Average salary in Uzbekistan reaches 7.27 million soums, but the first-ever published median paints a different picture

Average salary and the first-ever published median

The average nominal salary in Uzbekistan for the third quarter of 2026 amounted to 7 million 274 thousand soums, an increase of 18% compared to the same period last year. The amount is given before taxes and does not reflect the worker's 'net' income. The data comes from the National Statistics Committee, as reported by Kun.uz. Over the past four years, the average salary has grown by more than 94% — from 3 million 734 thousand to 7 million 274 thousand soums.

Why the average can distort the picture

As Kun.uz notes, the average figure may not accurately reflect the reality of the labor market: it does not include salaries at small enterprises and in agriculture. Of the 14 million 934 thousand employed, 21%, or 3 million 132 thousand people, work in the agricultural sector, where the average salary is significantly lower — 3 million 671 thousand soums. If the incomes of all employed people were counted, the country's average salary would be noticeably lower than the official figure.

What the median shows

For the first time in Uzbekistan, the median salary has been published: according to an experimental calculation by the statistics agency for January–August 2026, it amounted to 4 million 166 thousand soums. This means that half of salaried workers in Uzbekistan earn less than this amount, and half earn more. After deducting the 12% income tax, half of officially employed workers take home no more than 3 million 666 thousand soums, or roughly $305.

Regional differences

The lowest median salary is in Syrdarya region: 2 million 998 thousand soums, meaning that after tax, half of workers there receive about 2.6 million soums. The highest figures are in Navoi region and Tashkent: in the capital, the median salary was 6 million 791 thousand soums, or 5 million 976 thousand soums after tax. A comparison of the average and median values shows a large gap between them: the average is pulled upward by high salaries, while the median is closer to the situation of the typical worker.