Palau
+68%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2023)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Marshall Islands
Updated Data years: 2019, 2021 How we use data
Older data (2019) The latest official figure is from 2019. It may not reflect today's labour market.
Quick answer
In Marshall Islands, employees with tertiary education earned a median of $1,000 a month in 2019 (PPP$ 1,007) — +67% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 1.3%, against 7.3% for all adults aged 25 and over (2021).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +67%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2019)
- $1,000median monthly pay with tertiary education (2019)
- 1.3%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 7.3%, 2021)
Do graduates earn more in Marshall Islands?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic education | $474 | 477 | -21% |
| Intermediate education | $560 | 564 | -7% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | $1,000 | 1,007 | +67% |
| Short-cycle tertiary | $833 | 839 | +39% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | $1,444 | 1,454 | +141% |
| All levels | $600 | 604 | — |
The degree premium ranks 48 of 128 countries with data. That is above the East Asia and Pacific median of +52%.
Which occupations pay the most in Marshall Islands?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2019, from highest to lowest. Examples link to our career profiles.
| Occupation group | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | $1,000 | 1,007 | +67% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | $1,000 | 1,007 | +67% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | $807 | 813 | +35% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | $567 | 571 | -5% |
| Craft and related trades workers | $560 | 564 | -7% |
| Elementary occupations | $560 | 564 | -7% |
| Clerical support workers | $504 | 507 | -16% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | $500 | 503 | -17% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | $353 | 356 | -41% |
| All occupations | $600 | 604 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Marshall Islands?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 9.6% | 20.0% |
| Basic education | 9.8% | 29.7% |
| Intermediate education | 6.8% | 23.4% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 1.3% | — |
| All levels | 7.3% | 24.9% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 3 lowest of 130 countries with data. The East Asia and Pacific median is 2.3%.
Studying and working in Marshall Islands
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
- 36.3K (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $8,964 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 37.7% (2024)
Questions about graduate jobs in Marshall Islands
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Marshall Islands?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Marshall Islands with tertiary education earned a median of $1,000 a month in 2019, compared with $600 for all employees — +67%. The degree premium ranks 48 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Marshall Islands?
In 2021, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Marshall Islands was 1.3%, compared with 7.3% for all adults.
Which jobs pay the most in Marshall Islands?
The best-paid occupation group in Marshall Islands in 2019 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of $1,000 (PPP$ 1,007). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of $1,000.
Compare with other countries in East Asia and Pacific
Compare Marshall Islands side by side
-
-
Tonga
0%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2023) -
Kiribati
+110%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2023) -
Samoa
+53%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Fiji
+40%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Timor-Leste
+50%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2021)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — HIES - Household Income and Expenditure Survey, 2019
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — HIES - Household Income and Expenditure Survey, 2019
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — PC - Population Census, 2021
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Marshall Islands: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/marshall-islands/ (accessed September 26, 2026)
Notes from the data source
- Break in series: Methodology revised
- The source reports a break in the series, so compare with earlier years carefully.