What is the average income for a Thai citizen in Thailand?

Question

I am trying to understand the average income of aThai citizen.(Eg how much they earn a month?How they can survive,if their pay is so low?(is if there is certain places that they can work on?(eg local area where food is cheap?) or other ......Etc?Trying to understand. THx for your answer.

Answer 1

Average income for a Thai Citizen? Hard to say. I looked it up in their government websites for statistics and could not find a definitive answer. From what I do know is from asking friends the info there. The average salary for an office worker just starting out is 10,000 baht per month take home or roughly USD 260. I guess there are bonuses at year end. Don't know the amount.

You can rent a room in bangkok for 2,000 baht per month or less if you are lucky. Food is cheap from the vendors on the street 20-30 baht so, say it costs 100 baht a day to eat or 3,000 baht per month. 20 baht per day round trip by bus, another 400 baht gone plus weekends, so total maybe 800 baht. So that leaves, how much? 4,200 baht for ? Entertainment? Cell phone of course, another maybe 1,200 baht maybe. I use 300 baht per week personally just making a few calls around Bangkok. 3,000 left for clothing etc.

Thais in agriculture constitute 50 percent of the working population and only produce 10 percent of the GNP. From what my girlfriend says that her father, who is farmer, is supporting her sister through university, she is supporting another sister through university. My guess is her parents are not making much more than 150,000 baht per year. And she helps the family out sometimes or rather I do. LOL

Things are cheaper in suburbs and the highlands. The children help out. It's not an easy life. That is how Taksin, former prime minister got elected, extended farmer loans, etc.

There are 6 main banks in Thailand, 5 are owned by ethnically chinese families. There is some resent about this. These 5 banks control most of the wealth of Thailand.

There is alot more to this.

Answer 2

Average salaries for unskilled workers is around 70,000 baht a year - about $150 a month. University grads, such as accounting grads can earn anywhere between 120,000-200,000 baht a year.
I think a couple of things allow Thais to do well at such low salaries. As you mentioned, it's a cheap country, especially for food and a place to live. A Thai person can easily eat on $3 a day and eat pretty well. A room, just a plain room with no air and no hot water can be as cheap as 1200 baht - a bit more than 30 bucks a month. In Bangkok busses are very cheap - the longest bus ride on the bes bus will be no more than 24 baht or about 65 cents. The government medical program provides medical care for 30 baht (75 cents or so). Granted it's not the Mayo Clinic but it's medical care. They are even thinking about dropping the fee entirely.
And many Thai people live in extended families - with perhaps 4 or 5 wage earners ( the dad and mom, a child or two, maybe an uncle - tons of combinations, naturally) so small wages add up to plenty of money for a household. I know doctors and professional people who are still in their 20s or even 30s and still live at home. Lots of them.

Answer 3

You need to understand that many people in the world prefer a simple lifestyle, without any of the expensive luxuries that an American seems to need.
They don't need a house with a separate bedroom for each child. They don't need two cars and three or four televisions.

Additionally, the cost of living is so much lower than western countries, so a wage comparison will not help you.

I will give you another example which might help you. I am a Brit, living in China, with my Thai wife, and 8 year old daughter.
I am a school teacher and my monthly salary is 4000 yuan ($508). The school provides my accomodation, water and electricity. We are able to live comfortably on that, and save a little. China is slightly less expensive than Thailand, according to my wife who recently visited Thailand again two months ago..

Answer 4

Well, the figures above are mere statistics - and might represent an average in Bangkok - - however, I live upcountry and here, an ordinary person - manual laborer, such as restaurant help, cleaning etc.. makes 3000 baht per month - or abt $80 US.. - they can live easily on this because they share, they stay with family, bills such as electric are very inexpensive and food is plentiful, delicious and cheap.. but the big savings is that they live at home, quite simply.

Answer 5

I think the average wage for a Thai is around 12,000 - 15,000 baht per month, but what have have to understand is the cost of living here is low compared to other places in the world. In Bangkok you can eat good street (hawker) food for less than 150 baht per day, and rent can be as little of 2,000 - 3,000 baht per month for a reasonable place to stay.

Answer 6

Less than 10000 baht

Answer 7

10000 baht

Answer 8

I knew a hotel waiter who made $34 U.S. per week for four 16-hour days.

Answer 9

Lets just say if you go there from the US, you'll be Bill Gates.