Average Salaries in Tanzania by Profession

Salary is one of the first things many job seekers consider when choosing a career, comparing job offers or deciding whether to pursue additional qualifications. Yet finding a single reliable figure for the average salary in Tanzania can be difficult because people doing similar jobs may earn very different amounts.

A teacher employed by the government, for example, may have a different salary structure from someone teaching at an international school. An accountant working for a small business may earn considerably less than a finance professional working for a bank, mining company or multinational organisation.

The latest National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Employment and Earnings Survey covers formal-sector employment and earnings across Tanzania, while salary platforms such as WageIndicator and Paylab provide additional occupation-level estimates. The NBS survey covers all public establishments, large private establishments and a representative sample of smaller formal businesses. (Microdata)

For job seekers, this means salary figures are best treated as benchmarks rather than guaranteed pay.

What Is the Average Salary in Tanzania?

There is no single salary that accurately describes every Tanzanian worker.

Paylab's current Tanzania salary data indicates that about 80% of surveyed employees earn gross monthly salaries between approximately TSh 595,000 and TSh 2.07 million, although actual earnings can fall below or above this range. (Paylab)

Official NBS data provides a broader picture of formal employment and earnings rather than simply presenting one figure for every profession. Its latest 2024/25 Employment and Earnings Survey collects information on average and median monthly earnings, wage rates, occupations, industries, sectors and regions. (Microdata)

This distinction matters because salary depends heavily on what you do, where you work and how experienced you are.

Average Salaries by Career Field in Tanzania

The following figures provide a useful broad comparison across major professional areas. They are derived from current Paylab Tanzania survey data and have been converted from reported annual gross averages into approximate monthly figures. They should not be interpreted as official government salary scales. (Paylab)

These are broad career categories. A senior software engineer and an entry-level IT support technician, for example, should not be expected to earn the same salary simply because both work in information technology.

Accounting and Finance Salaries in Tanzania

Accounting remains one of the most established professional career paths in Tanzania.

Opportunities exist in:

• banks;

• government institutions;

• NGOs;

• audit firms;

• manufacturing companies;

• telecommunications;

• mining;

• insurance;

• hospitality;

• private businesses.

Current Paylab survey data places the broader economy, finance and accountancy category at roughly TSh 14.23 million gross annually, equivalent to about TSh 1.19 million per month as a broad survey average. (Paylab)

However, an Accountant, Finance Officer, Auditor and Finance Manager can earn substantially different amounts.

Professional qualifications can also influence progression. Accountants pursuing senior positions may benefit from qualifications regulated through the National Board of Accountants and Auditors, including CPA (T).

Someone beginning as an Accounts Assistant should therefore not compare their salary directly with that of a Finance Manager who has extensive experience and professional qualifications.

Information Technology Salaries

Information technology is among the better-paying broad professional categories in current Tanzania salary surveys.

Paylab places the average gross salary across its IT category at approximately TSh 1.66 million per month. (Paylab)

But IT covers very different professions, including:

IT Support Technician

Systems Administrator

Network Engineer

Software Developer

Database Administrator

Cybersecurity Specialist

Cloud Engineer

IT Manager

Solutions Architect

At senior levels, compensation can be considerably higher. Paylab currently lists IT Director, IT Architect, Lead Developer and Solution Architect among its better-paid positions in Tanzania. (Paylab)

This is one reason technology professionals should build specialised skills rather than remaining dependent entirely on a general IT qualification.

Banking Salaries

Banking continues to attract graduates from finance, accounting, economics, business administration and related fields.

The broad banking category averages approximately TSh 1.31 million gross per month in Paylab's current Tanzania survey. (Paylab)

Actual salaries depend heavily on position.

Banking careers include:

• Bank Teller

• Customer Service Officer

• Credit Officer

• Relationship Manager

• Branch Operations Officer

• Risk Officer

• Internal Auditor

• Branch Manager

• Corporate Banking professional

Management and specialist banking roles can pay substantially more than entry-level branch positions.

Professional development through organisations such as the Tanzania Institute of Bankers may also support long-term career progression.

Human Resources Salaries

Human Resources professionals work across almost every major industry.

The broad HR category currently averages approximately TSh 1.10 million gross per month in Paylab's Tanzania data. (Paylab)

WageIndicator provides another useful perspective. Its 2026 estimates place the majority of personnel and careers professionals between approximately TSh 487,000 and TSh 3.56 million per month, illustrating just how wide salary differences can become within one profession. (WageIndicator)

HR careers can include:

HR Assistant

Human Resources Officer

Recruitment Officer

Learning and Development Officer

HR Business Partner

Human Resources Manager

Experience, organisation size and level of responsibility can significantly influence earnings.

Engineering Salaries

Engineering salaries vary considerably according to discipline and industry.

