✅ Hourly minimum: Q21.00 / hour (daytime shift)
✅ Daily minimum: Q133.41 / day
✅ Half-time: Q2,001.14 base + Q250 bonus = Q2,251.14 / month
✅ Night shift hourly: ~Q25.67 / hour (6-hour shift, same monthly)
✅ Overtime: Q31.50 / hour (1.5× ordinary rate)
Q250 bonus generally not pro-rated for regular part-time employment.
This page covers the hourly and part-time minimum wage in Guatemala for 2026: how to derive an hourly rate from the monthly minimum, how part-time wages pro-rate, how night and mixed shifts interact, and how overtime is calculated. Useful for employers building part-time payrolls, workers verifying short-shift pay, and diaspora hiring part-time household help.
TL;DR: Guatemala’s minimum wage is set monthly, but you can derive hourly and daily rates. Non-Agricultural CE1 in 2026: Q21.00/hour, Q133.41/day, Q4,252.28/month (base Q4,002.28 + Q250 Bonificación incentivo). Standard daytime workweek is 44 hours (Labor Code Art. 116). Half-time work earns half the base salary plus the full Q250 bonus. Night shifts are shorter (36 hours/week) for the same pay — effectively a higher hourly rate (~Q25.67/hr). Overtime is paid at 50% premium over the ordinary hourly rate. Part-time workers retain Bono 14, Aguinaldo, vacation, and IGSS — pro-rated where applicable.
Quick facts
| Hourly minimum (Non-Agri CE1, daytime) | Q21.00/hour |
| Daily minimum (Non-Agri CE1) | Q133.41/day |
| Monthly base (Non-Agri CE1) | Q4,002.28 + Q250 = Q4,252.28 |
| Standard workweek | 44 hours daytime |
| Night shift weekly limit | 36 hours |
| Mixed shift weekly limit | 42 hours |
| Overtime premium | 50% over ordinary rate |
| Legal basis | Codigo de Trabajo Art. 116, 121-122 |
Workday limits — the basis for any hourly calculation
Per Labor Code Article 116, Guatemala defines three shift types:
| Shift | Daily limit | Weekly limit |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime (diurna) — 6 AM to 6 PM | 8 hours | 44 hours |
| Nighttime (nocturna) — 6 PM to 6 AM | 6 hours | 36 hours |
| Mixed (mixta) — spanning both | 7 hours | 42 hours |
All three shifts pay the same monthly minimum wage. Because the night and mixed shifts are shorter in hours, the effective hourly rate is higher for those workers.
Hourly minimum wage 2026 — full table
For 2026, hourly rates derived from the monthly base:
CE1 (Guatemala department) — daytime shift
| Sector | Monthly base | Monthly hours | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Agricultural | Q4,002.28 | 190.52 | Q21.00 |
| Agricultural | Q3,791.20 | 190.52 | Q19.90 |
| Maquila / Export | Q3,409.73 | 190.52 | Q17.90 |
CE2 (other 21 departments) — daytime shift
| Sector | Monthly base | Monthly hours | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Agricultural | Q3,816.90 | 190.52 | Q20.03 |
| Agricultural | Q3,625.89 | 190.52 | Q19.03 |
| Maquila / Export | Q3,221.10 | 190.52 | Q16.91 |
Monthly hours = 44 hrs/week × 4.33 weeks/month = 190.52 hours
Night shift (6 PM - 6 AM) hourly rates — CE1
| Sector | Monthly base | Monthly hours (36×4.33) | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Agricultural | Q4,002.28 | 155.88 | Q25.67 |
| Agricultural | Q3,791.20 | 155.88 | Q24.32 |
| Maquila / Export | Q3,409.73 | 155.88 | Q21.87 |
Mixed shift hourly rates — CE1
| Sector | Monthly base | Monthly hours (42×4.33) | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Agricultural | Q4,002.28 | 181.86 | Q22.01 |
| Agricultural | Q3,791.20 | 181.86 | Q20.85 |
| Maquila / Export | Q3,409.73 | 181.86 | Q18.75 |
Part-time wage calculations
Half-time (22 hours/week)
For a Non-Agricultural CE1 worker on half-time:
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | Q4,002.28 × 0.5 | Q2,001.14 |
| + Bonificación incentivo | Full Q250 (regular part-time) | Q250.00 |
| Monthly total | Q2,251.14 |
Three days per week (24 hours)
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | 24 × 4.33 × Q21.00 | Q2,182.32 |
| + Bonificación incentivo | Full Q250 | Q250.00 |
| Monthly total | Q2,432.32 |
4 hours per day, 5 days per week (20 hours/week)
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | 20 × 4.33 × Q21.00 | Q1,818.60 |
| + Bonificación incentivo | Full Q250 | Q250.00 |
| Monthly total | Q2,068.60 |
Two days per week (16 hours)
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | 16 × 4.33 × Q21.00 | Q1,454.88 |
| + Bonificación incentivo | Full Q250 | Q250.00 |
| Monthly total | Q1,704.88 |
The Q250 bonus and part-time work
MINTRAB has generally interpreted Decreto 78-89 as requiring the full Q250 monthly Bonificación incentivo for any regular, ongoing employment — regardless of part-time hours.
Where the full Q250 applies:
- Regular part-time positions with a fixed weekly schedule
- Domestic workers on stable arrangements (even if few hours/week)
- Permanent part-time office or service workers
Where pro-rating may apply (employer practice varies):
- On-call or substitute workers with very irregular hours
- Short-term contract work (days or weeks, not months)
- Day-laborer arrangements
When in doubt, paying the full Q250 is the safer interpretation. Underpaying is an Art. 271 violation; overpaying is not.
