If we want to assess the minimum wage, income, and salaries of foreigners according to the Turkish labor law, we must first point out the increasing trend of job seekers in Turkey. As an increasing number of foreign investors chose to invest in Turkey due to its growing economy, and after the increase in foreign investors, the citizens of other countries who chose to immigrate to Turkey became much more than they were in previous years.
The large number of these employees in Turkey prompted the Turkish Ministry of Labor to consider more regular laws based on international standards for the legal rights of these individuals. For this reason, the employment of foreign employees has become more regular than before.
In recent years, the number of people who want to work or live in Turkey for a long time has increased dramatically. On the other hand, the Turkish government, unlike the governments of neighboring countries, tried to use international standards to pay the wages and salaries of foreign employees and workers on its territory.
The minimum wage and salaries in Turkey in 2020
In this section, an attempt is made to indicate the minimum wage in the Turkish Labor Law that the employer is obligated to pay. Of course, the amount of the salary agreed upon by the employer and the employee may be more than this amount, but it cannot be less than the following amounts:
- The minimum wage for workers in domestic services such as nursing and care or cleaning is 2,558 TL per 30 working days.
- The minimum wage and salaries for workers in the tourism sector and tourism services in Turkey is 2,558 Turkish liras for every 30 working days.
- The minimum wage in the Turkish Labor Law of 2020 for citizens who work as sellers, marketers, sales experts, and similar jobs is 1.5 times the minimum wage of 2,558, i.e. 3,837 Turkish liras.
- The minimum wage and salaries for specialized professions such as teachers and doctors are 3 times the minimum wage of 2,558, or 7,675 Turkish liras.
- The minimum wage for unit and department managers, engineers and architects is 4 times the minimum wage of 2,555, i.e. 10,233 Turkish Liras.
- The minimum wage for senior managers, pilots, engineers and executives is 6.5 times the minimum wage of 2,555, which is 16,629 Turkish Liras.
Note: It should be mentioned that taxes are deducted from the above figures according to Turkey’s tax law
Details of the minimum wage and salaries of foreigners in Turkey in Turkish lira
It should be noted that the aforementioned amounts are intended for both Turkish citizens. However, we find many foreigners residing in Turkey, they sometimes have more income than the Turkish citizens, due to their experience and competence, which indicates that salaries and wages in Turkey are paid on the basis of the experiences and additions provided by each employee equally, with no regard to His nationality or origin.
Income, salaries and wages of people in various jobs in Turkey (monthly)
- Income of the specialist doctor in Turkey: From 10,000 liras
- Engineer income in Turkey: From 5000 liras
- Professor’s salary in Turkey: from 5000 lira
- Lawyer salary in Turkey: from 5000 lira
- E-commerce specialist salary in Turkey: from 4000 liras
- Real estate consultant salary in Turkey: from 3,500 lira + commission
- Personal driver’s salary in Turkey: from 3,500 lira
- Waiter salary in Turkey: from 2,500 lira
- The salary of cleaning service employees in Turkey: From 2,500 liras
- Nurse’s salary in Turkey: From 4000 liras
- Technician salary in Turkey: from 3,200 lira
- Income of the tourism workers in Turkey: From 3,500 liras
- Carpenter’s salary in Turkey: From 2,500 lira
- The salary of a call center employee in Turkey: From 3000 lira
- Accountant Salary in Turkey: From 3,500 lira
- A babysitter’s salary in Turkey: From 3000 lira
- Graphic designer salary in Turkey: from 3,500 lira
- Income for hairdressers in Turkey: From 2,500 liras +%
- Income of a specialized manufacturer in a factory in Turkey: From 3,500 liras
- Simple labor rights in Turkey: From 2,500 liras
- Social Media Expert Salary in Turkey: From 3,500 lira
- Salary of an English language teacher in Turkey: from 3,500 lira
- Hotel employee salary in Turkey: From 3000 lira
Note: Wage rates are increasing every year in order to match the inflation rate in Turkey
Are wages and salaries of foreigners paid in dollars or Turkish lira?
Many citizens of other countries who choose to live or work in Turkey apply for a dollar paying job when looking for a job in Turkey, especially in the home services sector such as babysitting or cleaning. While employers can reject or accept this request.
Of course, it is very important that you know that under any circumstances, the employer is obligated to offer you insurance.
Important issues regarding the minimum rights of Turkish labor law for foreign citizens
If you are a citizen of another country working in Turkey, you should know that in Turkey, the rights of people are determined by the type of work they do, that is, according to their job rank.
For example, as mentioned above, the minimum wage and salaries in Turkish labor law for foreigners working as teachers differ from the minimum wage for the seller.
** Before starting work, you can visit the website of the Turkish Ministry of Labor, to make sure you get all your rights by law.
Employers must bear in mind that the salaries of citizens of other countries they work for must be paid according to the law of the Turkish Ministry of Labor, otherwise the employee’s work permit in Turkey will not be extended after one year. Even if the employer does not pay employee insurance, it will be subject to heavy fines.
Do you need to speak Turkish to get a job in Turkey?
Speaking turkish gives you more opportunities to get a better salary and a better paying job.
So the most important thing to get a job in Turkey is knowing the Turkish language and mastering it well, and this is important for communicating with the employer and with the rest of your colleagues. Even if your English is very good as well, this will probably not be of use to you, unless you speak Turkish well or somewhat acceptable.
The importance of specialization to work in Turkey
The second point is that you need to have real skills and experience in the job that you want to apply for. As having experience and expertise along with knowledge of the Turkish language will be very effective in your career progression and the salary you would get.
Note that if you do not have enough experience or are not fluent in Turkish. It is possible that you will be forced to enter the black business in Turkey. Which we do not recommend at all. Because the employer may not pay salaries under the pretext of lack of a work permit, or under various pretexts, or pay less salaries than the original agreement or the minimum wage according to Turkish law, and in this case you will suffer due to a lack of legal support.
Factors affecting income and salaries in Turkey
In Turkey, not all workers receive the same salaries and benefits, and their income levels differ based on different factors.
One of the most important factors affecting the average wages and salaries in Turkey is the level of education, which like other countries, the average income of university graduate workers is higher than the average income of non-graduate workers.
