Agricultural CE1: Q3,843.55 → Q4,041.20 (+Q197.65; base +5.5%)
Maquila CE1: Q3,528.59 → Q3,659.73 (+Q131.14; base +4%)
CE2 (other 21 departments): same percentages by sector
Effective January 1, 2026 · Q250 bonus unchanged (fixed by Decreto 37-2001).
Legal basis: Acuerdo Gubernativo 256-2025 (replaces 264-2024).
This page compares Guatemala’s minimum wage between 2025 and 2026 — what changed, by how much, the legal decrees involved, and how the changes play out in different sectors and economic zones.
TL;DR: Guatemala’s 2026 minimum wage went up 7.5% on the base for Non-Agricultural workers (5.5% Agricultural, 4% Export/Maquila). In Guatemala department (CE1) the Non-Agricultural total went from Q3,973.05/month in 2025 (base Q3,723.05) to Q4,252.28/month in 2026 (base Q4,002.28). The increase was set by Acuerdo Gubernativo 256-2025 (Government Decree 256-2025), published in the Diario Oficial on December 22, 2025, and effective from January 1, 2026. The 2025 figure itself was set by the final form of Acuerdo Gubernativo 264-2024 (after a three-decree saga in late 2024). The Q250 Bonificación incentivo stays at the Q250 fixed by Decreto 37-2001 — it does not increase with the annual decree.
Quick facts
| 2026 increase | +7.5% Non-Agricultural · +5.5% Agricultural · +4% Export/Maquila (base wage, CE1 and CE2) |
| 2026 decree | Acuerdo Gubernativo 256-2025 |
| Published | December 22, 2025 (Diario Oficial) |
| Effective | January 1, 2026 |
| 2025 decree | AG 258-2024 → AG 263-2024 → AG 264-2024 (final form) |
| Q250 bonus | Unchanged since Decreto 37-2001 |
| Next adjustment | Annual acuerdo for 2027 (the Labor Code sets no month; the last two were published in late December) |
Full 2026 vs 2025 comparison table
CE1 — Guatemala department
| Sector | 2025 base | 2025 total (+Q250) | 2026 base | 2026 total (+Q250) | Δ total | Δ % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Agricultural | Q3,723.05 | Q3,973.05 | Q4,002.28 | Q4,252.28 | +Q279.23 | +7.5% |
| Agricultural | Q3,593.55 | Q3,843.55 | Q3,791.20 | Q4,041.20 | +Q197.65 | +5.5% |
| Maquila / Export | Q3,278.59 | Q3,528.59 | Q3,409.73 | Q3,659.73 | +Q131.14 | +4.0% |
CE2 — other 21 departments
| Sector | 2025 base | 2025 total (+Q250) | 2026 base | 2026 total (+Q250) | Δ total | Δ % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Agricultural | Q3,550.60 | Q3,800.60 | Q3,816.90 | Q4,066.90 | +Q266.30 | +7.5% |
| Agricultural | Q3,436.86 | Q3,686.86 | Q3,625.89 | Q3,875.89 | +Q189.03 | +5.5% |
| Maquila / Export | Q3,097.21 | Q3,347.21 | Q3,221.10 | Q3,471.10 | +Q123.89 | +4.0% |
2026 figures per AG 256-2025. 2025 monthly bases per AG 264-2024 as published by the Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias (checked 24 Sep 2026). “Δ %” is the change in the base wage; totals add the Q250 bonus.
What the 7.5% increase looks like in real terms
For a Non-Agricultural CE1 worker on the minimum wage:
| Period | Monthly | Daily (base ÷ 30, payroll convention) | Annual gross (incl. Bono 14 + Aguinaldo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Q3,973.05 | Q124.10 | Q55,122.70 |
| 2026 | Q4,252.28 | Q133.41 | Q59,031.92 |
| Increase | +Q279.23 | +Q9.31 | +Q3,909.22 |
The daily column is the payroll convention, not the decree. Both daily figures above are the monthly base divided by 30, which is what makes them comparable year over year. The 2026 decree’s own daily rate for Non-Agricultural CE1 is Q131.58 (Acuerdo Gubernativo 256-2025) — that is the legal floor, and it is what an employer must not pay below. See the full 2026 table.
