Salaries in Islamabad, Pakistan (2026)
Islamabad's economy shapes what employers here are willing to pay. This page rounds up salary data across the professions we track in the city, so you can see how your own role compares.
Across the 52 professions we track in Islamabad, the average monthly salary works out to roughly PKR 75,250, though this varies enormously by field — DevOps Engineer currently tops the list at around PKR 173,000 per month.
As the federal capital, Islamabad has a strong presence of multinational companies and government-linked roles, often pushing salaries slightly above other cities.
Economy and major employers
The city's economy is anchored by federal ministries, regulators and public-sector organisations, together with embassies, UN agencies and international NGOs. Large telecom companies, banks and consulting firms maintain major offices, and a thriving technology sector with startups, software houses and incubators has grown around leading universities. Health, education and real estate are further important employers, and the capital hosts many conferences and professional events.
Highest-paying industries and in-demand jobs
Telecommunications, technology, banking, development and consulting sectors typically pay best. In-demand roles include software engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity professionals, project managers, policy analysts, finance and audit specialists, lecturers and researchers. Multinational and donor-funded roles often pay in line with international pay structures, which lifts the upper end of the market.
Cost of living and commuting
Islamabad is the most expensive major city for housing, and rents in sectors such as F-6, F-7 and E-11 are high. Many workers choose Rawalpindi or the outskirts to reduce cost, commuting by the Metro Bus or by car. Groceries, dining and education are also priced above the national average. Residents benefit from clean, well-planned surroundings and good healthcare and schools, which are part of the cost trade-off.
Practical tips for job seekers
Government and development roles often have formal application processes and written tests, so prepare early and follow official job portals. For private-sector roles, build a strong professional profile and certifications relevant to your field. If housing costs worry you, calculate the total cost of living in Rawalpindi plus commuting, and negotiate for transport or housing allowances where possible.
Highest-Paying Jobs in Islamabad
These are the ten best-paid professions in Islamabad in our data. Technology, engineering, finance and healthcare roles usually lead, because they need scarce skills and are in demand from employers who can pay for them.
Average Salary by Career Field in Islamabad
Grouping roles by field shows where the money is. The table below averages every profession we track in each category for Islamabad.
| Category | Average salary / month | Roles tracked |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | PKR 109,222 | 9 |
| Engineering | PKR 96,750 | 4 |
| Finance | PKR 86,600 | 5 |
| Human Resources | PKR 84,666 | 3 |
| Marketing | PKR 79,333 | 3 |
| Healthcare | PKR 77,800 | 5 |
| Creative | PKR 68,000 | 5 |
| Sales | PKR 66,666 | 3 |
| Customer Service | PKR 57,000 | 2 |
| Education | PKR 53,000 | 4 |
| General | PKR 40,333 | 9 |
All Salaries in Islamabad
| Job Title | Average Salary | Range | Demand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DevOps Engineer | PKR 173,000/mo | PKR 112,000 – PKR 277,000 | High | DevOps Engineer salary → |
| Software Engineer | PKR 151,000/mo | PKR 98,000 – PKR 242,000 | High | Software Engineer salary → |
| HR Manager | PKR 130,000/mo | PKR 85,000 – PKR 208,000 | Medium | HR Manager salary → |
| Mobile App Developer | PKR 119,000/mo | PKR 77,000 – PKR 190,000 | High | Mobile App Developer salary → |
| General Physician | PKR 119,000/mo | PKR 77,000 – PKR 190,000 | High | General Physician salary → |
| Data Analyst | PKR 108,000/mo | PKR 70,000 – PKR 173,000 | High | Data Analyst salary → |
| Dentist | PKR 108,000/mo | PKR 70,000 – PKR 173,000 | High | Dentist salary → |
| UI/UX Designer | PKR 103,000/mo | PKR 67,000 – PKR 165,000 | Medium | UI/UX Designer salary → |
| Financial Analyst | PKR 103,000/mo | PKR 67,000 – PKR 165,000 | Medium | Financial Analyst salary → |
| Architect | PKR 103,000/mo | PKR 67,000 – PKR 165,000 | Medium | Architect salary → |
| Web Developer | PKR 97,000/mo | PKR 63,000 – PKR 155,000 | High | Web Developer salary → |
