Paraguay
+49%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2017)
Graduate jobs and salaries in El Salvador
Updated Data years: 2025 How we use data
Quick answer
In El Salvador, employees with tertiary education earned a median of $544 a month in 2025 (PPP$ 1,161) — +26% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 3.0%, against 2.2% for all adults aged 25 and over (2025).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +26%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2025)
- $544median monthly pay with tertiary education (2025)
- 3.0%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 2.2%, 2025)
- 9.3%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2025)
Do graduates earn more in El Salvador?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | $325 | 693 | -25% |
| Basic education | $396 | 844 | -9% |
| Intermediate education | $442 | 943 | +2% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | $544 | 1,161 | +26% |
| Short-cycle tertiary | $463 | 988 | +7% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | $758 | 1,617 | +75% |
| Master's or equivalent | $849 | 1,810 | +96% |
| All levels | $433 | 924 | — |
The degree premium ranks 98 of 128 countries with data. That is below the Latin America and the Caribbean median of +67%.
Earnings over time (PPP$ a month)
Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
PPP$ values are in current international dollars, so part of the rise reflects inflation.
Which occupations pay the most in El Salvador?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2025, 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 | $894 | 1,906 | +106% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | $756 | 1,613 | +75% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | $542 | 1,155 | +25% |
| Clerical support workers | $499 | 1,063 | +15% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | $459 | 978 | +6% |
| Craft and related trades workers | $433 | 924 | 0% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | $428 | 914 | -1% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | $347 | 739 | -20% |
| Elementary occupations | $325 | 693 | -25% |
| All occupations | $433 | 924 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in El Salvador?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 1.1% | — |
| Basic education | 2.0% | 5.0% |
| Intermediate education | 2.6% | 10.2% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 3.0% | 9.3% |
| All levels | 2.2% | 7.4% |
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 El Salvador
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
- 6.4M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $14,101 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 32.8% (2024)
Questions about graduate jobs in El Salvador
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in El Salvador?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in El Salvador with tertiary education earned a median of $544 a month in 2025, compared with $433 for all employees — +26%. The degree premium ranks 98 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in El Salvador?
In 2025, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in El Salvador was 3.0%, compared with 2.2% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 9.3%.
Which jobs pay the most in El Salvador?
The best-paid occupation group in El Salvador in 2025 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of $894 (PPP$ 1,906). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of $756.
Compare with other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean
Compare El Salvador side by side
-
-
Costa Rica
+106%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
Panama
+72%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
Honduras
+150%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
Dominican Republic
+101%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
Uruguay
+65%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — HS - Multi-purpose Household Survey, 2025
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — HS - Multi-purpose Household Survey, 2025
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — HS - Multi-purpose Household Survey, 2025
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). El Salvador: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/el-salvador/ (accessed September 26, 2026)