The annual gross increase of Q3,909.22 includes the higher monthly cash plus the higher Bono 14 and Aguinaldo (which are calculated on the base salary — Q4,002.28 in 2026 vs Q3,723.05 in 2025).
Historical context — minimum wage trajectory 2020-2026
Non-Agricultural minimum (a single national figure until 2022; CE1, Guatemala department, from 2023). The change is on the base wage:
| Year | Base | Monthly total (+Q250) | Change in base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Q2,825.10 | Q3,075.10 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | Q2,825.10 | Q3,075.10 | 0% (no increase) |
| 2022 | Q2,959.24 | Q3,209.24 | +4.75% |
| 2023 | Q3,166.38 | Q3,416.38 | +7.0% |
| 2024 | Q3,384.59 | Q3,634.59 | +6.9% |
| 2025 | Q3,723.05 | Q3,973.05 | +10.0% |
| 2026 | Q4,002.28 | Q4,252.28 | +7.5% |
Bases 2019-2024 as reported by Prensa Libre (11 Dec 2024); 2025 per AG 264-2024; 2026 per AG 256-2025. Percentages computed from those bases.
The 2025 increase (+10%) is the largest in this series; 2026 (+7.5%) is the second largest.
The 2025 decree saga (AG 258-2024 → AG 263-2024 → AG 264-2024)
For context — and to understand why a single year of minimum wage in Guatemala can be cited under multiple decree numbers — here’s the 2025 process:
- AG 258-2024 issued late December 2024 — initial 2025 wage figure.
- AG 263-2024 issued shortly after — derogated AG 258-2024 and set a revised figure.
- AG 264-2024 issued at the very end of 2024 — final form, replacing AG 263-2024. This is the decree actually in force during 2025.
The back-and-forth reflected disagreement between the government’s initial proposal, employer-side push for lower figures, and worker-side push for higher figures at the National Wage Commission. The final AG 264-2024, published December 27, 2024, set the 2025 Non-Agricultural CE1 figure at Q3,723.05 base + Q250 = Q3,973.05 total.
For 2026, the process was cleaner — a single decree (AG 256-2025), issued December 22, 2025, with no revisions.
How the minimum wage is set (Labor Code, Arts. 103-115)
The Código de Trabajo lays out the procedure step by step. What it does not set is a month for the announcement.
| Step | Who | What the Code says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Commissions appointed | MINTRAB | Appoints the employer and worker members of the joint wage commissions (Comisiones Paritarias de Salarios Mínimos) within the first twenty days of January of the relevant year (Art. 108); members serve two years (Art. 107) |
| 2. Regional or sector recommendation | Joint commissions: two employers, two unionized workers and a labor inspector who chairs (Art. 105) | Send a reasoned recommendation of the minimum wages for their area to the National Wage Commission (Art. 110 a) |
| 3. National opinion | Comisión Nacional del Salario, a technical and advisory body attached to MINTRAB (Art. 105) | Within 15 days of receiving the reports, sends MINTRAB a reasoned opinion that harmonizes wages by activity and economic district (Art. 112) |
| 4. Comments | Monetary Board (Banco de Guatemala) and IGSS | Receive copies and have up to 30 days to comment; if they do not, the Ministry can still decide (Art. 112) |
| 5. Decree | Executive branch, through MINTRAB | Sets the minimum wages annually by acuerdo, stating its reasons in the recitals (Art. 113) |
What the commissions weigh. Art. 103 says the minimum wage must cover the worker’s normal material, moral and cultural needs and take into account each region and the employers’ means in each activity. Art. 111 tells the joint commissions to use the cost-of-living surveys of the national statistics office, prices of housing, clothing and staple foods, employers’ means, and benefits that lower workers’ living costs.
After the decree. The new minimum automatically amends contracts that set a lower wage (Art. 115). During the first four months a decree is in force, at least ten employers or twenty-five workers in the same activity can ask for a revision; later requests are not admitted (Arts. 110 c and 114).
Corrected September 26, 2026: this section listed a commission membership, extra MINTRAB criteria and a July-to-November meeting calendar that had no source. The procedure above is the Labor Code’s (Organismo Judicial edition updated to April 30, 2014).
