Where Do You Stand on Thailand’s Salary Ladder? Office Employee Salary Rates for 2025-2026

Salary is more than just a number in a bank account; it serves as an indicator of opportunity, skills, and career timing. It also underpins nearly every aspect of life, from saving ability to investment opportunities.

Amid economic changes that seem unpredictable, many may wonder, "Is my current salary reasonable?" or "Am I on the right career path?"

Thairath Money delves into data from the Adecco Thailand Salary Guide 2026, one of the most influential salary references in Thailand, supplemented with global research perspectives, to provide a clearer picture of the 2025-2026 labor market.

Exploring the 2025-2026 "salary ladder" in Thailand’s bipolar labor market.

Based on job data compiled by Adecco, a global provider of comprehensive recruitment and HR consulting services across sectors including banking and insurance, retail and service, engineering and technical, finance and accounting, human resources and legal, sales and business development, marketing, media and design, real estate, logistics, as well as IT and digital.

It was found that Thailand’s labor market is entering a phase of "Selective Hiring." Overall, office employee salaries in 2025-2026 present the following notable points.

• At the entry level (Junior Level 0-3 years), average base salaries range from 13,000 to 80,000 baht. Although overall salaries appear to have decreased by 5-10% from the previous year, IT roles such as Data Scientist and Programmer remain exceptions with very high salary ceilings.
• For mid-level and executive positions (5 years and above up to C-Level), there is a clear growth in average salaries of 10-20%, with senior roles in multinational companies reaching up to 800,000 baht per month.

What does this reality reflect? The labor market is becoming "bipolar." Income disparity depends not only on position but also on the "value created for the organization," particularly skills in AI, digital technologies, and languages, which serve as gateways to high-income groups.

Should you change jobs to increase pay or stay for stability?

A survey of 1,500 respondents last year showed that 82% received salary increases, mostly between 2-5%, indicating organizations still strive to retain employees. However, what’s interesting is the "feeling among workers."

• Focus on stability: 72% of workers have no plans to change jobs soon, a significant decrease from last year, as in an economic slowdown, confidence in full-time employment remains the primary choice for 69% of workers.
• Pressure to watch: Although reluctant to change jobs, factors like career advancement (47%) and work-life balance (34%) remain main reasons for resignations, especially among mid-level managers facing high stress and risk of burnout.

This serves as a warning to organizations that if salary increases are modest, "benefits" and "quality of life" will become the most critical factors in retaining top talent.

The "first job" is a crucial springboard that can shape an entire career.

To avoid the trap of comparing only current salary figures, research from Columbia University and the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), as published by JOBBKK, a prominent Thai job platform, offers a deeper perspective: "the first job you choose" affects income over the next 5-10 years more than GPA does.

1. The multiplier effect on the future: Every initial salary base higher than peers leads to a widening income gap over time.
2. The trap of haste: The research finds those forced to accept jobs quickly due to financial pressure often enter organizations lacking good training systems, putting them at a long-term disadvantage.
3. Patience is an advantage: Staying in a first job for at least two years to develop soft skills and networks tends to result in higher income than frequent early job changes, as companies value "continuity" and "depth" of experience.

What to do if you feel "below average" today?

All this data is not to say who is better or whether your salary aligns with the market, but to indicate "what the market demands." If you find yourself on a salary rung below the average in a diverse job market, there are shortcuts to growth you can start with.

• Upskilling is the way forward: AI and digital skills are essential to raising your salary ceiling.
• Seek employers who invest in people: If starting salaries are low, choose companies with strong training systems, as the skills you gain are "capital profits" to leverage in future roles.
• Be open to alternative work: Data shows 90% of workers are willing to freelance or take project-based jobs if compensation is attractive. Having a "second income" from specialized skills may be a better option than waiting solely for regular salary increases.

Ultimately, everyone’s salary ladder is different in length and starting point, but knowing where you stand and where the market is headed helps you make confident, well-directed career moves.

References

• Adecco Thailand Salary Guide 2026 and Career & Work Trends 2025 survey.

• Research from Columbia University and the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).

• Analysis data from JOBBKK.

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