Argentine provincial public sector salary trends

A national report from the Secretariat of National Education identified Mendoza as having the lowest teacher salaries in Argentina, with a gross salary for a primary school teacher with 10 years of seniority recorded at $935,449.89. This figure is approximately $373,200 below the national weighted average. Data indicates that teacher salaries have lost purchasing power in 22 of Argentina’s 24 provinces since December 2023, a trend analysts attribute to high inflation and the elimination of the National Teacher Incentive Fund (FONID). Mendoza provincial authorities have criticized the report, arguing it fails to account for specific remunerative items and bonuses that increase actual earnings. They noted the data reflects June figures and excludes recent salary increases negotiated with the Sindicato Unido de Trabajadores de la Educación (SUTE) that took effect in August. In response to economic pressures, provincial governments have implemented adjustment schemes. In Mendoza, Decree 1518 establishes increases for police and penitentiary personnel, including a 7% salary increase set for August 2026 and a rise in the General Function Additional to 38% starting in July 2026. In Chaco, Decree 1855/2026 implements a phased salary recomposition, beginning with a 5% increase in August and a subsequent 5% increase scheduled for November. In Tierra del Fuego, Governor Gustavo Melella stated that while the administration seeks to improve wages, any new increases are “strictly dependent on provincial resource availability,” which has been impacted by declining federal tax sharing and reduced economic activity. National resource trends continue to impact provincial stability. A report from the Congressional Budget Office (OPC) indicates that national resources sent to provinces decreased by 1% in constant values during the first seven months of 2026.