7.3 million soums average monthly salary. Can this reflect the real situation in the labor market?
In Uzbekistan, the average official monthly salary has almost doubled over the last 4 years. However, the growth of wages in sectors employing 60 percent of the occupied population is lagging behind the republic's average indicator. Also, in sectors where more than 10 million people are employed, the average salary is lower than the republic's average indicator to varying degrees.
Average monthly salary of 7.3 million soums. Does this reflect the real situation in the labor market?
Uzbekistan's economy is expanding year by year. Statistical indicators also confirm this. For example, according to the results of the third quarter of 2026, the average monthly salary in the country amounted to 7 million 274 thousand soums, an increase of 18 percent compared to the same period last year. These earnings are calculated before tax deductions and do not mean the net salary received by an employee.
Looking at the last 4-year period, average monthly salaries in Uzbekistan increased by more than 94 percent, rising from 3 million 734 thousand soums to 7 million 274 thousand soums. However, these figures may not accurately and fully reflect the situation in the labor market. This is because the average figure of 7.3 million does not include salaries in small firms and agricultural enterprises. According to the latest data, the total employed population in Uzbekistan is 14 million 934 thousand people. Of these, 21 percent, or 3 million 132 thousand people, work in the agricultural sector. The average monthly salary in this sector is significantly lower — 3 million 671 thousand soums. If the income of all employed people is taken into account, the average salaries in the country would be significantly lower.
Median amount of salaries
For the first time, the median salary amount was announced in Uzbekistan. According to the National Statistics Committee, the median salary, experimentally calculated for January–August 2026, was 4 million 166 thousand soums. This means that half of Uzbekistanis receiving a salary earn less than this amount, and half earn more. In other words, if we line up all salary earners according to their pay level, the person right in the middle receives a salary of 4 million 166 thousand soums per month.
If we deduct 12 percent income tax from this amount, it turns out that the "take-home" salary for 50 percent of official salary earners does not exceed 3 million 666 thousand soums, or approximately 305 dollars. The lowest salaries are in Syrdarya region: the median indicator is 2 million 998 thousand soums. After deducting taxes, it turns out that half of the wage earners in Syrdarya received up to 2.6 million soums. The highest salaries are in Navoiy region and the city of Tashkent. In particular, the median salary in the capital was 6 million 791 thousand soums, or 5 million 976 thousand soums after tax. Looking at the average monthly salaries, we see that there is a very large gap compared to the median.