Average income in DR?

Hi,

out of curiosity: What is the average monthly income in DR? Let's say for a nurse, a bank clerk and a carpenter.... or other jobs for that matter.I'm not talking about what a foreigner can make. I'm after the average income for a dominican. Thanks.

I have a friend who is the Dominican equivalent of a DEA agent and asked him the same question. He pointed out some construction laborers, and said they make about 9 US dollars a day. He told me how much he makes, and I forgot exactly, but it wasnt much more than that.

I know someone else who is in trade school for computer operator, and they said that they expected an income of about $200 US monthly in an entry level position when they finished.

I know a Dominican engineer/agronomist who along with his wife in the tourism bureau make around $70,000 US, so it is all across the board.

The US government says the per capita income is around $3400 anually, but I suspect this is skewed down by rural areas where subsistence and tenant farmers and workers make or report almost nothing.

I befriended a female waitress/bartender at a bar in Sosua. She was paid 150 pesos/night for her 6pm-2am shift (this comes out to about $9.50 US)plus tips. From what I observed, virtually nobody tipped (a practice I found shocking since it is quite common and indeed expected here in the states). Despite what I consider slave wages, she was later let go because business slowed down. Needless to say, its a life and death struggle for people trying to get by on the lower end of the socio-economic scale.

A couple of my friends own bars (different bars) by the beach. The waitresses there earn RD$3000-8000/mo in tips alone. A housekeeper/maid earns RD$1500-2500/mo. A Hotel manager earns RD$4000-5000/mo. A Bank teller earns RD$6000/mo. A massage women on the beach earns RD$10,000/mo giving just two massages/day. Another friend of mine is a waitress at a restaurant. They pay her RD$3000/mo. before tips.

JimHinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

Ask DR 1 daily news, tuesday june 1 "minimum wage increased", and wednesday june 2 "new minimum wages established". See also Santo Domingo Homepage, Pais y Gobierno, Secretario de Trabajo, salarios minimos. des

From what I've seen this "minimum wage" is not indicative of what the average Dominican makes. I know Dominicans who are working very hard for far less.

Average doesn't mean much. It only takes a few very very rich folks to skew the average. Typical or median income might be more appropriate. I can't even tell you what the average income is in the USA, but I can tell you what is typical. Better to just list various occupations and what typical Dominicans in those fields earn.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

So Jim after reading what the everage income a Dominican makes, well then some one with an imcome of US$4000.00 a month should be able to live in the high end of the living scale. Am I right?? What do you think.

Someone with an imcome of US$4000.00 a month can live in the high end of the living scale, relative to how the typical Dominican lives. In fact, ask most teenagers and many adults, and they will tell you one can live in the high end of the living scale right here in the USA with that kind of a net income.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

If I could make $4000 US a month in the Dominican Republic, I would pack everything up and leave tomorrow...no, tonight! I barely spend that down there on vacation, including rental car and hotel! That worked out to $133 a day, and two of us stayed at Occidental's Esplanada Sosua all-inclusive resort for about $110 a day (total, not each!)

For 4 grand a month, I would live in Arroyo Hondo and eat grey poupon!

By the way, Jim, I noticed you got that chart from OSU. Did you go there? I am from Columbus.