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Average Salary in Puerto Rico 2023

How much money does a person working in Puerto Rico make?


Average Yearly Salary
20,100 USD
( 1,680 USD monthly)

LOW
5,090
USD
AVERAGE
20,100
USD
HIGH
89,900
USD

A person working in Puerto Rico typically earns around 20,100 USD per year. Salaries range from 5,090 USD (lowest average) to 89,900 USD (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).

This is the average yearly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.

Pay Scale and Salaries in Puerto Rico

Median and salary distribution Puerto Rico yearly
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Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison

5% of people earn
38,600 USD or more
10% of people earn
30,200 to 38,600 USD
20% of people earn
11,800 USD or less
65% of people earn
11,800 to 30,200 USD
Minimum Salary
5,090 USD
Median
17,700 USD
Maximum
89,900 USD


Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range

  • Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary

    Salaries in Puerto Rico range from 5,090 USD per year (starting salary) to 89,900 USD per year (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). This is not the minimum wage as per the law, only the lowest reported number in the salary survey that had thousands of participants and professionals from all over the country.

  • Median Salary

    The median salary is 17,700 USD per year, which means that half (50%) of the population are earning less than 17,700 USD while the other half are earning more than 17,700 USD. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.

  • Percentiles and Salary Scale

    Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of the population are earning less than 12,800 USD while 75% of them are earning more than 12,800 USD. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population are earning less than 26,800 USD while 25% are earning more than 26,800 USD.

  • Pay Scale Structure

    We grouped the most common and recurring salaries into brackets to give more insight into what salary to expect. This method is more accurate than just the average salary and gives more insights on how salaries are actually distributed. Around 65% of all reported figures are in the range 11,800 USD to 30,200 USD. Approximatly 20% fall under the 11,800 USD cap. Ten percent of wages are from 30,200 USD to 38,600 USD. Only 5% of people grossed 38,600 USD or more.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does a person's salary progress over time?

Salary Comparison By Experience Level
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The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.

Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.

Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.


Change in salary based on experience varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of many different jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.

As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.

Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.

On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years* experience mark.
* Based on the average change in salary over time. Salary variations differ from person to person.

Salary Comparison By Education

How does the education level affect your salary?

Salary Comparison By Education
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It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.


Change in salary based on education varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of multiple jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.

Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.

Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a cerificate or diploma.

Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.

Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.


Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?

A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Puerto Rico costs anywhere from 8,390 US Dollar(s) to 25,200 US Dollar(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.

You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.

Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.

The decision really depends on your situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if you can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.



Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender

Salary comparison by gender Puerto Rico yearly
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Puerto Rico earn 16% more than their female counterparts on avergae across all sectors.

Male
21,800 USD
Female-14%
18,700 USD
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Puerto Rico

How much are annual salary increments in Puerto Rico? How often do employees get salary raises?

Puerto Rico

Employees in Puerto Rico are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 4% every 29 months.

Annual Salary Increment Rate Puerto Rico
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The figures provided here are averages of numbers. Those figures should be taken as general guidelines. Salary increments will vary from person to person and depend on many factors, but your performance and contribution to the success of the organization remain the most important factors in determining how much and how often you will be granted a raise.

The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.

How to calculate the salary increment percentage?

The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency

The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in Puerto Rico is 2%.

Annual Increment Rate By Industry 2022

Banking
4%
Energy
8%
Information Technology
3%
Healthcare
7%
Travel
2%
Construction
6%
Education
1%

Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Puerto Rico for the year 2022. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.


Average Salary Increase Rate by Experience Level

Junoir Level
3% - 5%
Mid-Career
6% - 9%
Senior Level
10% - 15%
Top Management
15% - 20%

The difference in increment rates is somehow justified because employers put more effort to retain more experienced staff since they are harder to acquire than less experienced ones.

Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs

World Average Annual Salary Increment
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Salary Packages and Schemes

Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.

Bonus and Incentive Rates in Puerto Rico

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Annual Salary Bonus Rate Puerto Rico
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66% of surveyed staff in Puerto Rico reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 34% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.

Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 6% of their annual salary.

Received Bonus
34%
No Bonus
66%

Types of Bonuses Considered

Individual Performance-Based Bonuses

The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.

Company Performance Bonuses

Occasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.

Goal-Based Bonuses

Granted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.

Holiday / End of Year Bonuses

These types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.

Bonuses Are Not Commissions!

People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.


Bonus Rates Comparison by Career Field

Finance
High
Architecture
High
Sales
High
Business Development
High
Marketing / Advertising
High
Information Technology
Moderate
Healthcare
Moderate
Insurance
Moderate
Customer Service
Moderate
Human Resources
Moderate
Construction
Low
Transport
Low
Hospitality
Low

What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?

The main two types of jobs

Revenue GeneratorsSupporting Cast

Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business.

Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations.

