Payroll in Mauritania

Wages

In Mauritania the monthly minimum wages range from 76,000 MRU to 112,000 MRU. Central sphere minimum wages, excluding those based on piecework, range from 2,800 MRU to 4,150 MRU per day. The central sphere includes businesses under the authority of the Mining Ministry, offshore fisheries, national banks, rail transport, and state energy conglomerates. Central sphere minimum wages are also specified for mine technicians, ship crews, financial auditors, and hazardous waste handlers.

Salaries

The overall average annual salary in Mauritania is approximately 1,240,000 MRU per year, and the monthly median salary is roughly 103,000 MRU per month.

By gender, the average annual salary for men is 1,410,000 MRU, while the annual average salary for women is 940,000 MRU.

Salaries by location in Mauritania

Nouakchott: Known for offering salaries 28% higher than the national average for finance and tech roles 

Nouadhibou: Offers mining/oil salaries 35% above national averages but 18% lower in service sectors 

Payroll frequency

In Mauritania, monthly salary payments are the most common, primarily for salaried employees such as white-collar professionals, government workers, and corporate employees. These salaries are usually paid at the end of the month or within the first week of the next month. 

Under the Labor Ordinance (Article 188), companies with 50+ employees must pay wages by the 7th of every month, while smaller companies must pay by the 12th. Annual payments are made for performance bonuses, Tabaski bonuses, annual increments, and end-of-service indemnity. 

Weekly payments are common in industries employing daily wage workers, mining laborers, construction workers, and some contractual employees, with wages typically paid once a week on Fridays. Daily wage workers, such as artisanal miners, agricultural workers, and fishing crew, are usually paid at the end of each working day. 

Bi-weekly (twice a month) payments, though rare, are sometimes used for freelance auditors or mining subcontractors, with wages disbursed every 15 days. In addition to regular wages, annual payments are made for bonuses and incentives, benefiting corporate employees, government workers, and public sector unit (PSU) employees.