Nigeria Salary Guide 2026
Real salary benchmarks sourced from active job listings on HeadHunter.ng. Search by role, location, and experience level to see what employers are actually paying.
Salaries in Nigeria vary widely by industry, role, and city. Lagos and Abuja offer the highest pay — especially in tech, finance, and oil & gas. Use the search below to check any role, or scroll down for breakdowns by industry and city.
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All Jobs - Market Overview
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median salary per month
Typical range: ₦220,000 – ₦350,000
Min (25th)
₦150,000
Median
₦285,000
Max (75th)
₦600,000
Popular roles
Software Engineer
₦315,000 – ₦540,000
per month · median
Product Manager
₦500,000 – ₦800,000
per month · median
Data Analyst
₦495,000 – ₦570,000
per month · median
Marketing Manager
₦500,000 – ₦650,000
per month · median
Business Analyst
₦380,000 – ₦550,000
per month · median
Sales Executive
₦200,000 – ₦400,000
per month · median
Project Manager
₦225,000 – ₦300,000
per month · median
Salaries by Industry
Technology
Software engineers, data analysts, and product managers command the highest salaries. Mid-level: ₦500K–₦1.5M/mo.
Finance & Banking
Accountants and financial analysts earn competitive pay at tier-1 banks. Senior roles: ₦800K–₦2M/mo.
Oil & Gas
Traditionally the highest-paying sector. Petroleum engineers and HSE professionals earn premium salaries with offshore allowances.
Marketing & Sales
Marketing managers and sales executives earn ₦200K–₦800K/mo at mid-level, plus commissions.
Salaries by City
Lagos
Highest salaries across nearly all industries — multinationals, fintechs, and banks drive premium pay. Lagos jobs →
Abuja
Strong for government-adjacent, NGO, and consulting roles. Tech salaries trail Lagos by 10–15%. Abuja jobs →
Port Harcourt
Dominated by oil & gas compensation. Engineering and technical roles pay exceptionally well. PH jobs →
Remote
International remote roles pay 2–5× local rates, often in USD/GBP. Remote jobs →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary in Nigeria in 2026?
The average salary in Nigeria varies by industry, role, and location. In Lagos and Abuja, mid-level professionals typically earn ₦300,000–₦800,000/month. Tech roles command higher pay, with software engineers earning ₦500,000–₦2,000,000 depending on experience.
Which jobs pay the most in Nigeria?
Top-paying roles include software engineers, data scientists, finance managers, petroleum engineers, and senior marketing managers. Technology and oil & gas sectors offer the most competitive salaries.
How much does a software engineer earn in Lagos?
Software engineers in Lagos typically earn between ₦400,000 and ₦2,000,000+ per month depending on experience and company. Junior engineers start around ₦200,000–₦400,000, mid-level earns ₦500,000–₦1,000,000, and senior engineers at top companies can exceed ₦1,500,000 monthly.
What is the entry-level salary in Nigeria?
Entry-level salaries in Nigeria typically range from ₦80,000 to ₦250,000 per month depending on the industry and location. Tech and finance roles tend to offer higher starting salaries, while administrative and retail positions cluster at the lower end.
Do salaries in Lagos differ from Abuja?
Yes. Lagos generally offers 10–20% higher salaries than Abuja for comparable roles, particularly in tech and finance. However, Abuja can be more competitive for government-adjacent roles, NGO positions, and public sector jobs.
How is the salary data collected?
Data is sourced directly from job listings posted by employers on HeadHunter.ng. We aggregate salary ranges from active and recent postings to give you real market benchmarks — not estimates.
How often is the data updated?
Salary benchmarks refresh hourly as new job listings are posted, so you always see current market rates.
Can I filter by location and experience?
Yes. Use the search tool above to filter by job title, city or state, and experience level (entry, mid, senior, etc.) to get the most relevant salary range for your situation.
Career Resources
Data sourced from job listings on HeadHunter.ng. Updated hourly. All salary figures in Nigerian Naira (₦).