From 1974 to 1975, Pavlov worked as a senior economist in the Department of Financing and Agricultural Control of the Financial Department in the Pavlodar Regional Executive Committee. From 1975 to 1976, he served as an officer in the Soviet Army. From 1976 to 1987, Pavlov was the Deputy Head of the Finance Department, Head of the Planning and Economic Department of Lenin Pavlodar Tractor Plant. In 1987, he became the head of the Financial Department of the Pavlodar Regional Executive Committee. From 1991 to 1992, he was a Deputy Chairman of the Pavlodar Regional Executive Committee. In 1992, Pavlov became the Deputy Head of the Pavlodar Regional Administration From March to October 1994, he was the Head of the Main Tax Inspectorate and the First Deputy Minister of Finance. In October 1994, Pavlov became the Minister of Finance and in September 1996, the Deputy Prime Minister at the same time until 1999. In May 1998, he submitted his letter of resignation to Nazarbayev. He was accused by several media of lobbying the interests of private firms. The resignation was declined. On 12 October 1999, Pavlov was appointed as the First Deputy Prime Minister, to which he served the position until November 2000. From September 2001, he was the member of the Council of Entrepreneurs under the President of Kazakhstan. From 2001 to 2002, Pavlov was the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Management Board of Kazakhmys Corporation. In 29 January 2002, Pavlov became the Deputy Prime Minister again while at the same time as the Minister of Finance.. In 28 August 2002, he was reappointed as the First Deputy Prime Minister to which he served until 6 January 2004. From 12 March 2004, he was one of the three deputy chairmen of the Nur Otan party along with Amangeldy Ermegiaev and Zharmakhan Tuyakbay, and became sole deputy chairman on 4 July 2007 until 2009. Since 25 March 2004, he's currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Halyk Savings Bank of Kazakhstan JSC. From 22 October 2005, Pavlov was an independent member of the Board of Directors of Kazakhstan Holding for Asset Management Samruk JSC. Since September 2007, Pavlov is the Member of the Council of National Investors under the President of Kazakhstan.