The minimum wage and average salary in Qatar in 2026

An expat hub for people from across the world, Qatar is a veritable melting pot of cultures. In fact, the country employs the vast majority of its workers from abroad, in areas ranging from teaching to IT and finance to gardening. Unsurprisingly, average salaries are just as variable.

We walk you through the factors that affect your salary, as well as minimum wage laws and options for reporting labor abuses. Continue reading for the following information:

What is the minimum wage in Qatar in 2026?

The concept of a minimum wage (الحد الأدنى للأجور) is relatively new in the Middle East, or indeed in Qatar. The country first introduced a minimum hourly rate in 2017.

Employers in Qatar are legally required to pay their workers at least this gross salary for their work during a given period. A person’s salary cannot be below the set rate; if it is less, the authorities may impose a fine.

The minimum wage covers all employees, including domestic workers.

In 2026, the minimum wage in Qatar is QR1,000 per month. Employers must also allocate QR500 per month for accommodation and QR300 for food, unless already provided. As such, the minimum salary is QR1,800 per month in total.

While the national minimum wage is a good start, it does not account for the high living expenses in Qatar. It’s also not been revised since 2021 when the new tariff was first introduced.

What is the average salary in Qatar?

While the national minimum wage feels quite low, the average salary in Qatar is much higher. In 2025, the average net monthly salary was around US$3,275 (QR11,940). Numbeo puts the current average net salary at a higher figure of QR13,865 as of February 2026.

Of course, salaries vary drastically among different sectors, and the national average is heavily influenced by factors like industry, job title, education, and experience. For example, entry-level positions pay an average of QR7,000–10,000, while senior-level positions start at QR20,000–30,000.

Average salary by sector in Qatar

Like elsewhere, Qatar pays different salaries across job sectors. Here are some average gross monthly salaries by sector in 2026:

Job sector	Average monthly salary
Arts and culture	QR10,815
Banking	QR14,623
Construction and real estate	QR13,767
Information technology	QR17,084
Marketing, advertising, and PR	QR12,762
Telecommunications	QR15,690
Tourism, gastronomy, hotel business	QR10,466

Average salary by job function in Qatar

The table below shows some additional estimated average salaries for different jobs in Qatar, based on full-time contracts. Naturally, your actual salary will differ per location.

Occupation	Average monthly salary
Doctor	QR13,000–29,000
Food Engineer	QR7,284–16,924
Financial Analyst	QR6,918–20,928
Teacher	QR5,818–16,249
University Teacher	QR8,685–21,824
Project manager construction	QR14,000–28,000

If you want to know what everyone around you is making, there are several websites to compare your salary online, including Glassdoor.

The gender pay gap in Qatar

Compared to other Middle East and North African (MENA) countries, Qatar is mid-tier when it comes to women’s rights and gender equality. The country ranks 130^th on the WEF 2024 Global Gender Gap Report.

That said, policymakers are making an effort to reduce gender inequality, particularly in terms of the wage gap. While it is unclear what the exact percentage is, studies report a gender pay gap of between 11.1% and 18%.

Salaries and wages for expats in Qatar

Expats make up over 90% of Qatar’s labor force, which totals roughly 1.8 million people. Many migrant workers are employed under a kafala (sponsorship) system that, despite formal reforms since 2020, continues in practice to give employers significant power over workers’ mobility and livelihoods.

A persistent inequality in Qatar is the stark difference in treatment and pay among foreign workers based on nationality and occupation. Migrants from countries such as Nepal and the Philippines are overrepresented in low-wage sectors and may legally earn as little as QAR 1,000 per month, often facing serious barriers when attempting to change jobs or recover unpaid wages despite legal protections.

By contrast, nationals from Europe, North America, and Australia are typically employed in professional roles and earn many times more, often receiving generous compensation packages that include housing, relocation, and education benefits.

Human Rights Watch has often highlighted concerns about the lack of transparency, oversight, and concrete human rights protections, particularly for migrant workers.

What to do if your salary is below the minimum wage

The Qatari government encourages workers who earn below the minimum wage to file a complaint with the Labor Relations Department. The required form can be found on the government’s Hukoomi website. After submitting the complaint, you should receive a reply that explains the next steps.

Similarly, if your company is not paying you your full salary or if their payments are delayed, you can file a complaint with the Ministry of Labour. Keep in mind, however, that this could cause conflict with your employer. It’s recommended to research your rights thoroughly beforehand and try to keep some money saved, just in case.

Useful resources

• Government Communication Office – official government website with the latest on government policy in Qatar
• Ministry of Labour – official government website with information on working in Qatar
• Human Rights Watch – the 2025 report on human rights in Qatar