What employers should do in January 2026
If you employ anyone at or near the minimum wage:
- Update payroll system with new base figures (Q4,002.28 CE1 / Q3,816.90 CE2 / etc.)
- Recalculate IGSS contributions — both employer (~12.67%) and worker (~4.83%) share now apply to the new base
- Notify workers in writing of the adjustment (not legally mandatory but recommended)
- Adjust paystubs showing the two line items clearly: new base salary + Q250 Bonificación incentivo
- Apply retroactively if you were late — the increase took effect Jan 1, 2026
What workers should do
- Check your January paystub — base should reflect the new 2026 figure for your sector/zone
- Verify the Q250 bonus is still on the paystub — frozen at Q250 but must still be paid
- If still on 2025 wage in February 2026: ask employer; if no response, file complaint at MINTRAB
Sector-specific notes
Non-Agricultural sector (largest)
Covers commerce, services, industry, offices, construction, transport, professional services. The Q4,252.28/month CE1 / Q4,066.90/month CE2 minimum is the most commonly referenced figure when people discuss “minimum wage in Guatemala.”
Agricultural sector
Slightly lower minimum, historically justified by the sector’s economic structure (smaller margins, seasonal patterns). The 2026 Agricultural CE1 minimum of Q4,041.20 is Q211 lower than Non-Agricultural CE1.
Maquila / Export sector
The lowest of the three minimums. Historically justified as an “export incentive” — keeping labor costs competitive against Asian and Central American competitors. The 2026 Maquila CE1 minimum of Q3,659.73 is Q593 lower than Non-Agricultural CE1.
Critical note for mixed-task workers: If a worker performs duties in multiple sectors, the highest applicable minimum wage must be paid — not the lowest. A maquila worker who also handles non-agricultural tasks gets the Non-Agricultural rate.
What didn’t change in 2026
- Q250 Bonificación incentivo — still Q250/month, the amount fixed by Decreto 37-2001
- Workday and workweek limits (Constitution Art. 102 g; Labor Code Arts. 116-117) — 8h/44h daytime (the 44 hours are paid as 48), 6h/36h nighttime, 7h/42h mixed
- Bono 14 / Aguinaldo formula — calculated on new base salary, but Q250 still excluded
- Severance formula — still one base salary per year of service
- Vacation entitlement — still 15 working days per year of service
Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión Social (MINTRAB) — Acuerdo Gubernativo Número 256-2025, published in the Diario Oficial December 22, 2025. Official announcement: Diario de Centro América. The agreement PDF that MINTRAB publishes under mintrabajo.gob.gt/doc/AcuerdosGubernativos/2025/ returns 403 to every automated client, so it is named here rather than linked as read.
- Acuerdo Gubernativo Número 264-2024 (final 2025 figure) and predecessors AG 258-2024 (derogated) and AG 263-2024. 2025 figures as published by the Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias (checked 24 Sep 2026). 2019-2024 bases: Prensa Libre, 11 Dec 2024.
- Acuerdo Gubernativo Número 285-2021 — reformed CE1/CE2 framework.
- Acuerdo Gubernativo Número 776-94 — foundational salary decree.
- Código de Trabajo de Guatemala — Decreto 1441, Articles 103-113.
- Decreto 78-89 del Congreso — Ley de Bonificación Incentivo. The Q250 amount was set by Decreto 37-2001, Art. 1, which replaced the bonus of Decretos 78-89 and 7-2000 (official text, Organismo Judicial).
- International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 131 — Minimum Wage Fixing (NORMLEX blocks headless clients; text read through a proxy reader on 2026-09-01).
- Full text: Código de Trabajo (Decreto 1441) — CENADOJ consolidated text.
- Full text of Decreto 78-89: PDF published by the Congreso — an image-only scan with no text layer, so it is not searchable.
- Acuerdos Gubernativos 776-94, 285-2021, 258-2024, 263-2024 and 264-2024: MINTRAB is the publisher and its document paths return 403 to every automated client, so no copy of these agreements could be read on 2026-09-01.
- Verified: May 2026.