Paylab's broad survey averages work out to approximately:

• Electrical & Power Engineering: TSh 1.14 million per month

• Mechanical Engineering: TSh 1.11 million per month

• Construction & Real Estate: TSh 1.17 million per month

• Technology & Development: TSh 1.47 million per month

(Paylab)

Engineers working in mining, energy, large infrastructure projects or senior management can earn substantially more than these broad averages.

Professional registration, specialised technical expertise, project-management ability and years of experience can all affect salary progression.

Mining Salaries

Mining is often associated with some of Tanzania's more attractive employment packages, particularly for specialised technical and managerial positions.

The broad mining and metallurgy category averages approximately TSh 1.16 million gross per month in current Paylab survey data. (Paylab)

However, mining companies employ a wide range of people:

• engineers;

• geologists;

• equipment operators;

• electricians;

• mechanics;

• safety professionals;

• accountants;

• procurement professionals;

• environmental specialists;

• administrators.

A senior mining engineer and an entry-level support employee will naturally have very different compensation.

Some mining positions may also include allowances or benefits that make the total employment package more valuable than basic salary alone.

Telecommunications Salaries

Telecommunications remains another relatively strong professional sector.

Paylab's current broad average for telecommunications is approximately TSh 1.34 million gross per month. (Paylab)

The industry includes technical and commercial positions such as:

Network Engineer

Telecommunications Engineer

Product Specialist

Sales Officer

Customer Experience Officer

Data Analyst

IT Specialist

Marketing professional

Technical specialists and managers may command higher salaries than many entry-level positions.

Healthcare Salaries

Healthcare salaries are difficult to summarise with one number because the sector contains occupations requiring very different levels of education and responsibility.

A doctor, pharmacist, laboratory professional, nurse and medical specialist cannot meaningfully be placed on one salary scale.

Paylab's broad medicine and social-care category currently averages about TSh 1.07 million gross per month, while the pharmaceutical industry averages around TSh 1.24 million. (Paylab)

Government health workers may also be paid according to established public-service structures, while private hospitals, NGOs and international organisations may use entirely different compensation systems.

Teachers and Education Professionals

Teaching salaries vary significantly between:

• government schools;

• private schools;

• international schools;

• colleges;

• universities;

• training institutions.

The broad education, science and research category averages approximately TSh 938,000 gross per month in Paylab's current survey data. (Paylab)

That should not be interpreted as the official salary of a Tanzanian teacher.

Government salaries depend on the applicable public-service salary structure, qualifications, grade and other employment conditions. Private and international schools establish their own compensation packages.

Lawyers and Legal Professionals

Current survey data places law and legislation among the relatively higher-paying broad professional categories, averaging approximately TSh 1.32 million gross per month. (Paylab)

Legal careers include:

• Legal Officer

• Advocate

• Corporate Counsel

• Compliance Officer

• Legal Advisor

• Company Secretary

• Senior Legal Counsel

The income of an independently practising advocate may also operate very differently from the fixed monthly salary of an employed Legal Officer.

Marketing Salaries

Marketing, advertising and public relations professionals currently average approximately TSh 1.07 million gross per month as a broad category in Paylab's Tanzania survey. (Paylab)

Actual earnings depend considerably on role and seniority.

A junior Social Media Officer is unlikely to earn the same amount as a Marketing Director.

Marketing careers increasingly reward practical skills in:

• digital advertising;

• social-media management;

• SEO;

• analytics;

• content strategy;

• brand management;

• sales;

• customer acquisition.

Professionals who can connect their work directly to revenue or measurable business growth may have stronger negotiating power.

Procurement and Supply Chain Salaries

Procurement and supply-chain professionals can work in government, NGOs, construction, mining, manufacturing and large private organisations.

Salaries depend on professional level, registration, industry and responsibilities.

Roles can include:

Procurement Assistant

Procurement Officer

Supply Chain Officer

Contracts Officer

Procurement Specialist

Procurement Manager

Professional development and registration through Tanzania's Procurement and Supplies Professionals and Technicians Board can be particularly relevant for people building long-term careers in the profession.

Data and Statistics Careers

Data-related skills are increasingly useful across government, banking, insurance, research, NGOs and technology.

WageIndicator's 2026 data estimates that the majority of statistical, mathematical and related associate professionals earn between approximately TSh 455,000 and TSh 3.41 million per month. For workers beginning in the occupation, its estimated range is approximately TSh 455,000 to TSh 1.02 million per month. (WageIndicator)

Experience with Excel, SQL, statistical software, Power BI and other analytical tools can strengthen employability depending on the role.

Public-Sector vs Private-Sector Salaries

It is tempting to assume that the private sector always pays more than government employment, but official statistics show that the picture is more complicated.

Earlier NBS formal-sector data for 2022/23 found average monthly cash earnings of about TSh 1.23 million in the public sector, compared with approximately TSh 510,000 in the private sector across the employees covered by that survey. These are sector-wide averages, not starting salaries or salary scales for individual jobs. (National Bureau of Statistics)

The latest NBS Employment and Earnings Survey continues to collect salary and earnings information separately across public and private formal employment. (Microdata)

Private-sector salary differences can also be enormous.

