Job seekers in Panama are aiming for an average monthly salary of $1,069. This figure places the nation in the middle tier of a five-country regional salary analysis conducted by Jobint, reflecting current worker expectations and labor market conditions across parts of Latin America.
The data, current to November 2025, shows Argentina leading with a desired salary of $1,250 per month. Chile follows closely at $1,202. Panama’s $1,069 positions it above Peru’s $1,020 and Ecuador’s $864. Beyond the raw numbers, Panama distinguishes itself with remarkable salary aspiration stability.
Stability and Sector Leadership Define Panama’s Market
Panama recorded a mere 2.91 percent cumulative change in desired salaries from November 2024 to November 2025. That makes it one of the region’s most stable markets. Peru saw the largest jump at 17.69 percent during the same period. This stability provides a predictable environment for both employers and job seekers navigating economic conditions.
“The report confirms Panama as a labor market with moderate salary expectations and high stability compared to its regional peers,” a Jobint analyst stated. [Translated from Spanish]
The analysis breaks down further by experience level. In Panama, the average desired monthly salary for a junior position is $790. For senior or semi-senior roles, it climbs to $1,112. Professionals seeking manager or supervisor roles aim for an average of $1,407.
Technology Sector Commands Top Regional Salaries
Panama’s most competitive sector is clearly Technology and Systems. For manager or supervisor roles in this field, the country’s average desired salary of $2,350 per month is the highest in the regional report. It surpasses all other nations studied, including Argentina and Chile. Panama also shows strength in senior tech roles with an average ask of $1,467, second only to Chile.
Other sectors tell a different story. In Administration and Finance, Panama occupies middle positions in the ranking regional. Desired salaries there range from $821 for junior staff to $1,657 for supervisors. The Production, Supply, and Logistics sector follows a similar mid-range pattern.
Panama’s performance on gender pay equity offers another notable data point. The country reported a gender salary gap of 5.32 percent as of November 2025. That is the second lowest in the region, just behind Ecuador’s 4.24 percent. A historical analysis from May 2020 to November 2025 confirms Panama’s leading position, showing it maintained the region’s lowest average gap at 4.10 percent.
This salary data arrives alongside recent changes to the nation’s wage floor. A new minimum wage structure established by Executive Decree No. 13 took effect nationwide on January 16, 2026. The decree sets rates for the 2026-2027 period, differentiating by economic activity, company size, occupation, and geographic region.
These salary aspirations exist within a complex employment landscape. Panama’s unemployment rate is currently estimated between 9.5 and 10 percent. The median monthly salary in Panama City sits at approximately $776, a figure notably lower than the average desired wage highlighted in the Jobint report. This gap between current median pay and worker aspirations underscores ongoing conversations about economic mobility and cost of living in the country.