Example:
A graphics designer working for a graphics designing company.

Example:
A graphic designer in the marketing department of a hospital.


Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.

Try to work for companies where your skills can generate revenue. We can't all generate revenue and that's perfectly fine.

Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level

Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.

Salary Trend and Forecast in Puerto Rico

How are Puerto Rico salaries changing over time? The chart below shows the average salary change in the past few years.

Average Salary 2019
18,400 USD
Average Salary 2020+2%
18,700 USD
Average Salary 2021+3%
19,300 USD
Average Salary 2022+2%
19,600 USD
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salaries in Puerto Rico are on the rise in the year 2023 based on recent submitted salaries and reports. As displayed in the chart, salaries in 2022 are 2% higher than those of 2021. The trend suggests a slow yet continuous increase in pay in 2024 and future years. These numbers may vary from industry to another.

Salary trends and forecast yearly Puerto Rico
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Salaries for popular jobs. Salaries by occupations.

Job TitleAverage Salary
Accounting and Finance
Accountant13,400 USD
Accounting Assistant10,300 USD
Accounting Manager30,000 USD
Bookkeeper9,060 USD
Chartered Accountant16,700 USD
Corporate Treasurer27,000 USD
Financial Analyst25,500 USD
Financial Manager37,600 USD
Internal Auditor17,500 USD

Administration / Reception / Secretarial
Administrative Assistant10,500 USD
Office Manager17,000 USD
Receptionist7,490 USD
Secretary8,770 USD

Advertising / Grapic Design / Events
Art Director19,300 USD
Creative Director19,800 USD
Graphic Designer12,300 USD
Photographer10,300 USD

Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense
Aerospace Engineer24,800 USD
Air Traffic Controller20,800 USD
Flight Attendant13,100 USD
Pilot31,900 USD

Architecture
Architect23,400 USD
CAD Drafter9,940 USD

Automotive
Mechanic7,490 USD
Service Advisor13,100 USD

Banking
Bank Branch Manager36,000 USD
Teller7,310 USD

Bilingual
Teacher14,500 USD
Translator16,700 USD

Business Planning
Business Analyst23,700 USD
Business Development Manager31,500 USD
Project Manager21,900 USD

Care Giving and Child Care
Nanny8,190 USD
Nursery Teacher6,940 USD

Construction / Building / Installation
Civil Engineer16,900 USD
Construction Project Manager33,000 USD
Health and Safety Officer8,330 USD

Customer Service and Call Center
Call Center Representative6,940 USD
Customer Service Manager27,000 USD
Customer Service Representative7,310 USD

Engineering
Electrical Engineer18,500 USD
Engineer18,700 USD
Mechanical Engineer17,500 USD

Executive and Management
Chief Executive Officer44,900 USD
Chief Financial Officer38,300 USD
General Manager35,000 USD

Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering
Chef12,100 USD
Executive Chef13,300 USD
Hotel Manager36,000 USD
Travel Agent11,700 USD
Waiter / Waitress6,290 USD

Health and Medical
Dentist44,000 USD
Dietitian38,000 USD
Laboratory Technician13,900 USD
Nurse15,600 USD

Human Resources
Human Resources Manager28,500 USD
Human Resources Officer11,400 USD

Information Technology
Computer Technician15,200 USD
Database Administrator19,700 USD
Developer / Programmer18,500 USD
Information Technology Manager32,200 USD
Network Engineer16,400 USD

Law Enforcement / Security / Fire
Police Officer11,100 USD

Legal
Attorney39,000 USD
Legal Assistant10,200 USD

Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment
Journalist21,400 USD

Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
Biomedical Engineer16,600 USD
Pharmacist25,500 USD

Sales Retail and Wholesale
Cashier7,490 USD
Sales Manager33,600 USD
Sales Representative12,400 USD

Teaching / Education
Elementary School Teacher12,700 USD
Secondary School Teacher15,400 USD

Average Hourly Wage in Puerto Rico


10 USD per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Puerto Rico is 10 USD. This means that the average person in Puerto Rico earns approximately 10 USD for every worked hour.


Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ ( 52 x 5 x 8 )

About The Hourly Pay Rate

The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.

What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?

This minimum pay rate per hour for a person in Puerto Rico is 2 USD. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Puerto Rico earn 21% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.

Private Sector
18,300 USD
Public Sector+21%
22,200 USD
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide

What is considered to be a good and competitive salary in Puerto Rico?

It is extremely difficult to give an exact figure of a good salary when no specific job is selected, however; an estimate can be provided based purely on the cost of living. A good compensation in Puerto Rico would range anywhere between 17,700 USD and 26,800 USD.

Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)

All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salart after tax for every career.

Base / Basic Salary

The base salary in Puerto Rico is ranges from 12,800 USD to 26,800 USD. The base salary depends on many factors including profession, experience, and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range in a grain of salt.


What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary


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