Kiribati
+110%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2023)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Tonga
Updated Data years: 2023 How we use data
Quick answer
In Tonga, employees with tertiary education earned a median of TOP 1,300 a month in 2023 (PPP$ 714) — 0% compared with all employees.
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- 0%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2023)
- TOP 1,300median monthly pay with tertiary education (2023)
Do graduates earn more in Tonga?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | TOP 1,343 | 737 | +4% |
| Basic education | TOP 1,213 | 666 | -6% |
| Intermediate education | TOP 1,083 | 595 | -16% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | TOP 1,300 | 714 | 0% |
| Short-cycle tertiary | TOP 1,203 | 660 | -7% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | TOP 1,733 | 952 | +34% |
| Master's or equivalent | TOP 2,600 | 1,428 | +101% |
| All levels | TOP 1,295 | 711 | — |
The degree premium ranks 123 of 128 countries with data. That is below the East Asia and Pacific median of +52%.
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 Tonga?
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 | TOP 1,733 | 952 | +34% |
| Craft and related trades workers | TOP 1,517 | 833 | +17% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | TOP 1,379 | 757 | +6% |
| Elementary occupations | TOP 1,300 | 714 | 0% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | TOP 1,286 | 706 | -1% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | TOP 1,277 | 701 | -1% |
| Clerical support workers | TOP 1,083 | 595 | -16% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | TOP 971 | 533 | -25% |
| All occupations | TOP 1,295 | 711 | — |
Studying and working in Tonga
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
- 103.7K (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $8,675 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 42.9% (2023)
Questions about graduate jobs in Tonga
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Tonga?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Tonga with tertiary education earned a median of TOP 1,300 a month in 2023, compared with TOP 1,295 for all employees — 0%. The degree premium ranks 123 of 128 countries with data.
Which jobs pay the most in Tonga?
The best-paid occupation group in Tonga in 2023 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of TOP 1,733 (PPP$ 952). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of TOP 1,286.
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) -
Palau
+68%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2023) -
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 — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2023
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2023
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Tonga: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/tonga/ (accessed September 26, 2026)