A small local company and a multinational corporation may both advertise an "Accountant" position while offering completely different packages.

Why Two People With the Same Profession May Earn Different Salaries

Job title alone does not determine salary.

Several factors matter.

Experience

A graduate entering their first professional position should not expect the same compensation as someone with ten years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

Professional qualifications and specialised skills can improve earning potential, particularly when employers actively require them.

Employer

Government institutions, NGOs, banks, multinational companies and small businesses operate under different salary structures.

Location

Some positions may pay differently according to duty station, cost of living or working conditions.

Industry

An accountant working for a small retailer may have a very different package from an accountant working for a major mining company.

Responsibility

Managing a department, budget, major clients or employees generally increases the level of responsibility and can affect compensation.

Scarcity of Skills

People with specialised skills that are difficult to recruit can sometimes command higher salaries.

Gross Salary vs Take-Home Salary

This distinction is extremely important when comparing salary figures.

Gross salary is the amount before applicable deductions.

Net salary, often called take-home pay, is what eventually reaches the employee after applicable deductions.

Depending on the employment arrangement, deductions can include tax, social-security contributions and other authorised deductions.

Therefore, if an employer offers a gross salary of TSh 1,500,000, that does not necessarily mean TSh 1,500,000 will arrive in your bank account every month.

Always establish whether a salary being discussed is gross or net.

Don't Look at Basic Salary Alone

A job offer should sometimes be evaluated as a complete compensation package.

Depending on the employer and position, additional benefits might include:

• housing allowance;

• transport allowance;

• medical insurance;

• pension contributions;

• airtime;

• performance bonuses;

• meals;

• company vehicle;

• relocation support;

• training opportunities.

A job offering TSh 1.5 million plus substantial benefits may potentially provide more overall value than another offering TSh 1.7 million with few additional benefits.

Compare the complete package.

How to Research Salary Before an Interview

You do not need to guess blindly when asked about salary expectations.

Start by researching the occupation.

WageIndicator Tanzania Salary Check allows workers to compare salary information by occupation. (WageIndicator)

Paylab Tanzania salary database also provides salary information across different professional categories. (Paylab)

For official labour-market statistics, the National Bureau of Statistics labour and employment reports provide Tanzania's formal employment and earnings surveys. (National Bureau of Statistics)

You can then compare those figures with actual vacancies in your profession.

How to Increase Your Earning Potential

Higher salaries generally become easier to justify when you can provide greater value.

That may involve:

Developing specialised skills. Become particularly good at something employers struggle to find.

Obtaining relevant professional qualifications. Choose qualifications connected to your career rather than collecting unrelated certificates.

Building experience. Practical experience can make theoretical knowledge considerably more valuable.

Learning technology relevant to your profession. An accountant may benefit from advanced Excel and financial systems; an HR professional may benefit from HRIS and data skills.

Taking greater responsibility. Career progression often moves from executing tasks to supervising projects, budgets, clients or teams.

Learning to demonstrate results. Keep evidence of genuine achievements you can discuss during salary negotiations and interviews.

For professionals considering further training, the AfroJobs guide to Best Professional Courses for Career Growth in Tanzania is a useful next step for identifying qualifications that can support career progression.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good salary in Tanzania?

There is no universal figure. A good salary depends on profession, experience, location, responsibilities and personal circumstances. Current Paylab data indicates that about 80% of surveyed employees fall between approximately TSh 595,000 and TSh 2.07 million gross monthly, but many workers fall outside that range. (Paylab)

Which careers pay the highest salaries in Tanzania?

Senior management and specialised technology roles appear prominently among the better-paid positions in current salary survey data. Paylab lists positions such as CEO, Country Manager/Director, IT Director, Finance Manager, IT Architect and Lead Developer among higher-paying roles. (Paylab)

Are these official government salary scales?

No. The profession figures in this article are broad salary-market estimates and should not be confused with official government salary scales.

Does a university degree guarantee a high salary?

No. Education can improve access to professional opportunities, but salary also depends on skills, experience, industry, employer, responsibility and demand for your expertise.

Can professional qualifications increase salary?

They can improve career prospects when they are relevant to the profession, particularly when they help someone qualify for specialist or senior positions. They do not automatically guarantee a salary increase.

Final Thoughts

Average salaries in Tanzania vary too widely for a single figure to tell the whole story.

Someone earning TSh 700,000 per month may be reasonably paid for one position but significantly underpaid for another requiring scarce technical skills and substantial experience.

The better approach is to compare yourself with people doing similar work at a similar professional level.

Look at your occupation, qualifications, experience, industry, employer and responsibilities. Use salary surveys as benchmarks, official NBS statistics for broader labour-market context, and real job advertisements to understand what employers currently require.

Most importantly, do not choose a career purely because its average salary looks attractive.

A sustainable route to better earnings is usually to build valuable skills, gain relevant experience, earn respected qualifications where necessary and gradually move toward positions with greater responsibility.