Guyana
+46%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Suriname
Updated Data years: 2016 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 Suriname, employees with tertiary education earned a median of SRD 3,200 a month in 2016 (PPP$ 1,226) — +78% compared with all employees.
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +78%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2016)
- SRD 3,200median monthly pay with tertiary education (2016)
Do graduates earn more in Suriname?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | SRD 1,300 | 498 | -28% |
| Basic education | SRD 1,600 | 613 | -11% |
| Intermediate education | SRD 2,434 | 932 | +35% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | SRD 3,200 | 1,226 | +78% |
| All levels | SRD 1,800 | 689 | — |
The degree premium ranks 36 of 128 countries with data. That is above the Latin America and the Caribbean median of +67%.
Which occupations pay the most in Suriname?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | SRD 2,700 | 1,034 | +50% |
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | SRD 2,600 | 996 | +45% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | SRD 2,200 | 843 | +22% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | SRD 1,900 | 728 | +6% |
| Clerical support workers | SRD 1,833 | 702 | +2% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | SRD 1,500 | 575 | -17% |
| Craft and related trades workers | SRD 1,500 | 575 | -17% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | SRD 1,409 | 540 | -22% |
| Elementary occupations | SRD 1,100 | 421 | -39% |
| All occupations | SRD 1,800 | 689 | — |
Studying and working in Suriname
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
- 639.9K (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $22,652 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 2.6% (2024)
Questions about graduate jobs in Suriname
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Suriname?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Suriname with tertiary education earned a median of SRD 3,200 a month in 2016, compared with SRD 1,800 for all employees — +78%. The degree premium ranks 36 of 128 countries with data.
Which jobs pay the most in Suriname?
The best-paid occupation group in Suriname in 2016 was “Professionals”, with median monthly earnings of SRD 2,700 (PPP$ 1,034). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of SRD 2,700.
Compare with other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean
-
-
Belize
+67%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2019) -
Bahamas
+47%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Trinidad and Tobago
+81%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2016) -
Barbados
+99%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2016) -
Saint Lucia
+185%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2016)
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
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Suriname: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/suriname/ (accessed September 26, 2026)