2,400 provincial SSI (~6% of min wage) = PKR 304,400/month (~$1,087 USD). That's only a 1.015x multiplier — because EOBI and SSI are calculated on PKR 40,000, not on the employee's actual PKR 300,000 salary.
Pakistan vs Regional Salary Benchmarks
How Pakistani salaries compare to other hiring markets for mid-level professionals. India is the closest comparison in both cost and talent profile.
| Role | Pakistan | India | Philippines | Indonesia | Vietnam | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer (Mid) | $600-1,800 | $800-2,500 | $1,000-2,500 | $900-2,200 | $1,200-3,500 | $7,000-12,000 |
| Customer Support | $250-450 | $250-500 | $350-650 | $300-600 | $350-700 | $3,000-4,500 |
| Executive Assistant | $350-650 | $350-700 | $500-1,000 | $450-900 | $500-1,000 | $4,000-6,500 |
| Bookkeeper | $350-700 | $350-700 | $500-1,000 | $400-900 | $400-900 | $4,000-6,500 |
| Graphic Designer | $350-700 | $400-900 | $600-1,200 | $500-1,000 | $500-1,100 | $4,000-6,500 |
Where to Hire: City-Level Cost Differences
Karachi and Lahore lead on talent availability. Islamabad offers quality of life. Smaller cities offer further cost savings but with limited talent pools.
Pakistan's largest city and commercial capital. Highest average salaries (PKR 88,700). Strongest for finance, trade, customer support, and IT services.
Second-largest city and growing tech hub. Home to Arbisoft, Systems Limited. Strong university pipeline from LUMS, UET, FAST. Arfa Software Technology Park anchors the IT sector.
Capital city with highest quality of life. National Software Technology Park hosts many IT firms. Lower average salary (PKR 76,700) but strong for international org roles.
Third-largest city. Manufacturing and textile hub. Growing IT sector with lower costs than Karachi/Lahore.
Lowest cost centers. Limited professional talent pools outside the big four cities. Can work for very cost-sensitive operations.
Pakistan Hiring Landscape
Pakistan has emerged as a competitive IT outsourcing market. The IT export sector grew from $1.4 billion in 2020 to over $3 billion, with the government targeting $5 billion by 2028. Pakistan ranks among the top 5 countries on global freelancing platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal. The combination of a large, young population (220+ million, median age 22), strong English proficiency, and extremely competitive costs makes Pakistan increasingly attractive.
Lahore and Karachi are the primary tech hubs. Lahore's Arfa Software Technology Park and the growing startup ecosystem have created a pipeline of experienced developers. Karachi's larger economy supports broader professional services including finance, BPO, and customer support. Islamabad's proximity to government and international organizations creates a different talent profile, often with more project management and consulting experience.
The main considerations for international employers are infrastructure reliability (internet and power can be inconsistent, though major cities and co-working spaces are generally reliable), currency volatility (PKR has depreciated significantly, which benefits USD-paying employers but creates budgeting complexity), and regulatory environment (labor laws vary by province). For EOR-employed professionals in established offices, these challenges are manageable and the cost savings are substantial.
Related Pakistan Resources
Common Questions About Hiring in Pakistan
Salary benchmarks, employer costs, and what to expect when hiring in Pakistan.
The national average is approximately PKR 82,100/month (~$290 USD). The median is lower at PKR 70,700 (~$250). Karachi has the highest at PKR 88,700, followed by Lahore (PKR 87,200). For professional roles hired by international employers, salaries range from $250 to $3,800/month. Tech roles command the highest premiums, with senior developers earning PKR 500,000+ ($1,800+).
Pakistan's minimum wage varies by province. As of July 2025 (FY 2025-2026), Punjab, Sindh, and KPK set PKR 40,000/month (~$143 USD) for unskilled workers. Balochistan and Islamabad Capital Territory remain at PKR 37,000. Professional roles typically pay 2-10x the applicable minimum.
EOBI (pension) is 5% of the minimum wage, not actual salary, capping it at PKR 2,000/month regardless of earnings. Provincial Social Security is ~6%, also capped at min wage level. For a professional earning PKR 300,000/month, total mandatory contributions are approximately PKR 4,400/month (about 1.5% of salary). Effective multiplier: 1.07-1.12x.
Pakistan is generally 10-25% cheaper than India for comparable roles. Both have large, English-proficient workforces and strong IT sectors. India has a significantly deeper talent pool and better international brand recognition. Pakistan's key advantage is cost: it offers some of the lowest professional salaries in Asia with good English proficiency.
No. An Employer of Record like RecruitGo acts as the legal employer through our Pakistani entity. We handle EOBI registration, provincial social security, income tax withholding (FBR), and compliance with provincial labor ordinances. You receive a single monthly invoice in USD.
Yes, increasingly so. Pakistan has approximately 300,000-400,000 IT professionals and produces 25,000+ IT graduates annually. IT exports surpass $3 billion. Pakistan ranks among the top 5 on freelancing platforms globally. The main limitation is senior talent depth compared to India.
For 2 support reps ($250-450 each), 1 EA ($350-650), 1 bookkeeper ($350-700), and 1 developer ($600-1,800): total gross is $1,800-4,050/month. With the 1.07-1.12x multiplier and EOR fees, all-in cost is approximately $2,800-6,000/month. Same team in India: $3,000-7,200. In the US: $22,000-36,000.
Main considerations: currency volatility (PKR has depreciated significantly), infrastructure variability (internet/power less consistent than India or Philippines, though major cities are generally reliable), and political/economic uncertainty. For EOR-employed professionals in major cities, these risks are manageable and cost savings are substantial.
