Fiji
+40%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Timor-Leste
Updated Data years: 2021, 2022 How we use data
Older data (2021) The latest official figure is from 2021. It may not reflect today's labour market.
Quick answer
In Timor-Leste, employees with tertiary education earned a median of $300 a month in 2021 (PPP$ 673) — +50% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 1.7%, against 1.2% for all adults aged 25 and over (2022).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +50%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2021)
- $300median monthly pay with tertiary education (2021)
- 1.7%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 1.2%, 2022)
- 10.8%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2022)
Do graduates earn more in Timor-Leste?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | $115 | 258 | -43% |
| Basic education | $140 | 314 | -30% |
| Intermediate education | $195 | 438 | -2% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | $300 | 673 | +50% |
| Short-cycle tertiary | $350 | 786 | +75% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | $290 | 651 | +45% |
| Master's or equivalent | $400 | 898 | +100% |
| All levels | $200 | 449 | — |
The degree premium ranks 69 of 128 countries with data. That is below the East Asia and Pacific median of +52%.
Which occupations pay the most in Timor-Leste?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2021, from highest to lowest. Examples link to our career profiles.
| Occupation group | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | $270 | 606 | +35% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | $250 | 561 | +25% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | $150 | 337 | -25% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | $150 | 337 | -25% |
| Craft and related trades workers | $150 | 337 | -25% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | $150 | 337 | -25% |
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | $115 | 258 | -43% |
| Elementary occupations | $115 | 258 | -43% |
| All occupations | $200 | 449 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Timor-Leste?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 0.6% | 1.7% |
| Basic education | 1.6% | 3.6% |
| Intermediate education | 2.6% | 9.1% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 1.7% | 10.8% |
| All levels | 1.2% | 3.4% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 9 lowest of 130 countries with data. The East Asia and Pacific median is 2.3%.
Unemployment over time, adults 25+
Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
Studying and working in Timor-Leste
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
- 1.4M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $4,810 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 31.0% (2023)
Questions about graduate jobs in Timor-Leste
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Timor-Leste?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Timor-Leste with tertiary education earned a median of $300 a month in 2021, compared with $200 for all employees — +50%. The degree premium ranks 69 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Timor-Leste?
In 2022, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Timor-Leste was 1.7%, compared with 1.2% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 10.8%.
Which jobs pay the most in Timor-Leste?
The best-paid occupation group in Timor-Leste in 2021 was “Professionals”, with median monthly earnings of $270 (PPP$ 606). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of $270.
Compare with other countries in East Asia and Pacific
Compare Timor-Leste side by side
-
-
Mongolia
+11%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
New Zealand
2.6%
unemployment, tertiary-educated adults (2020) -
Singapore
3.2%
unemployment, tertiary-educated adults (2025) -
Laos
+1%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Samoa
+53%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2021
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2021
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — PC - Population Census, 2022
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Timor-Leste: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/timor-leste/ (accessed September 26, 2026)