Average Salary in Costa Rica

According to the latest data provided by the OECD, the average salary in Costa Rica in 2022 was 13,227,876 Costa Rican Colón per year, the equivalent of USD 25,881.07. At the same time, a month’s salary in Costa Rica was CRC 1,102.323, which is equivalent to USD 1,200.95.

However, the average salary in Costa Rica depends on multiple factors we’ll tackle in this article. Some of the factors you’ll find are related to the industry, education, or region in which Costa Ricans live that determines their salaries.

Please note:

• All data in this article are based on official statistics and reports, such as those from the The National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) and the OECD. Data linked at the end of the article.
• The official currency of Costa Rica is Costa Rican colón (CRC).
• All figures in the article are gross salaries.
• One CRC equals 0.0020 USD when writing this article. Please double-check the exchange rate at the time of reading.

Key statistics

• Average annual salary: CRC13 227 876 (USD 25,881.07). Source: OECD
• Average monthly salary: CRC 1,102.323 (USD 2,148.51). Source: OECD
• Average income (net per capita): CRC8,441,878.7 (USD16 517). Source: OECD
• Median salary: CRC 2,150,000(4,190.87 USD). Source: Salaryexplorer
• Minimum wage: Starts at CCRC 358,000(USD 687). Source: Ministry of Labor
• Gender pay gap: 8.9%Source: World Economic Forum
• Costa Rica became the first country in Central America to join the OECD in 2021 and became the 38th member.
• Costa Rica has the highest minimum wage in Latin America in 2024.
• • Inflation in Costa Rica has decreased significantly in the last years, according to OECD, from 8.3% in 2022 to 3.7% in 2023.

Average salary in Costa Rica

The latest data from the OECD show that the average salary in Costa Rica in 2022 was CRC 13 227,876, the equivalent of USD 25,881.07 per year. The average monthly salary is CRC 1,102.323, which equals USD 1,200.95.

However, according to the Life Index by the OECD, the average household net disposable income per capita is USD 16 517 yearly, lower than the OECD average salaries of USD 30 490.

Median salary 

The median starting salary in Costa Rica is CRC 2,150,000. This figure represents the exact middle of Costa Rican salaries, which offers a more realistic glimpse into the Costa Rican economy and salaries.

50% of the population earns less than CRC 2,150,000, while the other half earns below CRC 2,150,000, according to Salaryexplorer.

Minimum wage

Costa Rica has the highest minimum wage in Latin America in 2024, and the salary growth in the last year was 1.83%. It should be noted that the National Council of Salaries sets the minimum salaries in Costa Rica’s job market.

Currently, the monthly minimum wage in Costa Rica varies as follows:

• For unskilled workers, it is CRC 358,000, the equivalent of USD 687.
• For specialized occupations, it is CRC 463,000, the equivalent of USD 922.
• For university graduates, it is CRC 638,000, the equivalent of USD 1,523.

The above minimum wages are provided by the Ministry of Labor. However, the minimum wage in Costa Rica ranges are high, and for further details, it’s recommended to check the entire list which encompasses tens of minimum wages for different jobs.

Average salary by region

Depending on the region in which Costa Ricans are based, they will have highly different salaries.

According to data from Statista, in 2024, the Central region, home to the capital city, San José, and the country’s most developed urban areas, leads with an average income of CRC 1,295,755, substantially higher than the other regions. This gap highlights a concentration of wealth and economic activity in Costa Rica’s central zone.

Salaryexplorer shows that the gross average salary in San José in 2024 is CRC 2,520,000.

In contrast, the Chorotega and Central Pacific regions followed with incomes of CRC 903,131 and CRC 877,641, respectively. These regions, though economically important due to tourism and agriculture, likely have lower overall incomes as these are tied to the rural nature of their economies.

Brunca, North Huetar, and Caribbean Huetar, with incomes ranging from CRC 795,407 to CRC 816,026, have the lowest average monthly household incomes. These regions tend to be more rural and less economically developed, with lower access to infrastructure and high-income job opportunities. These regions are almost 40% lower than the Central region.

Source: Statists:

Average salary by profession

The Costa Rican job market shows significant wage disparities across different professions, with healthcare and technical roles having the highest compensation.

Dentists lead the salary rankings with an impressive annual base salary of CRC 38,335,655, significantly outperforming other professionals. The technology sector also offers strong earning potential, with Software Engineers and Civil Engineers earning around CRC 19.8 million per year. At the lower end of the scale, service-oriented positions such as Bank Tellers, Tour Guides, and Cashiers earn between CRC 4-6 million annually.

Here is a breakdown of how each profession in Costa Rica stands on online job sites where job seekers have jobs listed:

 Average salary by education

In Costa Rica, there is a significant correlation between educational attainment and earning potential, though the country faces notable educational challenges compared to OECD standards, according to the OECD.

