Average salary by age in the Philippines: What the numbers and experts say
Some say that with age comes a bigger paycheck.
As employees get older and gain seniority in their respective workplaces, they also acquire more knowledge and experience compared to their younger colleagues. This helps them increase their value as they learn new skills and refine them over time, leading to greater positions and, for most, higher compensation.
But is age really a significant factor that determines how much your salary is?
PhilSTAR L!fe spoke with career experts and industry leaders to find out whether age truly plays a key role in salary progression—or if other factors hold more weight in today’s evolving job market.
What’s the average salary in the Philippines by age?
It’s worth noting that salary figures can be difficult to pinpoint, as they often vary depending on the industry, job level, and other factors. However, general trends can still offer useful insight into how income may progress with age.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the average monthly wage rate of time-rated full-time employees in the Philippines in 2024 was pegged at P21,544, with an average monthly basic pay of P20,309 and an average monthly allowance of P1,235.
Data by international salary survey platform Paylab detailed that the salary range of employees working in the Philippines is between P21,915 and P73,542, but actual wages can still be lower or higher within individual job positions.
The platform studied the average salary of five age groups: 24 years old, 25 to 34 years old, 35 to 44 years old, 45 to 54 years old, and 55 years old and above.
Out of all the age groups, 24-year-olds have the lowest average salary at P33,000, but it could go as low as P19,000 or as high as P50,000.
The average wage slightly increases among 25- to 34-year-olds at P44,000, with a range of P21,000 to P72,000.
The age of 35 to 44 has the highest average salary at P52,000. However, Filipinos can still earn as low as P24,000 or as high as P87,000.
The average income dips down by age 45 to 54 at P47,000, and this can range from P20,000 to P81,000.
Lastly, those who are 55 years old and above receive an average salary of P43,000, going as low as P20,000 or as high as P73,000.
Yu Ming Chin, executive director of human capital consulting company Viventis Search Asia, told PhilSTAR L!fe that there is no fixed salary progression strictly by age brackets.
"Growth is driven by performance, achievements in one’s role, and the impact that role has on the organization,” he explained. “For example, one might start as a marketing associate, advance to officer, then manager, senior manager, or director—each step expanding their contribution to the company’s revenue and success.”
This was echoed by Jerome Sanvictores, who is the general manager and co-founder of business consultancy firm Talent Tree Solutions, Inc. He explained that firms see experience as an “indicator of a candidate’s mastery of their work,” while others view it as “maturity and growth in decision-making.”
Nevertheless, he noted that there’s still a pattern that usually forms as people progress in their careers.
“Younger professionals, usually in their 20s, start at entry-level salaries, which usually feel modest. But it’s where we all learn. As they move into their 30s, that’s where they usually accelerate their earnings,” he said. “They’ve either specialized, taken on leadership roles, or moved into higher-paying industries, or in some cases, plateaued if growth hasn’t been intentional. In their 40s and 50s, salaries can peak, but that also depends on how in demand one’s expertise remains.”
According to Sanvictores, it's when people become “stagnant or invisible” in their roles that they find themselves “vulnerable, sometimes even to job loss due to redundancy.”
“Value isn’t just about performance—it’s about being seen, staying relevant, and continuously growing,” he emphasized.
Increasing your salary early on
If you’ve just taken your first step into your career journey and would like to grow your salary early on, striving to improve yourself as much as possible is key.
Chin suggested focusing on “building strong core skills, developing general executive capabilities, and continually improving skill proficiency to accelerate genuine career progression.”
You can do this by taking on projects that can stretch your experience, added Sanvictores.
“Learn outside your job description. Volunteer for cross-functional work. Upskill regularly, especially in tech or business areas, even if your role isn’t technical. And be smart about career moves. Sometimes a lateral shift into a growing industry can open doors to faster financial growth,” he said.
It’s also important to build your reputation early as soft skills like reliability, adaptability, and good communication go a long way.
“At the end of the day, your earning potential grows when your contributions become harder to replace,” Sanvictores stressed.
