In 2024, salaries for Kazakhstanis increased from quarter to quarter. However, in some sectors, instead of a rise, there is a decline, and specialists in socially significant industries continue to earn below the national average. For more details on which professions have taken priority, read the article on inbusiness.kz.
According to the national statistics bureau, in the first quarter, the average salary across the republic was 382,279 tenge, and by the third quarter, this figure rose by 23,000 tenge to reach 405,557 tenge. However, the growth dynamics proved to be uneven: in several sectors, a decrease in income was observed.
Regional Differences
The highest salaries are traditionally recorded in Atyrau and Mangistau regions, as well as in Astana, Almaty, and Ulytau region.
In the list of regions, Atyrau region leads with an average salary of 612,720 tenge, which is 222,392 tenge higher than the national average.
In terms of industries, the highest-paying sectors remain mining and quarrying at 1.4 million tenge, followed by professional, scientific, and technical activities at about 1 million tenge, and construction at 836,000 tenge.
The lowest incomes in the region are noted in agriculture, forestry, and fishery sectors at 174,000 tenge.
Socially significant sectors, such as healthcare and social services, as well as public administration and defense, and mandatory social security, receive salaries below the national average – 319,000 and 301,000 tenge, respectively.
Mangistau region also shows high figures – 575,218 tenge. Similar to Atyrau region, the mining sector leads in salaries at 1.2 million tenge. Compared to the previous quarter, salaries in this sector decreased by 13,000 tenge.
Next are financial and insurance activities at 736,000 tenge and the transportation and storage sector at 691,000 tenge (without decline).
The lowest earners in the region are representatives of other service sectors at 231,000 tenge, as well as arts, entertainment, and recreation at 236,000 tenge, showing a decrease of 4,000 tenge compared to the previous quarter.
Healthcare and social services professionals here earn 319,000 tenge, which is 2.6 thousand less than in the previous quarter. There is also a decline in salaries for public administration and defense, and mandatory social security – 298,000 tenge (-1.2 thousand).
In Astana, the average salary is 519,933 tenge, which is 129,605 tenge above the national average. In the mining sector, salaries reach 1.2 million tenge but decreased by 67,000 tenge this quarter. Financial and insurance activities yield about 1 million tenge (-25,000), while professional and scientific activities average 797,000 tenge (-5.7 thousand).
At the same time, in agriculture, forestry, and fishery, salaries fell by almost 13,000 tenge, totaling only 201,000 tenge, while in healthcare, the average salary dropped by 8.4 thousand to 394,000 tenge.
Unlike other regions, here representatives of sectors such as public administration and defense, and mandatory social security receive salaries above the national average – 584,000 tenge, which is 69,000 higher than in the previous quarter.
Almaty shows an average salary of 484,499 tenge. The mining sector, financial and insurance activities remain the most lucrative at around 1 million tenge, while the information and communication sector provides 762,000 tenge.
The lowest-paid industries continue to be agriculture, forestry, and fishery at 251,000 tenge, which is 5.6 thousand less than the previous quarter.
In healthcare and social services, specialists earn an average of 338,000 tenge. Public administration and defense, and mandatory social security – 344,000 tenge.
Ulytau region reported salaries at 526,899 tenge, which is 136,571 tenge above the national average. Financial and insurance activities bring specialists about 754,000 tenge, manufacturing – 753,000 tenge, and construction – 726,000 tenge.
At the same time, in the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector, salaries remain the lowest at 197,000 tenge, while in healthcare, the average salary amounted to 323,000 tenge, decreasing by 670 tenge over the quarter. Public administration and defense, and mandatory social security – 315,000 tenge.
Thus, despite the overall increase in average salaries in Kazakhstan, in several sectors, especially those of social significance, wages remain low, with some even showing a decline. Moreover, inflation continues to impact the wallets of Kazakhstanis, which stood at 0.9% in November. Prices for food and services continue to rise: in November 2024, the monthly consumer price index, like in the previous month, was 0.9%. Food prices increased by 1.1%, paid services by 0.8%, and non-food items by 0.7%.
