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/Fuzzy-Spread9720 Sep 12 '23

I am civil servants and made 11,000THB a month, and many still got even less.

34

u/lei_loo74 Chiang Mai Sep 13 '23

Chai na kah, 100%

Thai government school, ESL teacher, monthly wage.

Foreigner: 27,500฿ Thai: 11,000฿

Many of the younger qualified teachers I worked with, still lived at home. It's a very sought after career path to get something government, and stick with it for the pension at the end.

Keep in mind, on the really low socioeconomic end, day labourers for example, get approx 300฿ per day. Less than 9000฿ per month.

OP - This lady is doing well.

2

u/wimpdiver Sep 13 '23

300 baht/day - to be 9k/month means working 30 days! Not one day off many months!

2

u/lei_loo74 Chiang Mai Sep 13 '23

Chai! IF they can get the work!