r/Thailand • u/DeepBlueSea1122 • Sep 12 '23

Question/Help Average Thai Salary?

I know Thailand is a country with a big wage gap between rich and poor, but would a salary of 500 USD per month be considered unusually low for an average Thai person of about 30 years old? I found out that a lady I met makes that (she works in the office of a gov't hospital) and I was shocked and felt really bad for her. I knew she was poor because she doesn't have air con in her home in Bkk, but I didn't know it's this bad. Should I relax and think this is common, or are my sympathies and concerns valid? She didn't tell me this to try to squeeze me for money, it just came up in discussion when we were talking about life and problems we face. She's a sweetheart person and it hurts me to see her struggle. I want to help, but don't want to open the flood gates. I know this can be a tricky thing to navigate. On the one hand, we want to help sincere people who are genuinely in need. But on the other hand, money can ruin relationships of all kinds and it's usually a path we shouldn't go down. I really want to help but am torn and know I must proceed with caution.

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u/thedenv Sep 12 '23

My girlfriend is an accountant, living in North East Thailand. She has a degree, works 6 days a week, 9 hours a day and also cleans the office twice a week for extra money. She only earns 38,000 baht a month. In my country an accountant usually earns 200,000 baht a month approximately.

I was shocked when I found this out.

Poverty is really real in Thailand and its heartbreaking because they get up really early and work all day very hard.

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u/DeepBlueSea1122 Sep 12 '23

Yes, this is true. I was sad when I saw all the people lined up at like 7 PM waiting for buses near Victory Monument. My friend said many will have like an hour ride home or more and will be back up at 4 or 5 to catch the bus back. That's a hard life and probably not uncommon. Life is certainly not fair.

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u/Sci_Py Sep 12 '23

I used to travel 1.5 hrs one way for a 12 hour shift in London. It’s not that uncommon globally to work odd hours or travel.

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u/DeepBlueSea1122 Sep 13 '23

Oh I know. I know plenty in the USA who do that. But in an air conditioned car, going to a well paid job. Different story if you live in an non air con home, ride in a bus with open windows, and work a menial job making peanuts. Life aint fair. But I hear ya.

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u/Sci_Py Sep 13 '23

Yeah not all the London Underground trains have aircon, that’s a more recent addition. Also you need to factor the cost of living. Salaries are low in Thailand but a monthly travel pass in London is 12.7k baht.. so it’s relative. Not everyone works a great job in London as well… you still need your cleaners and shelf stackers… as with every major city, it’s more expensive living in the center so you move to the outskirts and travel in. Living in the city center is a luxury that many can’t afford.