SPECIAL EDITION: WORLD on the MOVE : Weighing the World’s Pay Scales

Here is a rough comparison of monthly wages for 17 occupations in each of 16 countries. Care is advised in using and interpreting this data, particularly for international comparisons. The figures are based on information provided by each country, and there may be important differences in job specifications and reporting standards. Also, wages were reported in the local currency. Conversion to U.S. dollars was done using an annual average conversion rate, a method that may be misleading in countries suffering very high rates of inflation and unstable exchange rates.

Sewing machine Cabinetmaker Journalist Office Plumber operator clerk AFRICA Algeria $274 $311 $550 $272 $274 Sierra Leone 23 27 54 13 16 Tunisia 138 127 246 142 NA AMERICAS Argentina 165 147 195 176 140 El Salvador 147 111 300 270 157 United States 1,062 NA 2,552 1,452 2,149 ASIA Bangladesh 47 66 125 53 45 Hong Kong 449 540 NA 673 958 India 38 38 NA 39 44 Japan 876 1,680 3,022 NA 1,807 Philippines NA NA NA 87 73 South Korea 318 453 996 510 420 EUROPE Belgium 914 1,271 NA NA NA Germany 1,061 1,276 1,864 1,713 1,442 Yugoslavia 27 35 51 43 35 OCEANIA Australia NA 1,244 NA NA 1,572

Laborer Retail Cook Waiter Pilot salesperson AFRICA Algeria $208 $217 $333 $238 $661 Sierra Leone 16 35 28 27 NA Tunisia 134 132 153 143 NA AMERICAS Argentina 117 155 210 175 416 El Salvador 132 282 266 244 2,340 United States 932 1,213 1,018 1,066 3,506 ASIA Bangladesh 31 25 94 81 695 Hong Kong 592 565 867 672 NA India 30 40 46 39 311 Japan NA NA 1,919 1,418 NA Philippines 67 NA 75 72 NA South Korea 347 452 610 435 4,090 EUROPE Belgium 1,174 848 NA NA NA Germany 1,369 1,269 815 776 8,774 Yugoslavia 27 65 39 38 135 OCEANIA Australia 1,297 NA 1,181 1,102 5,041

Mail Bank Computer College-level Kindergarten carrier teller programmer math teacher teacher AFRICA Algeria $262 $272 $376 $926 $274 Sierra Leone 23 83 NA 49 17 Tunisia NA NA 224 NA NA AMERICAS Argentina 149 215 129 1,030 73 El Salvador 224 221 542 400 130 United States 2,340 1,083 2,821 3,402 1,621 ASIA Bangladesh 48 48 194 93 45 Hong Kong NA 686 NA NA NA India NA 183 NA NA NA Japan NA NA NA NA 1,301 Philippines NA 126 NA NA NA South Korea 1,145 641 NA 1,882 NA EUROPE Belgium NA 1,023 NA NA NA Germany 1,373 1,813 2,019 3,576 1,730 Yugoslavia 41 91 69 66 51 OCEANIA Australia 1,152 1,172 NA NA 1,336

General Auto physician mechanic AFRICA Algeria $674 $451 Sierra Leone 82 31 Tunisia NA 160 AMERICAS Argentina 355 NA El Salvador 510 195 United States 4,000 1,638 ASIA Bangladesh 103 61 Hong Kong NA 690 India NA 58 Japan 5,930 1,707 Philippines 98 NA South Korea 1,714 468 EUROPE Belgium NA 1,110 Germany 3,238 1,453 Yugoslavia 85 51 OCEANIA Australia NA NA

Source: 1990 Bulletin of Labour Statistics, International Labor Office, Geneva.

NOTE: For Sierra Leone, Japan, Philippines and South Korea, figures represent pay in October, 1988. In all other cases, the base period is October, 1989. For Germany, figures used are for pre-unification West Germany. Wage rates for various jobs were stated variously in hourly, daily, weekly or monthly terms; all were converted to a monthly wage. NA indicates not available.