The most and least profitable professions in Turkey over the last 5 years: Which occupational groups are on the list?

The professions that gained and lost the most over the last 5 years have been identified. In Turkey, average wages have increased by 53.2 percent in dollar terms over the past 5 years. The gap between professions with wage increases reaching 90 percent and those remaining at 39 percent has drawn attention.

Habits that changed following the pandemic have also been reflected in wages. Social Security Institution (SGK) records have revealed the sectors that gained and lost the most.

According to information provided in today's column by Dünya newspaper writer İbrahim Kahveci, the sector with the highest wages was air transport. Construction and textiles were among those that lost ground.

Kahveci provided the following information in his column:

The reason we are looking at the last 5 years is to observe the changes during and after the pandemic. Because the pandemic not only brought new habits but also forced societies to undergo a transformation. That is why we are examining the wage changes over the 5-year period between 2019 and 2024.

According to Social Security Institution (SGK) records, the average gross wage of 16 million 790 thousand employees in July 2024 was 36,188 Turkish Lira. The dollar equivalent of this wage is 1,102 dollars...

Five years ago, in July 2019, the monthly gross wage was 4,073 TL. Its dollar equivalent was 719 dollars...

These figures show us that the average wage of employees in Turkey has increased by 53.2 percent in dollar terms over the last 5 years.

HIGHEST PAYING SECTORS

AIR TRANSPORTATION

Number of employees: 41 thousand 37 people

Average monthly gross salary: 3,378 dollars

Salary increase over the last 5 years: 58.0%

Both the salary is high and the salary increase is slightly above average.

CRUDE OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION

Number of employees: 2 thousand 483 people

Average monthly gross salary: 3,146 dollars

Salary increase over the last 5 years: 48.3%

Wages are high, but wage growth is limited... And the number of employees is also low.

COAL MINING AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING

Number of employees: 8 thousand 924 people

Average monthly gross wage: 2,888 dollars

Wage increase over the last 5 years: 61.8%

The wage is good and the wage increase is also high.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Number of employees: 88 thousand 188 people

Average monthly gross salary: 2,496 dollars

Salary increase over the last 5 years: 65.3%

The volatility experienced in the stock market over the last five years appears to have spread to funds and other institutions. Both the salary is good and the salary increase is high...

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Number of employees: 17 thousand 498 people

Average monthly gross salary: 2,437 dollars

Salary increase over the last 5 years: 45.9%

Although salaries in scientific research may appear high, the salary increase is eroding in real terms. While the average salary increase in Turkey is 53.2 percent, the salary increase rate in scientific research and development activities has remained at 45.9 percent.

COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, CONSULTING

Number of employees: 174 thousand 650 people

Average monthly gross salary: 2,313 dollars

Salary increase over the last 5 years: 69.6%

A very good profession. Both the salary is high and the salary increase is high... Furthermore, it is clear that there is still a shortage in this field despite the very high number of employees.

SECTORS WITH HIGH WAGE INCREASES

Next, let's look at sectors where wages are above average and wage growth is also high:

INFORMATION SERVICE ACTIVITIES

There are 23 thousand 754 people working in this sector, and the average wage is 2,072 dollars.

But most importantly, this sector has begun to become the most prominent sector with a 111.4 percent increase in wages in dollar terms over the last 5 years.

Other sectors with the best wage growth in the last 5 years are;

72.8% for “Support activities for mining”

90.7% for “Creative arts, performing arts and entertainment activities”

79.6% for “Manufacture of beverages”

THE LOSERS

Social Security Institution (SGK) data reveals not only the winners but also the sectors that are losing. Sectors with a very high number of employees stand out here in particular.

For example, the number of employees in the "Building construction" sector is 1 million 371 thousand. However, in this sector, wages are not only well below the general wage level at 766 dollars, but wage growth at 42.8% is also lagging behind the general wage increase.

Or the “Apparel manufacturing” sector… In this sector, where 611 thousand people are employed, the wage level remained at 738 dollars, while the wage increase was only 38.0 percent.

In the “Retail” sector, where 1 million 561 thousand people are employed, wages remained at 859 dollars, while the wage increase was 48.1 percent.

PROFESSIONS WITH THE LOWEST WAGE INCREASES

There are sectors that we consider perhaps the most important for our country, yet which are very disheartening in terms of wage levels and wage growth.

Let us give an example of these:

Education…

There are 534 thousand people working in this sector. The wage level remains at 1,010 dollars, which is below the national average (1,102 dollars). However, the most painful part is this: While general wages in the country increased by 53.2 percent, wage growth in the education sector remained at 39.8%. Yet, even just 5 years ago, wages in the education sector were, albeit slightly, above the national average.

Another painful point in the education sector is the low level of wages in the private sector: While educator wages in the public sector hover around 1,077 dollars, this wage remains at 972 dollars in the private sector.

Furthermore, in the education sector, while the wage for men is 1,108 dollars, this wage remains at 955 dollars for women. Across Turkey, while the average wage for men reaches 1,150 dollars, the average wage for women is 14.6 percent lower at 1,102 dollars.