Bar graph shows the comparative growth in average monthly wages for 21 countries between 2011 and 2030, calculated in 2011 U.S. dollars and adjusted for projected currency exchange rates.
The data show that while India's average monthly wage is expected to more-than quadruple from $132 to $616, the cost of labor will still be among the lowest in the world, second only to the Philippines, whose average monthly wages are projected to grow from $169 to $581.
At the top of the list of countries ranked from highest to lowest average monthly wages, Australia's average monthly income is expected to only grow from $4,471 to $4,818, causing the 2011 leader to fall to fourth-highest in 2030. South Korea is expected to move from 10th-highest average monthly income in 2011, at $2,361, to being the leader in 2030 wages at $5,040 per month. Other notable projected changes include: Canada dropping from third-highest in 2011 at $3,621 to sixth-highest in 2030 at 4,598; the United States dropping from fifth-highest ($3,482 in 2011) to seventh-highest ($4,574 in 2030); and Germany moving from sixth-highest ($3,466 in 2011) to third-highest ($4,911).
Countries and average wages in 2011 and 2020 are as listed in the following table:
Country | 2011 | 2030 |
Australia | $4,471 | $4,818 |
France | $3,821 | $5,022 |
Canada | $3,621 | $4,598 |
Japan | $3,562 | $4,544 |
United States | $3,482 | $4,574 |
Germany | $3,466 | $4,911 |
United Kingdom | $3,433 | $4,665 |
Italy | $3,045 | $4,496 |
Spain | $2,566 | $4,189 |
South Korea | $2,361 | $5,040 |
Turkey | $1,493 | $3,914 |
South Africa | $1,448 | $3,517 |
Poland | $1,153 | $3,137 |
Russia | $1,056 | $2,815 |
Brazil | $948 | $1,900 |
Argentina | $834 | $2,128 |
Malaysia | $677 | $1,941 |
China | $523 | $2057 |
Mexico | $467 | $1,197 |
Philippines | $169 | $581 |
India | $132 | $616 |