How much money does a person working in Government and Defence make in Zambia?
Average Monthly Salary
6,560 ZMK
( 78,700 ZMK yearly)
LOW
3,480
ZMKAVERAGE
6,560
ZMKHIGH
10,300
ZMK
A person working in Government and Defence in Zambia typically earns around 6,560 ZMK per month. Salaries range from 3,480 ZMK (lowest average) to 10,300 ZMK (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different Government and Defence careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Salaries for specific jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Armed Forces Officer | 5,090 ZMK |
| Army Officer | 5,170 ZMK |
| Cartographer | 3,960 ZMK |
| Customs Officer | 4,230 ZMK |
| Defense Officer | 6,480 ZMK |
| Electoral Project Coordinator | 8,000 ZMK |
| Federal Government Worker | 5,160 ZMK |
| Government Affairs Advisor | 8,950 ZMK |
| Government Affairs Director | 10,500 ZMK |
| Government Affairs Representative | 9,000 ZMK |
| Government Officer | 7,760 ZMK |
| Government Property Inspector | 8,530 ZMK |
| Government Relations Associate | 9,080 ZMK |
| International Cooperation Specialist | 9,780 ZMK |
| Military Personnel | 6,910 ZMK |
| Police Constable | 4,580 ZMK |
| Public Affairs Specialist | 7,310 ZMK |
| Public Information Officer | 4,550 ZMK |
| Rifleman | 3,620 ZMK |
| Soldier | 4,460 ZMK |
| VAT Fraud Investigator | 5,580 ZMK |
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Government and Defence Jobs Salary Distribution in Zambia
The median, the maximum, the minimum, and the range
Salary Range
Government and Defence salaries in Zambia range from 3,480 ZMK per month (minimum average salary) to 10,300 ZMK per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
Median Salary
The median salary is 6,690 ZMK per month, which means that half (50%) of people working in Government and Defence are earning less than 6,690 ZMK while the other half are earning more than 6,690 ZMK. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Percentiles
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of people working in Government and Defence are earning less than 4,580 ZMK while 75% of them are earning more than 4,580 ZMK. Also from the diagram, 75% of people working in Government and Defence are earning less than 8,650 ZMK while 25% are earning more than 8,650 ZMK.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
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Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does a person's salary progress over time?
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
Change in salary based on experience varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of many different jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
“ On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years* experience mark. ”
* Based on the average change in salary over time. Salary variations differ from person to person.
Salary Comparison By Education
How does the education level affect your salary?
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Change in salary based on education varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of multiple jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a cerificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Zambia costs anywhere from 30,000 Zambian Kwacha(s) to 90,000 Zambian Kwacha(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on your situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if you can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Government and Defence Salary Comparison By Gender
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Zambia who work in Government and Defence earn 10% more than their female counterparts on average.
| Male | 6,820 ZMK | |
| Female | -9% | 6,180 ZMK |
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value
Salary Comparison By Gender in Zambia for all Careers
Government and Defence Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Zambia
How much are annual salary increments in Zambia for Government and Defence professionals? How often do employees get salary raises?
Government and Defence
Government and Defence professionals in Zambia are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 7% every 26 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 5% granted to employees every 28 months.
The figures provided here are averages of numbers. Those figures should be taken as general guidelines. Salary increments will vary from person to person and depend on many factors, but your performance and contribution to the success of the organization remain the most important factors in determining how much and how often you will be granted a raise.
Zambia / All Professions
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
“The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in Zambia is 2%.”
Annual Increment Rate By Industry 2022
| Banking | 8% | |
| Energy | 7% | |
| Information Technology | 6% | |
| Healthcare | 5% | |
| Travel | 4% | |
| Construction | 3% | |
| Education | 2% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Zambia for the year 2022. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Government and Defence Bonus and Incentive Rates in Zambia
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
Government and Defence is considered to be a low bonus-based field due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
89% of surveyed staff in Government and Defence reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 11% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 0% to 4% of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | 11% | |
| No Bonus | 89% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based Bonuses
The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance Bonuses
Occasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based Bonuses
Granted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year Bonuses
These types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
“Try to work for companies where your skills can generate revenue. We can't all generate revenue and that's perfectly fine.”
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Government and Defence Hourly Average Wage in Zambia
38 ZMK per hour
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Zambia is 38 ZMK. This means that the average person in Zambia earns approximately 38 ZMK for every worked hour.
Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ ( 52 x 5 x 8 )
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
Government and Defence VS Other Jobs
The average salary for Government and Defence is 9% more than that of All Jobs.
Salary Comparison By City
| City | Average Salary |
| Lusaka | 7,570 ZMK |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Zambia earn 17% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
| Private Sector | 5,580 ZMK | |
| Public Sector | +17% | 6,540 ZMK |
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value
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