Uzbekistan's average monthly nominal wages rose 17.4% y/y in the first quarter to UZS 6.83mn ($568), according to national statistical committee data. 

The increase extends a multi-year trend. Average monthly nominal wages rose from UZS 3.42mn ($284) in 2022 to UZS 4.11mn ($342) in 2023, UZS 4.91mn ($408) in 2024 and UZS 5.82mn ($484) in 2025.

The gains, however, remain unevenly distributed. Tashkent continues to dominate as the country’s highest-paying labour market, with UZS 11.68mn ($971), almost 1.7 times the national average wage and showing annual growth of 18.8%.

By contrast, first-quarter wages in several regions cluster closer to UZS 5mn. Navoi region stands out with a relatively high UZS 8.45mn ($703), while Andijan (UZS 5.58mn/$464), Bukhara (UZS 5.47mn/$455) and Sirdarya (UZS 5.37mn/$447) form a mid-tier.

Lower levels were observed in Kashkadarya (UZS 4.67mn/$388) and Tashkent region (UZS 4.72mn/$393), with the latter also posting one of the slowest growth rates at 12.1%.

Some regions recorded faster relative increases despite lower base levels. Namangan saw wages rise 19% y/y to UZS 5.10mn ($424), while Jizzakh and Samarkand posted growth rates above 16%, suggesting gradual convergence from below.

Sector data point to a widening gap between high-productivity industries and the rest of the economy. Financial services, including banking, insurance and leasing, offered the highest wages at UZS 18.6mn ($1,547), followed by information and communication at UZS 16.5mn ($1,372).

Transport and storage also emerged as a standout, with wages reaching UZS 10.7mn ($890) after a 22.5% increase, marking the fastest growth among all sectors.

By comparison, traditional and social sectors remain well below the national average. Education wages stood at UZS 4.62mn ($384), while healthcare and social services lagged further behind at UZS 4.11mn ($342), despite double-digit growth rates of 14.2% and 13%.

Industrial sector wages rose 16.1% to UZS 8.03mn ($668), broadly in line with the national trend, while construction (UZS 6.50mn/$541) recording a more modest 7.2% increase, the slowest in fact among major sectors.

Since 2022, monthly average nominal wages in financial services have increased by more than UZS 10mn ($831), while the information and communication sector has seen a similar absolute gain ($831). Transport and storage wages have risen by over UZS 6mn ($499) in the same period.

In contrast, gains in lower-paying sectors such as education and healthcare have been more limited in absolute terms, reinforcing a widening income gap tied to productivity and capital intensity.