Tonga
0%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2023)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Kiribati
Updated Data years: 2020, 2023 How we use data
Older data (2020) The latest official figure is from 2020. It may not reflect today's labour market.
Quick answer
In Kiribati, employees with tertiary education earned a median of A$902 a month in 2023 (PPP$ 960) — +110% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 1.8%, against 7.5% for all adults aged 25 and over (2020).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +110%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2023)
- A$902median monthly pay with tertiary education (2023)
- 1.8%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 7.5%, 2020)
- 20.1%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2020)
Do graduates earn more in Kiribati?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic education | A$370 | 394 | -14% |
| Intermediate education | A$580 | 618 | +35% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | A$902 | 960 | +110% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | A$900 | 959 | +109% |
| Master's or equivalent | A$1,394 | 1,484 | +224% |
| All levels | A$430 | 458 | — |
The degree premium ranks 24 of 128 countries with data. That is above the East Asia and Pacific median of +52%.
Which occupations pay the most in Kiribati?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2023, from highest to lowest. Examples link to our career profiles.
| Occupation group | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | A$760 | 809 | +77% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | A$599 | 638 | +39% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | A$576 | 614 | +34% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | A$542 | 577 | +26% |
| Clerical support workers | A$540 | 575 | +26% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | A$500 | 533 | +16% |
| Craft and related trades workers | A$400 | 426 | -7% |
| Elementary occupations | A$386 | 411 | -10% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | A$335 | 357 | -22% |
| All occupations | A$430 | 458 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Kiribati?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 6.0% | — |
| Basic education | 6.6% | 21.1% |
| Intermediate education | 9.4% | 31.3% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 1.8% | 20.1% |
| All levels | 7.5% | 27.0% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 10 lowest of 130 countries with data. The East Asia and Pacific median is 2.3%.
Studying and working in Kiribati
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
- 136.5K (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $3,937 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 5.0% (2024)
Questions about graduate jobs in Kiribati
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Kiribati?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Kiribati with tertiary education earned a median of A$902 a month in 2023, compared with A$430 for all employees — +110%. The degree premium ranks 24 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Kiribati?
In 2020, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Kiribati was 1.8%, compared with 7.5% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 20.1%.
Which jobs pay the most in Kiribati?
The best-paid occupation group in Kiribati in 2023 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of A$760 (PPP$ 809). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of A$576.
Compare with other countries in East Asia and Pacific
-
-
Samoa
+53%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Marshall Islands
+67%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2019) -
Fiji
+40%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Palau
+68%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2023) -
Timor-Leste
+50%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2021)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — HIES - Household Income and Expenditure Survey, 2023
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — HIES - Household Income and Expenditure Survey, 2023
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — PC - Population Census, 2020
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Kiribati: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/kiribati/ (accessed September 26, 2026)