Bahamas
+47%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Barbados
Updated Data years: 2016, 2024 How we use data
Older data (2016) The latest official figure is from 2016. It may not reflect today's labour market.
Quick answer
In Barbados, employees with tertiary education earned a median of BBD 4,000 a month in 2016 (PPP$ 1,667) — +99% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 3.0%, against 4.7% for all adults aged 25 and over (2024).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +99%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2016)
- BBD 4,000median monthly pay with tertiary education (2016)
- 3.0%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 4.7%, 2024)
Do graduates earn more in Barbados?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic education | BBD 1,671 | 696 | -17% |
| Intermediate education | BBD 1,900 | 792 | -5% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | BBD 4,000 | 1,667 | +99% |
| All levels | BBD 2,006 | 836 | — |
The degree premium ranks 28 of 128 countries with data. That is above the Latin America and the Caribbean median of +67%.
Which occupations pay the most in Barbados?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2016, from highest to lowest. Examples link to our career profiles.
| Occupation group | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | BBD 4,909 | 2,046 | +145% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | BBD 4,600 | 1,917 | +129% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | BBD 2,883 | 1,201 | +44% |
| Clerical support workers | BBD 2,600 | 1,083 | +30% |
| Craft and related trades workers | BBD 2,000 | 833 | 0% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | BBD 1,906 | 794 | -5% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | BBD 1,600 | 667 | -20% |
| Elementary occupations | BBD 1,499 | 625 | -25% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | BBD 1,400 | 583 | -30% |
| All occupations | BBD 2,006 | 836 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Barbados?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic education | 5.7% | 21.1% |
| Intermediate education | 5.1% | — |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 3.0% | — |
| All levels | 4.7% | 16.4% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 41 lowest of 130 countries with data. The Latin America and the Caribbean median is 3.9%.
Unemployment over time, adults 25+
Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
Studying and working in Barbados
Rules on student visas, work after graduation and recognition of qualifications change often. Use the official sources below and check the date on any advice you read.
Guide: how to choose a country to study in · Guide: getting your degree recognised abroad
Country context
- Population
- 282.6K (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $25,894 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 50.8% (2025)
Questions about graduate jobs in Barbados
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Barbados?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Barbados with tertiary education earned a median of BBD 4,000 a month in 2016, compared with BBD 2,006 for all employees — +99%. The degree premium ranks 28 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Barbados?
In 2024, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Barbados was 3.0%, compared with 4.7% for all adults.
Which jobs pay the most in Barbados?
The best-paid occupation group in Barbados in 2016 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of BBD 4,909 (PPP$ 2,046). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of BBD 4,600.
Compare with other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean
-
-
Belize
+67%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2019) -
Saint Lucia
+185%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2016) -
Suriname
+78%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2016) -
Guyana
+46%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Antigua and Barbuda
+40%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2023)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — HIES - Survey on Living Conditions, 2016
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — HIES - Survey on Living Conditions, 2016
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2024
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Barbados: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/barbados/ (accessed September 26, 2026)