Argentina's minimum, living and adjustable wage (SMVM) is 391,200 pesos per month from 1 October 2026 and will rise every month to 437,000 pesos in April 2027, under Resolution 4/2026 of the [National Council for Employment, Productivity and the Minimum Wage](https://www.argentina.gob.ar/trabajo/consejodelsalario). The government set the schedule by arbitration, without agreement between unions and employers, El Cronista reported.
Over the last year, the minimum wage rose less than inflation. Here are the monthly amounts, the hourly rate, how much it lost against prices and who it affects.
Minimum wage in Argentina month by month
| From | Monthly | Hourly (day workers) | Unemployment benefit (min / max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | 383,800 | 1,919 | 191,800 / 383,800 |
| 1 October 2026 | 391,200 | 1,956 | 195,600 / 391,200 |
| 1 November 2026 | 398,800 | 1,994 | 199,400 / 398,800 |
| 1 December 2026 | 406,400 | 2,032 | 203,200 / 406,400 |
| 1 January 2027 | 414,200 | 2,071 | Not yet published |
| 1 February 2027 | 422,000 | 2,110 | Not yet published |
| 1 March 2027 | 429,600 | 2,148 | Not yet published |
| 1 April 2027 | 437,000 | 2,185 | Not yet published |
Amounts in Argentine pesos. September to December values and the unemployment benefit are those published by the Wage Council; 2027 values come from the schedule reported by El Cronista and other media. The hourly rate is the monthly amount divided by 200.
How much the minimum wage in Argentina rose over the last year
| Month | Monthly minimum wage | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| October 2025 | 322,200 | Previous scale |
| November 2025 | 328,400 | Resolution 9/2025 |
| January 2026 | 341,000 | Resolution 9/2025 |
| April 2026 | 357,800 | Resolution 9/2025 |
| August 2026 | 376,600 | Resolution 9/2025 |
| October 2026 | 391,200 | Resolution 4/2026 |
Resolution 9/2025 values are those reported by Canal 26 and La Capital. Between October 2025 and October 2026, the minimum wage rose 21.4% in pesos, while annual inflation to September was 33.4%, according to INDEC. In real terms, it lost about 9% of its purchasing power in a year (our calculation).
How much the minimum wage in Argentina rises until April 2027
| Period | From | To | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 to April 2027 | 376,600 | 437,000 | 16.0% |
| September 2026 to April 2027 | 383,800 | 437,000 | 13.9% |
| October 2026 to April 2027 | 391,200 | 437,000 | 11.7% |
Our calculation. The scheduled monthly increases are around 1.9% to 2.0%, very close to September's inflation (1.9%). If inflation runs faster, the minimum wage will keep losing purchasing power; if it slows, it will partly recover.
Why the government set it by arbitration
The Wage Council brings together unions, employers and the state. The 2026 meeting ended without agreement: the CGT and the two CTA union federations asked for a minimum wage of around 911,000 pesos, according to El Cronista. The Council's president, Claudia Silvana Testa, set the schedule by arbitration, and the resolution was published in the Official Gazette on 2 September. "What they offered us was laughable", said CGT co-secretary Cristian Jerónimo.
Who the minimum wage affects
- Registered full-time workers: no salary may be below the SMVM.
- Unemployment benefit: 75% of the best monthly pay, with a floor of 50% and a cap of 100% of the minimum wage.
- Social programs and child support that use the minimum wage as a reference.
- Collective agreements: most already pay more, so the SMVM is no longer the benchmark for wage talks, according to El Cronista.
Day workers are paid 1,956 pesos per hour in October; a half-time worker is entitled to half the monthly amount, 195,600 pesos; an 8-hour day comes to 15,648 pesos. The Employment Contract Law defines the minimum wage as the lowest pay a worker without dependents must receive for a full legal working day.
Is the minimum wage enough for the basic basket?
No. El Cronista calculated the minimum wage was about 130,000 pesos below July's total basic basket (CBT) of 506,381 pesos for one adult. The latest values are in the September 2026 basic basket.
| Comparison (November 2026) | Amount (ARS) |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage | 398,800 |
| Minimum pension with bonus | 514,158.45 |
| President's gross salary | 4,066,018 |
The minimum pension is explained in ANSES pensions for November, and the president's salary in how much Argentina's president earns. The regional comparison is in the Latin America minimum wage ranking.
Frequently asked questions
What is Argentina's minimum wage in October 2026?
391,200 pesos per month or 1,956 pesos per hour for day workers, under Resolution 4/2026.
What will it be in November 2026?
398,800 pesos per month.
Until when are increases scheduled?
Until April 2027, when it reaches 437,000 pesos.
Did the minimum wage beat inflation?
No. It rose 21.4% between October 2025 and October 2026, while annual inflation to September was 33.4%.
