The highest-paying profession in Turkey has been revealed.

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Last year, the highest annual average gross income in Turkey was achieved by employees in the finance and insurance sectors, amounting to 640,739 lira. The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) announced the results of the "Income Structure Statistics" for the year 2023. Accordingly, in the study conducted with November 2023 as a reference, the monthly gross minimum wage was determined to be 13,414.5 lira.

MEN'S SALARIES AND WORKING HOURS ARE HIGHER THAN WOMEN'S

The monthly average gross salary per person was calculated as 23,789 lira. Male employees received an average gross salary of 24,011 lira, while female employees earned 23,344 lira. The monthly average gross income per person was realized as 26,402 lira. The average monthly gross income for male employees was 26,638 lira, while for female employees it was 25,931 lira. The total monthly hours worked by paid employees amounted to 200. For men, the monthly hours worked were 205, while for women it was 190. The hourly average gross salary was determined to be 119 lira. Male employees earned an average hourly gross salary of 117 lira, while female employees earned 123 lira.

ANNUAL AVERAGE GROSS INCOME REACHED 305,784 LIRA

Last year, the annual average gross income was realized as 305,784 lira. It was estimated that this value was 314,242 lira for men and 289,720 lira for women. It was observed that income levels increased with education levels for both men and women. According to education level, those with higher education attained the highest annual average gross income. In this education level, the annual average gross income was 431,364 lira for men and 354,149 lira for women.

HIGH SALARIES FOR HIGHLY EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS

The highest annual average gross salary is earned by those with higher education, with men's salaries at 364,370 lira and women's at 301,073 lira.

THE MOST PROFITABLE OCCUPATIONS ARE IN FINANCE AND INSURANCE

When examining the gross incomes of paid employees by economic activity sector, it was found that the highest annual average income was in the finance and insurance sector, amounting to 640,739 lira. This sector was followed by information and communication at 605,317 lira, and culture, arts, entertainment, recreation, and sports activities at 461,514 lira. The lowest annual average gross income was obtained in the accommodation and food service activities sector, at 213,518 lira. This was followed by real estate at 218,815 lira and other service activities at 227,284 lira. The annual average gross income of female employees in transportation and storage activities was 414,502 lira, and in electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning production and distribution, it was 453,413 lira, which was higher than the annual average gross income of male employees in these sectors. The highest annual average gross income was achieved by employees in the managerial profession group, at 538,530 lira. This was followed by professional practitioners at 409,767 lira. The lowest annual average gross income was in the group of qualified agriculture, forestry, and fishery workers, at 202,809 lira.

WAGE OR INCOME DIFFERENCE OCCURRED IN FAVOR OF MEN

For the indicator calculated with the annual average gross income, the highest difference was 20% among high school graduates, while the lowest difference was 14.9% among primary school graduates and below. For the indicator calculated with the annual average gross salary, the highest difference was 17.4% among higher education graduates, while the lowest difference was 13.2% among primary school graduates and below.

The professions with the highest gender pay gap were identified as artisans and related workers at 23.5% and technicians, technologists, and assistant professionals at 22.9%. The lowest gaps were found in the managerial professions at 2% and in service and sales personnel at 7.2%. The highest gender wage gap was observed in professional occupations at 21.1%, followed by plant and machine operators and assemblers at 20.3%, and artisans and related workers at the same rate. The lowest gaps were found in managerial professions at 1.8% and in unskilled occupations at 6.4%.