Country-based salary comparisons
How do salaries compare by country?
A salary comparison by country shows that similar roles cost far less in the Philippines than in the United States, the United Kingdom, or Australia, with savings that often reach 80% to 95%.
- Entry-level and support roles show the widest gaps, sometimes above 90%.
- Senior and specialized roles narrow the gap. Still, they favor the Philippines.
- Lower pay reflects a lower cost of living, not lower quality of work.
This salary comparison by country starts with minimum wage. In the National Capital Region (NCR) of the Philippines, the minimum daily wage for non-agriculture workers is around PHP 695 per day. That is roughly US$12 per day.
By comparison, the national minimum wage in the U.S. remains US$7.25 per hour. Still, many states set higher floors. The highest state rate, in Washington, sits near US$17 per hour. Washington, D.C., meanwhile, exceeds US$17.50 per hour.
In addition, average annual wages differ sharply. Earnings in the Philippines run well below those in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. As a result, many employers look to Philippine talent for cost-efficient teams.
Salary comparison by country: Philippines vs US, UK, and Australia
Outsource Accelerator compiled indicative average annual salaries for similar roles in the Philippines, the USA, the UK, and Australia. For easy comparison, the figures below are shown in US dollars. However, exact amounts vary with experience, employer, and exchange rates.
| Role | Philippines (USD) | USA (USD) | UK (USD) | Australia (USD) |
| HR Manager | $9,506 | $78,007 | $46,669 | $66,518 |
| SAP Consultant | $11,552 | $76,798 | $48,818 | $71,445 |
| Software Developer | $7,221 | $81,994 | $39,913 | $62,653 |
| Software Engineer | $8,333 | $109,087 | $44,459 | $62,653 |
| Technical Support Representative | $4,638 | $36,924 | $35,225 | $38,232 |
| IT Representative (entry level) | $5,722 | $61,758 | $24,741 | $59,938 |
| Team Leader | $7,152 | $75,823 | $31,174 | $45,428 |
| Systems Analyst (3-5 yrs) | $9,537 | $63,924 | $39,146 | $47,617 |
| Systems Administrator (3-5 yrs) | $7,152 | $72,760 | $33,104 | $55,383 |
| Assistant Manager (2-4 yrs) | $16,485 | $57,121 | $44,274 | $33,540 |
| Project Manager (2-4 yrs) | $21,458 | $108,000 | $57,296 | $86,029 |
| Senior Project Manager (12+ yrs) | $49,608 | $102,318 | $80,343 | $107,890 |
| Program Director (12+ yrs) | $69,508 | $94,623 | $145,972 | $113,329 |
| Call Centre Agent (non-voice, entry) | $3,337 | $29,717 | $22,137 | $35,275 |
| Call Centre Agent (5 yrs) | $5,959 | $47,627 | $26,044 | $48,267 |
| Virtual Assistant (2+ yrs) | $2,285 | $42,240 | $39,066 | $31,797 |
| Virtual Assistant (7+ yrs) | $4,286 | $52,800 | $58,599 | $43,035 |
| Copywriter | $4,767 | $56,600 | $52,088 | $62,653 |
| Accountant | $5,959 | $67,190 | $72,923 | $58,479 |
| Accounting Supervisor | $6,414 | $79,408 | $48,529 | $60,195 |
| Graphic Artist (entry level) | $3,883 | $46,658 | $38,668 | $37,596 |
Business owners in the US, UK, and Australia can save at least 80% of labor costs should they choose to outsource these tasks to BPO companies based in the Philippines.
For instance, roles such as copywriter, graphic designer, technical support representative, and virtual assistant are more than 85% cheaper in the Philippines than in other countries.
Job descriptions and salary summary for Philippine roles
Let us match the salary comparison above to real jobs. Below are some of the more common titles and duties in the BPO industry.
Accountant
Accountants prepare the assets, capital accounts, and liabilities of the company. In addition, they record transactions, analyze options, audit documents, and help compute employee wages.
As a result, an accountant in the Philippines earns a small fraction of the US, UK, and Australian rates. That is a saving of roughly 90%.
Accounting supervisor
An accounting supervisor maintains and oversees company finances. In addition, they keep junior accountants efficient and compliant, and they may help with audits.
As a result, hiring one in the Philippines can save around 87% to 92% versus the US, UK, and Australia.
