Calculate Recruitment Cost in Pakistan
Pakistan Salary Calculator 2026
From EOBI pension contributions to province-specific social security , understand the full statutory and direct cost of every hire across Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and beyond.
PKR 120,000
Avg. cost per hire
38 days
avg time to fil
10–20%
recruitment agency range
Start Hiring in Pakistan
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The Full Picture
What Makes Up Pakistan Recruitment Costs?
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Job Board Advertising
PKR 3,000–40,000/post
Pakistan's primary platforms are Rozee, Qureos, Mustakbil, BrightSpyre, and LinkedIn for senior hires. Standard postings cost PKR 3,000–20,000 on Rozee and PKR 8,000–40,000 on LinkedIn. Annual subscriptions offer better value for high-volume hiring.
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Recruitment Agency Fees
10–20% of annual salary
Pakistani agencies charge 10–20% of first-year salary, with executive search reaching 25% for C-suite. Pay-on-success structures are common. Key players include HR Business Solutions, Hillcrest, and ASK Development nationwide.
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Provincial Social Security
PKR 0–28,800/year (province-dependent)
Provincial social security contributions are 6% of wages across PESSI, SESSI, KPESSI, and BESSI. Most professional hires are capped at approximately PKR 28,800/year. Islamabad ICT companies pay zero provincial social security contributions.
EOBI Contribution
PKR 24,000/year (flat amount, all employees)
EOBI requires a fixed employer contribution of PKR 2,000/month per employee, totalling PKR 24,000/year regardless of actual salary. The minimum wage base was raised to PKR 40,000 for FY 2025–26.
Background & Reference Checks
PKR 1,000–8,000
Basic education and address verification costs PKR 1,000–3,000. Comprehensive packages including employment history and police clearance run PKR 3,000–8,000. CNIC and NADRA verification is recommended as a baseline for all hires.
Relocation & Onboarding
PKR 15,000–100,000
Inter-city relocation costs PKR 20,000–60,000, rising to PKR 200,000+ for senior or international hires. Onboarding adds PKR 15,000–40,000. Standard packages include housing allowance at 45–50% of basic salary and transport allowance.
Industry Data 2026
Pakistan Cost-Per-Hire Benchmarks
Pakistan's hiring is concentrated in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Karachi leads with average salaries of PKR 88,700/month, followed by Lahore at PKR 87,200 and Islamabad at PKR 76,700 for mid-level roles.
Role Type
Annual Salary Range (PKR)
Avg. Cost Per Hire
Difficulty
Time to Fill
Software Engineer
1,200,000–3,600,000
145,000
32 days
High
Sales Manager
900,000–2,160,000
95,000
35 days
Medium
Finance Analyst
840,000–2,400,000
85,000
30 days
Medium
HR Specialist
600,000–1,440,000
62,000
25 days
Low
Marketing Manager
960,000–2,880,000
105,000
33 days
Medium
Operations Lead
720,000–1,560,000
72,000
28 days
Low–Medium
C-Suite / Director
3,600,000–9,600,000
780,000
60 days
Very High
Cost Reduction Guide
3 Ways to Reduce Your Pakistan Hiring Costs
1
Identify your province before calculating statutory costs
Islamabad ICT companies pay EOBI only at PKR 24,000/year per hire, while Lahore and Karachi companies pay both EOBI and PESSI at PKR 52,800/year, a 55% cost difference per employee.
2
Enter EOBI as a flat PKR amount, not a salary percentage
EOBI is calculated on the government minimum wage, not actual salary. A PKR 300,000/month engineer costs the same as an entry-level worker: PKR 2,000/month. Miscalculating this overstates statutory costs significantly.
3
Structure packages with allowances to manage gratuity accrual
Gratuity is calculated on basic salary only under the Standing Orders Ordinance 1968. Structuring packages with higher allowances and lower basic salary can halve end-of-service liability without reducing overall offer attractiveness.
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Pakistan Recruitment Cost FAQs
What is the average cost per hire in Pakistan?
The average cost per hire in Pakistan ranges from PKR 45,000 for entry-level positions to PKR 350,000+ for executive roles, including job board costs, agency fees, background verification, compliance documentation, and internal time costs. For professional mid-market hires (software engineers, finance analysts, marketing managers), the realistic all-in recruitment cost, including statutory contributions, falls between PKR 80,000 and PKR 200,000 per hire.
How does EOBI work and how much does it cost employers?
EOBI is Pakistan's federal old-age pension scheme covering all employees in registered establishments with five or more workers. The employer contribution is 5% of minimum wages and the employee contribution is 1% of minimum wages, with the total contribution submitted to EOBI via the official portal or authorised banks. For FY 2025–26, the minimum wage is PKR 40,000/month, making the employer's fixed cost PKR 2,000/month (PKR 24,000/year) regardless of what the employee actually earns.
What is the difference between EOBI and Provincial Social Security?
EOBI is a federal pension scheme administered by one national institution and applies uniformly across Pakistan. Provincial social security (PESSI, SESSI, KPESSI, BESSI) is healthcare and injury insurance administered separately by each province at 6% of wages up to a salary ceiling. Employers in Punjab, Sindh, KP, and Balochistan are subject to both. Employers registered in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) pay EOBI only, as no provincial social security institution exists for the federal capital territory.
How is gratuity calculated in Pakistan?
In accordance with the provisions of law, the rate of gratuity is thirty days' wages for every completed year of service or any period in excess of six months. Any employment period exceeding six months is considered a full year. Gratuity is based on basic salary only, uses a ÷30 daily wage divisor (not ÷26 as in Kuwait), and requires a minimum of 12 months of continuous service to trigger eligibility. For a PKR 120,000/month basic salary employee, Year-1 accrual equals PKR 120,000.
From Cost to Candidates in One Click
Learn how Qureos helps Pakistan employers access pre-screened candidates across Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad , cutting agency fees and moving from first search to hired in days, not weeks.