| Tax Consultant | PKR 97,000/mo | PKR 63,000 – PKR 155,000 | Medium | Tax Consultant salary → |
| Electrical Engineer | PKR 97,000/mo | PKR 63,000 – PKR 155,000 | Medium | Electrical Engineer salary → |
| Mechanical Engineer | PKR 95,000/mo | PKR 62,000 – PKR 152,000 | Medium | Mechanical Engineer salary → |
| QA / Software Test Engineer | PKR 92,000/mo | PKR 60,000 – PKR 147,000 | Medium | QA / Software Test Engineer salary → |
| Internal Auditor | PKR 92,000/mo | PKR 60,000 – PKR 147,000 | Medium | Internal Auditor salary → |
| Civil Engineer | PKR 92,000/mo | PKR 60,000 – PKR 147,000 | Medium | Civil Engineer salary → |
| Content Marketing Manager | PKR 92,000/mo | PKR 60,000 – PKR 147,000 | Medium | Content Marketing Manager salary → |
| University Lecturer | PKR 86,000/mo | PKR 56,000 – PKR 138,000 | Medium | University Lecturer salary → |
| Network Administrator | PKR 81,000/mo | PKR 53,000 – PKR 130,000 | Medium | Network Administrator salary → |
| Video Editor | PKR 76,000/mo | PKR 49,000 – PKR 122,000 | Medium | Video Editor salary → |
| Bank Officer | PKR 76,000/mo | PKR 49,000 – PKR 122,000 | Medium | Bank Officer salary → |
| Digital Marketing Executive | PKR 76,000/mo | PKR 49,000 – PKR 122,000 | High | Digital Marketing Executive salary → |
| Business Development Executive | PKR 76,000/mo | PKR 49,000 – PKR 122,000 | Medium | Business Development Executive salary → |
| Graphic Designer | PKR 70,000/mo | PKR 46,000 – PKR 112,000 | Medium | Graphic Designer salary → |
| Social Media Manager | PKR 70,000/mo | PKR 46,000 – PKR 112,000 | High | Social Media Manager salary → |
| Pharmacist | PKR 70,000/mo | PKR 46,000 – PKR 112,000 | Medium | Pharmacist salary → |
| SEO Specialist | PKR 70,000/mo | PKR 46,000 – PKR 112,000 | High | SEO Specialist salary → |
| Photographer | PKR 65,000/mo | PKR 42,000 – PKR 104,000 | Low | Photographer salary → |
| Accountant | PKR 65,000/mo | PKR 42,000 – PKR 104,000 | Medium | Accountant salary → |
| Recruiter / Talent Acquisition Specialist | PKR 65,000/mo | PKR 42,000 – PKR 104,000 | Medium | Recruiter / Talent Acquisition Specialist salary → |
| Real Estate Agent | PKR 65,000/mo | PKR 42,000 – PKR 104,000 | Medium | Real Estate Agent salary → |
| Call Center Agent (International) | PKR 65,000/mo | PKR 42,000 – PKR 104,000 | High | Call Center Agent (International) salary → |
| IT Support Specialist | PKR 59,000/mo | PKR 38,000 – PKR 94,000 | Medium | IT Support Specialist salary → |
| Content Writer | PKR 59,000/mo | PKR 38,000 – PKR 94,000 | Medium | Content Writer salary → |
| HR Executive | PKR 59,000/mo | PKR 38,000 – PKR 94,000 | Medium | HR Executive salary → |
| Sales Executive | PKR 59,000/mo | PKR 38,000 – PKR 94,000 | Medium | Sales Executive salary → |
| Staff Nurse | PKR 49,000/mo | PKR 32,000 – PKR 78,000 | High | Staff Nurse salary → |
| Customer Support Representative | PKR 49,000/mo | PKR 32,000 – PKR 78,000 | Low | Customer Support Representative salary → |
| Electrician | PKR 49,000/mo | PKR 32,000 – PKR 78,000 | Medium | Electrician salary → |
| Cook / Chef | PKR 49,000/mo | PKR 32,000 – PKR 78,000 | Medium | Cook / Chef salary → |
| School Teacher | PKR 45,000/mo | PKR 29,000 – PKR 72,000 | Medium | School Teacher salary → |
| Plumber | PKR 45,000/mo | PKR 29,000 – PKR 72,000 | Medium | Plumber salary → |
| Private Tutor | PKR 43,000/mo | PKR 28,000 – PKR 69,000 | Medium | Private Tutor salary → |
| Lab Technician | PKR 43,000/mo | PKR 28,000 – PKR 69,000 | Medium | Lab Technician salary → |
| Receptionist | PKR 41,000/mo | PKR 27,000 – PKR 66,000 | Medium | Receptionist salary → |
| Beautician | PKR 41,000/mo | PKR 27,000 – PKR 66,000 | Medium | Beautician salary → |
| Montessori Teacher | PKR 38,000/mo | PKR 25,000 – PKR 61,000 | Medium | Montessori Teacher salary → |
| Driver | PKR 38,000/mo | PKR 25,000 – PKR 61,000 | Medium | Driver salary → |
| Office Assistant | PKR 35,000/mo | PKR 23,000 – PKR 56,000 | Medium | Office Assistant salary → |
| Tailor | PKR 35,000/mo | PKR 23,000 – PKR 56,000 | Low | Tailor salary → |
| Security Guard | PKR 30,000/mo | PKR 20,000 – PKR 48,000 | Medium | Security Guard salary → |
Take-Home Pay and Minimum Wage in Islamabad
At the cross-role average of PKR 75,250 a month, estimated federal income tax under the FY 2026-27 slabs is about PKR 253, which leaves roughly PKR 74,998 in take-home pay (an effective rate of 0.3%). You can test any salary in the salary tax calculator.