Assistant manager
Assistant managers need strong leadership skills and easy multitasking. They take over some of a manager’s tasks, such as tracking inventory and assigning work. In this way, they help keep the team on schedule.
However, savings here are narrower, generally 51% to 71% across the three markets.
Call center agent
Call center agents spend their day making or taking calls. They gather and verify information, answer questions, and guide clients through different processes.
As a result, an experienced agent in the Philippines can cost 77% to 88% less than in the US, UK, or Australia.
Copywriter
A copywriter writes advertising, descriptive, or marketing text. For example, this copy appears on client websites, social media, and product and brand messaging.
Overall, savings for this role reach roughly 91% to 92% across all three markets.
Graphic artist
Graphic artists create visual concepts that catch potential customers. In most cases, they work with a marketing team. Their work then appears on websites, magazines, brochures, and ads.
As a result, a Philippine-based graphic artist can save employers around 90% or more.
HR manager
Human resources managers lead the HR team and keep the office running smoothly. In addition, they protect staff well-being by setting up clear workplace rules and policies.
In this case, the saving on an HR manager ranges from about 80% to 88%.
Project manager
A project manager plans, budgets, and oversees every part of a project. They set its scope and direction, and they make sure each goal is met on schedule.
Even at senior pay, savings run about 63% to 80% across the markets compared.
SAP consultant
Systems, applications, and products (SAP) consultants first assess client needs. They then program software that fits the client’s business model.
As a result, hiring one in the Philippines can save roughly 77% to 85%.
Software developer
Software developers are also called computer programmers. They design, test, install, and maintain software systems. In addition, their work makes the workplace more efficient and improves the customer experience.
Overall, savings for this role reach about 82% to 91%.
Software engineer
Like software developers, software engineers handle the technical side of a business. For example, they specialize in applications, databases, networks, and operating systems.
As a result, a Philippine-based software engineer can cost 81% to 92% less than overseas peers.
Systems administrator
Systems administrators install, upgrade, and monitor software and hardware. In addition, they maintain operating systems, business apps, security tools, PCs, and email.
In this case, the saving on this role ranges from roughly 78% to 90%.
Systems analyst
Systems analysts are problem solvers. First, they review current procedures. Next, they build solutions through better workflows or newly designed systems.
As a result, employers can save about 76% to 85% by hiring in the Philippines.
Team leader
Team leaders lead and manage a group of employees. They keep members in touch, hold them to safety and standard practices, and make sure deadlines are met. In addition, they may hire, train, and report progress to management.
Overall, savings for a team leader run about 77% to 91%.
Technical support representative
Technical support representatives (TSRs) work in an inbound call center. Typically, they fix technical and network problems by researching solutions and troubleshooting common issues.
In short, this role is about 87% to 88% cheaper in the Philippines.
Virtual assistant
Administrative tasks are the forte of virtual assistants. For example, they answer emails, schedule meetings, and book hotels and flights.
In fact, virtual assistants show some of the widest gaps, with savings of 90% to 95%.
Overall, the BPO industry in the Philippines keeps diversifying, especially in the wake of AI adoption. In addition, the industry employs professionals in law, engineering, and healthcare, among others.
Key takeaways
- A salary comparison by country shows the Philippines is consistently the lowest-cost option among these four markets.
- Support and administrative roles show the largest gaps, often 85% to 95%.
- Senior and specialized roles narrow the gap. Still, they favor the Philippines.
- Lower salaries track a lower cost of living, not lower work quality.
- Figures are indicative and shift with experience, employer, and exchange rates.
Frequently asked questions
Why are salaries in the Philippines so much lower?
The main driver is a lower cost of living. As a result, wages align with local prices for housing, food, and services. So employers pay less while workers keep a solid standard of living.
How much can businesses save by outsourcing to the Philippines?
Savings commonly range from 80% to 95% on comparable roles. For example, admin and support functions tend to show the largest gaps. Senior roles show smaller but still meaningful savings.
Does lower pay mean lower quality work?
No. The Philippines has a large, skilled, English-proficient workforce. In short, lower pay reflects local economics, not the quality or output of the work.
Which roles offer the biggest outsourcing savings?
Virtual assistants, call center agents, copywriters, graphic artists, and technical support representatives usually offer the widest savings. In fact, these often run above 85%.
Are these salary figures exact?
No. They are indicative averages meant for comparison. Actual pay varies by experience, employer, role scope, and exchange rates. So treat the numbers as a guide.
Independent