Daily wage calculations
Per Labor Code Art. 95, the daily wage = monthly base / 30.
CE1 daily rates 2026
| Sector | Monthly base / 30 | Daily |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Agricultural | Q4,002.28 / 30 | Q133.41 |
| Agricultural | Q3,791.20 / 30 | Q126.37 |
| Maquila / Export | Q3,409.73 / 30 | Q113.66 |
CE2 daily rates 2026
| Sector | Monthly base / 30 | Daily |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Agricultural | Q3,816.90 / 30 | Q127.23 |
| Agricultural | Q3,625.89 / 30 | Q120.86 |
| Maquila / Export | Q3,221.10 / 30 | Q107.37 |
Important: The Q250 monthly Bonificación incentivo is a flat monthly amount and does NOT divide into 30 days. A day-laborer earns Q133.41/day (Non-Agri CE1) plus the Q250 monthly bonus calculated separately, prorated only if the employment relationship itself is partial.
Overtime — when limits are exceeded
Per Labor Code Art. 121-122, overtime is paid at 50% premium over the ordinary hourly rate.
Overtime hourly rates — CE1 daytime (2026)
| Sector | Ordinary hourly | × 1.5 | Overtime hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Agricultural | Q21.00 | × 1.5 | Q31.50 |
| Agricultural | Q19.90 | × 1.5 | Q29.85 |
| Maquila / Export | Q17.90 | × 1.5 | Q26.85 |
When overtime triggers
- Daytime: any hour beyond 8 hours daily or 44 hours weekly
- Nighttime: any hour beyond 6 hours daily or 36 hours weekly
- Mixed: any hour beyond 7 hours daily or 42 hours weekly
Sunday and holiday work
Work performed on a worker’s designated weekly rest day (typically Sunday) or on a Guatemalan public holiday is paid at a higher premium. The rules in Articles 126-129 of the Labor Code establish additional pay above the ordinary rate; for serious holiday/Sunday issues, see our overtime calculator.
Part-time benefits — what carries over
Part-time workers retain all formal-employment benefits, pro-rated where applicable:
| Benefit | How it works for part-time |
|---|---|
| Bono 14 | One base salary (the part-time base) paid July 1-15 |
| Aguinaldo | One base salary (the part-time base) paid Dec 1-20 + first half of January |
| Paid vacation | 15 working days per year (calendar days, not hours) |
| IGSS | Contributions on actual wages paid; full coverage benefits |
| Q250 bonus | Generally full Q250 for regular part-time (not pro-rated) |
| Severance | Pro-rated based on part-time base salary |
Common calculation mistakes
| Mistake | Correct approach |
|---|---|
| Dividing Q250 by 30 to get a “daily bonus rate” | Q250 is a monthly flat — no daily breakdown |
| Treating Q21/hour as net of taxes | Q21/hr is gross — IGSS deductions apply (4.83% worker share) |
| Applying 44-hour-week math to a night-shift worker | Night shifts use 36 hours/week (Art. 116) |
| Calculating overtime on the total (Q4,252) base | Overtime calculated on ordinary rate only — Q250 bonus excluded |
| Pro-rating Q250 for a regular half-time job | Generally not allowed — pay full Q250 |
| Ignoring IGSS contribution on part-time wages | Required if employment is formal/regular |
Worked examples
Example 1: Part-time tutor, 16 hours/week, Antigua (CE2)
- Hourly minimum (Non-Agri CE2): Q20.03
- Monthly cash: 16 hrs × 4.33 weeks × Q20.03 = Q1,388.40
- Bonificación incentivo: Q250.00
- Total monthly minimum: Q1,638.40
- Bono 14 / Aguinaldo: Q1,388.40 each
- Annual gross: ~Q22,000
Example 2: Domestic worker, 3 days/week, Guatemala City (CE1)
- Daily minimum (Non-Agri CE1): Q133.41
- Monthly cash: 3 days × 4.33 weeks × Q133.41 = Q1,732.92
- Bonificación incentivo: Q250.00
- Total monthly minimum: Q1,982.92
Example 3: Night-shift security guard, full-time (CE1)
- Night-shift hours: 6/day × 6 days = 36 hours/week
- Monthly base: Q4,002.28 (same as daytime — Art. 116 mechanism)
- Bonificación incentivo: Q250.00
- Total monthly: Q4,252.28
- Effective hourly: Q4,002.28 / 155.88 = ~Q25.67/hour
- Overtime (any hour past 36 weekly): Q25.67 × 1.5 = ~Q38.51/hour
Example 4: Bilingual call-center agent, mixed shift, full-time (CE1)
- Mixed-shift hours: 7/day × 6 days = 42 hours/week
- Monthly base: depends on whether the BPO is export-registered (maquila) or not
- If maquila: Q3,409.73 + Q250 = Q3,659.73/month
- If standard: Q4,002.28 + Q250 = Q4,252.28/month
- Effective ordinary hourly: ~Q18.75 (maquila) or ~Q22.01 (standard)
Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión Social (MINTRAB) — Acuerdo Gubernativo Número 256-2025, published in the Diario Oficial December 22, 2025.
- Código de Trabajo de Guatemala — Decreto 14-41, Articles 95, 116, 121-122.
- Decreto 78-89 del Congreso — Ley de Bonificación Incentivo.
- Verified: May 2026.