Only 43% of adults aged 25-64 complete upper secondary education in Costa Rica, well below the OECD average of 79%. This educational gap directly is an essential factor that impacts workforce earnings potential.

Costa Rican students spend fewer years in education than the OECD average, too, and their academic performance (scoring 415 in reading, math, and sciences compared to the OECD average of 488). This educational landscape helps explain the salary variations observed across professions, where positions requiring higher education, such as dentistry and engineering, earn significantly higher wages compared to roles with lower educational requirements.

This pattern emphasizes the importance of quality education in determining earning potential in the Costa Rican job market.

Gender wage gap

INEC’s estimates show that in the second quarter of 2023, women earned an average of 91.1% of what men earned.

According to the OECD, the wage gap varies by skill level:

• High-skilled workers: 91.5%
• Middle-skilled workers: 76.0%
• Low-skilled workers: 79.3%

Interesting labor market facts about Costa Rica

Costa Rica has an interesting labor market, and its economic development has been characterized by The World Bank as a “success story in terms of development.” This success has been tied to the openness that Costa Rica had toward foreign direct investment and gradual trade liberalization.

Here are some other hallmarks about the economy and labor market in Costa Rica:

• Inflation in Costa Rica has decreased significantly in the last years, according to OECD, from 8.3% in 2022 to 3.7% in 2023.

• The economy has been transitioning from traditional agricultural exports (like pineapples and bananas) to higher-value sectors like professional services and medical equipment manufacturing.

• Costa Rica made history in 2021 as the first Central American nation to join the OECD, becoming its 38th member.

• Costa Rica holds the distinction of having the highest minimum salary in Latin America at USD 687 for unskilled workers, significantly higher than Uruguay and Chile, which hover around USD 500.

• Household poverty levels in Costa Rica have shown improvement in 2023, decreasing to 21.8%.

• The private sector in Costa Rica faces challenges filling technical and scientific positions despite an unemployment rate of 7.8%.

• The country has an impressive 11% of foreign-born employees in its workforce, one of the highest shares in the region according to the IMF.

• Only 47% of working-age women (15-64 years old) were employed in 2022, compared to 73% of men, creating a significant employment gender gap of 26%.

• Part-time employment is more common among women. About three in ten women who are employed work part-time, compared to one in ten men.

• In urban areas, women’s employment rate exceeds that of rural areas by more than 10% (41.1% vs 30.3%).

• Young women are 1.7 times more likely to be NEETs (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) than young men, with a NEET rate of 28% for women.

• Only about 50% of the working-age population has a paid job, indicating room for labor market improvement.

• Education significantly impacts employment prospects. Women with tertiary education have a 63% employment rate compared to just 24% for those with primary education or less

• Indigenous women face particularly severe employment challenges, with only 16.9% employed compared to 56.2% of Indigenous men.

• Four sectors of Costa Rica account for 57% of total employed women: trade and repair, hotels and restaurants, education and healthcare, and households as employers.

Comparison with other countries

Costa Rica’s average annual salary of USD 25,881 positions it in the middle range among Latin American countries but significantly below developed nations. When compared to other countries in the region, Costa Rica’s wages are higher than Colombia’s (USD 9,390), Mexico’s (USD 11,715), and Bolivia’s (USD 470). However, it falls behind Chile (USD 1,200 per month) and Uruguay (USD 990 per month).

The gap becomes more pronounced when compared with developed nations.

The United States averages USD 65,470 annually, Germany averages around USD 54,000, and Canada averages USD 55,000. Costa Rica distinguishes itself by having the highest minimum wage in Latin America at USD 687 for unskilled workers, significantly higher than regional competitors like Uruguay and Chile, which hover around USD 500.

However, it’s important to note that these comparisons don’t account for differences in cost of living, tax systems, and purchasing power across countries, which can significantly impact the real value of these salaries.

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Sources:

https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/costa-rica/#:~:text=In%20Costa%20Rica%2C%20the%20average,OECD%20employment%20average%20of%2066%25.

https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?df[ds]=DisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_EARNINGS%40AV_AN_WAGE&df[ag]=OECD.ELS.SAE&dq=……&pd=2000%2C&to[TIME_PERIOD]=false&vw=tb

https://www.salaryexplorer.com/average-salary-wage-comparison-costa-rica-c52

https://www.mtss.go.cr/temas-laborales/salarios/Documentos-Salarios/lista_salarios_2024.pdf

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1400797/average-monthly-household-income-by-region-costa-rica/#:~:text=Services-,About%20Statista,Read%20more

https://www.salaryexpert.com/salary/browse/jobs/popular/costa-rica

https://inec.cr/wwwisis/documentos/DOCUMENTOS%20SIN%20ANALIZAR/Documentos%20OECD%20CR/Making%20growth%20more%20inclusive%20in%20Costa%20Rica.pdf

https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/gender-equality-in-costa-rica_a25e8f8a-en