Finding a job in Cambodia
Job boards, in-demand sectors (NGOs, hospitality, finance, IT, education), expat salaries, chambers of commerce and steps for a salaried position in Cambodia.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Reading
- 7 min
In 3 bullets
- Three local sites dominate the salaried job hunt: BongThom.com, CamHR and Pelprek. Expat positions also come through LinkedIn and the chambers of commerce (CCIFC, EuroCham, AmCham).
- Sectors recruiting international profiles: NGOs / cooperation, upmarket hospitality, finance (international banks, fintech), IT / dev, international schools, consulting / audit (Big Four all established).
- Without a sponsoring company, no work permit: landing the offer happens before arrival or during an exploratory stay on a tourist visa, then you switch to a Business (EB) visa + work permit. See work permit.
Where to look
Local job boards
| Site | Coverage | Typical audience |
|---|---|---|
| BongThom.com | All sectors, many NGOs | Historical reference |
| CamHR.com | Private, multinationals | Good HR listings |
| Pelprek | All sectors, focus on graduates / mid-level | High volume |
| Top Recruitment Cambodia | Executives and managerial roles | Headhunting |
See the employment section of the directory for detailed profiles of each player.
International networks
- LinkedIn remains the no. 1 channel for anglophone and expat positions. Activate alerts on “Cambodia” + sector.
- Devex for NGO / cooperation positions.
- ReliefWeb for humanitarian and emergency work.
- Chambers of commerce regularly publish offers and organise networking evenings where CVs circulate: CCIFC (France-Cambodia), EuroCham, AmCham, BritCham, JBA (Japan).
Recruitment firms & headhunters
For senior positions (≥ 3,000 USD/month), going through a local firm speeds things up considerably: HRINC Cambodia, Top Recruitment Cambodia, Pelprek Executive Search. They know the going rates and know how to negotiate the expat package.
In-demand sectors
- NGOs / cooperation: heavily represented in Phnom Penh — education, health, rural development, human rights. Moderate salaries (1,200 – 3,000 USD/month depending on seniority) but benefits (housing, flights, children’s schooling) often included.
- 4–5 hospitality / upmarket restaurants*: Siem Reap and Phnom Penh recruit for management, F&B, spa. Francophone profiles sought on the coast (Kep, Kampot).
- Finance: international banks (Maybank, UOB, ANZ Royal), audit/consulting (Big Four all present), fintech (Wing, Pi Pay) on technical or compliance roles.
- IT / development: local agencies (Pathmazing, Adfinity, Phare) recruit senior devs. Strongly growing remote/freelance market.
- International education: LFRD (AEFE), ISPP, NISC, iCAN, bilingual schools. Certified teaching profiles. See schools in Phnom Penh.
- Medical: francophone private clinics (AEMC, Khema) occasionally seek doctors and experienced nurses.
Indicative salaries
2024-2025 market data, to be used as orders of magnitude — each package is negotiated.
| Profile | Gross monthly USD |
|---|---|
| International school teacher (5 yrs XP) | 2,000 – 4,000 |
| NGO project manager (5 yrs XP) | 2,000 – 3,500 |
| Big Four senior auditor / consultant | 2,500 – 4,500 |
| 5* hospitality manager | 2,500 – 5,000 |
| Senior dev / tech lead | 2,500 – 5,000 |
| Expat doctor | 4,000 – 8,000 |
| Country / establishment director | 5,000 – 10,000+ |
Frequent benefits: housing (500–1,500 USD/month), annual return flights, children’s schooling for families, international health insurance.
Steps once the offer is accepted
- Sign the contract (FDC or UDC — see employment contract).
- Business visa (EB) on arrival or at the border. See Business EB visa.
- Work permit filed by the employer via the FWCMS portal (fwcms.mlvt.gov.kh). See work permit.
- NSSF registration by the employer (Cambodian social security).
- Tax number (TIN) and salary tax (ToS) declaration — the employer withholds at source. See salary tax ToS.
Common pitfalls
FAQ
Do you need to speak Khmer?
No, English is enough for 95% of expat positions. French remains an asset in francophone NGOs, upmarket hotels and certain schools. Khmer is a real plus if you’re aiming for a long career in the country.
Can you job-hunt on site with a tourist visa?
Yes — many expats arrive on a T (tourist) visa to explore, do the interviews, then switch to an EB visa once the offer is signed. The e-Visa EB is then obtained by border run (visa run) or by changing status on site.
How long to land a position?
Count on 2 to 6 months of active prospecting for a qualified position. NGO / education profiles can move faster via the chambers of commerce; corporate profiles are slower.
Is there a legal minimum wage?
A legal minimum wage only exists for the textile / footwear / leather goods sector (208 USD/month in 2024, negotiated annually by the National Council on Minimum Wage). For other sectors, the salary is freely negotiated in the contract — see employment contract.
Can my employer refuse to pay for the work permit?
Legally, the expat work permit is the employer’s responsibility (administrative fees, FWCMS filing). This is a point to lock down in the contract before signing, as some small structures try to invoice it to the employee.
Sources (3)
Every fact in this guide comes from official documents or government sites. An access date is recorded for each source.