Guatemala Minimum Wage 2026 — Official Table
Effective from January 1, 2026 per Acuerdo Gubernativo Number 256-2025 from the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, published in the Official Gazette on December 22, 2025.
Economic Zone CE1 (Guatemala Department)
Applies to all municipalities of the Guatemala department (including Guatemala City, Mixco, Villa Nueva, San Miguel Petapa, Amatitlán, etc.)
| Sector | Monthly base wage | Incentive Bonus | Monthly total | Daily wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Agricultural | Q 4,002.28 | Q 250.00 | Q 4,252.28 | Q 133.41 |
| Agricultural | Q 3,791.20 | Q 250.00 | Q 4,041.20 | Q 126.37 |
| Export / Maquila | Q 3,409.73 | Q 250.00 | Q 3,659.73 | Q 113.66 |
Economic Zone CE2 (Rest of the country)
Applies to the other 21 departments (Sacatepéquez, Chimaltenango, Escuintla, Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Quetzaltenango, San Marcos, Huehuetenango, Quiché, Sololá, Totonicapán, Suchitepéquez, Retalhuleu, Santa Rosa, Jutiapa, Jalapa, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Izabal, Petén, Zacapa).
| Sector | Monthly base wage | Incentive Bonus | Monthly total | Daily wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Agricultural | Q 3,816.90 | Q 250.00 | Q 4,066.90 | Q 127.23 |
| Agricultural | Q 3,625.89 | Q 250.00 | Q 3,875.89 | Q 120.86 |
| Export / Maquila | Q 3,221.10 | Q 250.00 | Q 3,471.10 | Q 107.37 |
Daily wages calculated as (monthly base / 30). The Q250 bonus is monthly and doesn’t divide.
How Minimum Wage Works in Guatemala
Guatemala minimum wage is set annually by Government Order (Acuerdo Gubernativo) issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (MINTRAB), based on recommendations from the National Wage Commission which brings together government, employer, and worker representatives.
Structure: Base Salary + Incentive Bonus
The monthly minimum wage payment has two components:
Monthly base salary — The ordinary salary proper, regulated by the Labor Code. It’s the base for calculating Bono 14, Aguinaldo, vacation, severance, and IGSS contributions.
Q250 Incentive Bonus — Established by Decreto 78-89 (Incentive Bonus Law). It’s MANDATORY but NOT included when calculating labor benefits (Bono 14, Aguinaldo, vacation, severance) and is NOT subject to IGSS contributions.
This separation matters because:
- Workers ALWAYS receive the extra Q250 each month.
- But when calculating your Bono 14, Aguinaldo, or severance, only the base salary is used (not the Q4,252.28 total).
Differences Between Sectors
Non-Agricultural: Workers in commerce, services, industry, offices, construction, transport, etc. The largest sector.
Agricultural: Workers on farms, plantations, harvest, ranching. Slightly lower salary reflecting the sector’s economic structure.
Export / Maquila: Workers in export textile industry, assembly, export call centers, BPO. Lower salary — historically justified by export sector incentives.
If a worker performs mixed tasks, the highest applicable wage is used.
Minimum Wage Per Hour and Half-Time
Minimum wage is set for a full workday defined in Labor Code Art. 116:
- Daytime ordinary shift: 8 hours daily / 44 hours weekly
- Nighttime shift: 6 hours daily / 36 hours weekly
- Mixed shift: 7 hours daily / 42 hours weekly
Hourly calculation (Non-Agricultural CE1):
- Monthly salary: Q 4,002.28
- Monthly hours (daytime shift): 44 hrs/wk × 4.33 wks/mo = ~190.5 hours
- Hourly wage: Q 4,002.28 / 190.5 = Q 21.00 per hour
Half-time workers receive salary proportional to hours worked, but no less than half the full-time minimum wage.
Minimum Wage in USD
At the current exchange rate (~Q7.62 per USD):
- Non-Agricultural CE1: Q4,252.28 ≈ $558 USD/month
- Agricultural CE1: Q4,041.20 ≈ $530 USD/month
- Maquila CE1: Q3,659.73 ≈ $480 USD/month
- Non-Agricultural CE2: Q4,066.90 ≈ $534 USD/month
For current conversion, see the quetzal-dollar exchange rate.
Historical Guatemala Minimum Wage (2020-2026)
Non-Agricultural CE1 evolution:
| Year | Base Salary | Bonus | Total | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Q 2,825.10 | Q 250.00 | Q 3,075.10 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | Q 2,825.10 | Q 250.00 | Q 3,075.10 | 0.0% |
| 2022 | Q 2,959.24 | Q 250.00 | Q 3,209.24 | +4.4% |
| 2023 | Q 3,138.81 | Q 250.00 | Q 3,388.81 | +5.6% |
| 2024 | Q 3,322.50 | Q 250.00 | Q 3,572.50 | +5.4% |
| 2025 | Q 3,672.32 | Q 250.00 | Q 3,922.32 | +9.8% |
| 2026 | Q 4,002.28 | Q 250.00 | Q 4,252.28 | +8.4% |
What If the Employer Doesn’t Pay Minimum Wage
A serious labor violation per Labor Code Art. 271:
- Fine of 8 to 18 monthly minimum wages for non-agricultural activities
- In 2026: fine of ~Q34,000 to Q77,000 per affected worker
- Does NOT exonerate the employer from retroactive payment of owed wages
- Late interest applies from the date of non-compliance
How to file a complaint:
- MINTRAB General Labor Inspection — central office in Zone 5 or departmental sub-delegation
- Anonymous line: 1539 (MINTRAB)
- Online: MINTRAB portal with DPI
Documentation: contract (or work certificate), pay stubs, copy of DPI.
Minimum Wage and Other Labor Calculations
Minimum wage is the base for several other calculations:
- Bono 14 — Calculator here. For Non-Agricultural CE1 minimum annual: Q4,002.28.
- Aguinaldo — Calculator here. Same as Bono 14 for minimum wage workers.
- Vacation — Calculator here. 15 working days at daily rate of minimum wage.
- Severance pay — One month of salary per year worked (Labor Code Art. 82).
Related Trámites and Data
- Bono 14 Calculator — Calculate your annual Bono 14.
- Aguinaldo Calculator — Calculate your Christmas bonus.
- Vacation Calculator — Days accrued and cash value.
- IGSS Monthly Employer Payment — Employer contributions 12.67%.
- Cost of Living in Guatemala 2026 — How much you need to live.
Legal Sources
- Acuerdo Gubernativo Number 256-2025 from the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare — Sets the minimum wage effective January 1, 2026, published in the Official Gazette on December 22, 2025.
- Labor Code of Guatemala (Decreto 14-41), Articles 103-113 — General framework for minimum wage.
- Decreto 78-89 — Q250 Monthly Incentive Bonus Law.
- Labor Code Art. 116 — Definition of work shifts.
- Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare — www.mintrabajo.gob.gt
