Demand for senior managers is rising in Kyrgyzstan, but salaries are not keeping pace

Demand for senior managers has risen in Kyrgyzstan – at the start of 2026, the number of vacancies increased by 11.9%, yet salaries have remained virtually unchanged.

According to data from the HeadHunter platform, in the first quarter of 2026, the ‘senior and middle management’ market saw an 11.9% increase in employer activity compared to the same period in 2025. At the same time, the median salary rose by just 5,000 som, from 85,000 to 80,000 som.

The greatest demand is for IT directors (CIOs): their share reached 19.3%, with a 141.7% increase in vacancies. Marketing managers, commercial directors and PR directors are also in high demand. The fastest growth was seen among legal directors – 163.6%.

IT directors have become the salary leaders, earning around 150,000 som. Meanwhile, financial directors receive around 70,000 som, and CEOs an average of 100,000 som.

The rise in the number of vacancies alongside stagnant salaries points to an imbalance: companies are actively seeking managers but are not prepared to increase their offers.

In 2025, managers’ salaries ranged from 85,000 som at the start of the year to a peak of 100,000 som, before falling to 90,000 som by the end of the year — the market entered 2026 at this level.