How much does a Sherpa get paid?

While a Western guide can make about $50,000 per season, Sherpas only earn about $2,000 to $5,000 per season, with bonuses if they reach the summit. That's far more than the $48 average monthly salary in Nepal, but the job is also tremendously dangerous. Would you climb Mount Everest without a harness for $100,000?



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Sherpas make at least $2,000 per climbing season, considerably more than the median income of Nepal, which comes in at around $540 per year. Elite Sherpas can make as much as $4,000 – $5,000 in just two months. By comparison, Western guides make as much as $50,000, plus tips.

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Since 1922, when the first attempt to climb Everest was made, 193 climbers and 125 Sherpas have died on both sides of the mountain.

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Similarly climbing Mt Everest without the help of Sherpas is difficult bout not impossible. Many climbers have summited without the use of supplemental oxygen. Many climbers try to do the same each year. Climbing Mt Everest without Sherpas is climbing without any support system.

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All that stuff has to get to basecamp too and Sherpas take care of that. Either yaks (herded and owned by Sherpas) or porters (usually Sherpa, Tamang or other local people) carry all these loads to basecamp. So carrying is a big part of what they help us with. Guiding is another.

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