Islamabad falls under Islamabad Capital Territory, where the minimum wage announced for FY 2026-27 is PKR 40,700 per month for unskilled work in covered establishments. 5 of the 52 roles in our Islamabad data show an average below that level. Those figures mainly describe informal, part-time, home-based or small-shop work, not lawful full-time pay at a covered employer, and they should be read with that in mind. Rates are revised in each provincial budget, so confirm the current notification with the labour department.
Islamabad Compared With Other Pakistani Cities
The cross-role average in Islamabad is PKR 75,250, which ranks it #2 of 12 cities. The table lets you jump to any other city's guide.
| City | Cross-role average / month | Compared with Islamabad |
|---|---|---|
| Karachi | PKR 76,788 | +2% |
| Islamabad | PKR 75,250 | This page |
| Lahore | PKR 69,615 | -7% |
| Rawalpindi | PKR 62,865 | -16% |
| Sialkot | PKR 50,019 | -34% |
| Gujranwala | PKR 48,942 | -35% |
| Faisalabad | PKR 47,442 | -37% |
| Hyderabad | PKR 45,961 | -39% |
| Peshawar | PKR 45,326 | -40% |
| Multan | PKR 43,173 | -43% |
| Quetta | PKR 41,769 | -44% |
| Sargodha | PKR 40,403 | -46% |
Planning a move? Read our cost of living guide for Islamabad to see what rent, food and transport actually cost.
Frequently Asked Questions About Working in Islamabad
What is the average salary in Islamabad?
Across the 52 professions tracked on this site for Islamabad, the average monthly salary is approximately PKR 75,250. Actual pay varies significantly by profession, employer, and experience level.
What is the highest-paying job in Islamabad on this site?
Among the roles we track, DevOps Engineer currently shows the highest average pay in Islamabad, at around PKR 173,000 per month.
Is Islamabad an expensive city to live and work in?
As the federal capital, Islamabad has a strong presence of multinational companies and government-linked roles, often pushing salaries slightly above other cities.
How does Islamabad compare to other Pakistani cities for salaries?
Pay in Islamabad sits within the broader range we see across the cities tracked on this site — some cities (typically Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad) tend to pay more for most professional roles, while smaller cities generally pay less but often come with a lower cost of living.
What is the take-home salary in Islamabad?
At the cross-role average of PKR 75,250 per month, estimated income tax under the FY 2026-27 slabs is about PKR 253 a month, leaving roughly PKR 74,998 (an effective rate of 0.3%). EOBI, provident fund and other deductions are not included.
What is the minimum wage in Islamabad?
Islamabad falls under the Islamabad Capital Territory jurisdiction. The minimum wage announced for FY 2026-27 is PKR 40,700 per month for unskilled workers in covered establishments. Confirm the current notification with the provincial labour department, as rates are revised each budget.
Which job pays the most in Islamabad?
In our data DevOps Engineer has the highest average pay in Islamabad at about PKR 173,000 per month, while Security Guard is at the lower end at about PKR 30,000.
How does Islamabad rank for salaries in Pakistan?
Across the 12 cities tracked here, Islamabad ranks #2 by cross-role average pay. Larger metros usually pay more, but rent and transport costs also rise, so compare take-home pay against living costs.