A person working in Information Technology in Costa Rica typically earns around 2,370,000 CRC per month. Salaries range from 1,230,000 CRC (lowest average) to 3,860,000 CRC (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different Information Technology careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Job Title | Average Salary |
2nd Line Systems Engineer | 2,250,000 CRC |
ABAP Developer | 2,140,000 CRC |
Advertising Account Planner | 1,970,000 CRC |
Android Developer | 2,200,000 CRC |
Angular Developer | 2,120,000 CRC |
Application Consultant | 2,740,000 CRC |
Applications System Specialist | 2,070,000 CRC |
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Specialist | 2,720,000 CRC |
Artificial Intelligence Developer | 2,860,000 CRC |
AS400 Programmer | 2,320,000 CRC |
Assistant Information Technology Manager | 2,750,000 CRC |
Assistant Service Delivery Manager | 2,660,000 CRC |
Avaloq Developer | 2,090,000 CRC |
BizTalk Developer | 2,300,000 CRC |
Blockchain Associate | 2,300,000 CRC |
Blockchain Developer | 2,050,000 CRC |
Build and Release Engineer | 2,040,000 CRC |
Business Intelligence Analyst | 2,480,000 CRC |
Business Intelligence Developer | 2,400,000 CRC |
Business Objects Developer | 2,150,000 CRC |
Business Process Consultant | 2,480,000 CRC |
Business Systems Analyst | 2,000,000 CRC |
C# Developer | 2,340,000 CRC |
C++ Developer | 2,490,000 CRC |
Capacity Planning Manager | 3,030,000 CRC |
Change Administrator | 2,010,000 CRC |
Chief Information Security Officer | 3,480,000 CRC |
Client Delivery Manager | 2,900,000 CRC |
CMS Developer | 1,870,000 CRC |
Computer Animator | 1,980,000 CRC |
Computer Hardware Engineer | 1,870,000 CRC |
Computer Networks Architect | 2,240,000 CRC |
Computer Operator | 1,620,000 CRC |
Computer Technician | 1,780,000 CRC |
Copy Editor | 1,800,000 CRC |
CRM Application Administrator | 2,030,000 CRC |
Cross Platform Security Manager | 3,080,000 CRC |
Curam Developer | 1,880,000 CRC |
Data Analyst | 2,150,000 CRC |
Data Architect | 2,190,000 CRC |
Data Center Technician | 1,970,000 CRC |
Data Entry Supervisor | 1,490,000 CRC |
Data Manager | 3,020,000 CRC |
Data Modeling Analyst | 2,200,000 CRC |
Data Quality Analyst | 2,120,000 CRC |
Data Security Analyst | 2,290,000 CRC |
Data Security Manager | 3,000,000 CRC |
Data Warehousing Manager | 3,050,000 CRC |
Data Warehousing Specialist | 2,100,000 CRC |
Database Administration Manager | 2,730,000 CRC |
Database Administrator | 2,370,000 CRC |
Database Analyst | 2,340,000 CRC |
Database Developer | 2,410,000 CRC |
Database Report Writer | 2,120,000 CRC |
Delivery Manager | 2,230,000 CRC |
Developer / Programmer | 2,200,000 CRC |
Development Manager | 3,160,000 CRC |
Director of Application Development | 3,350,000 CRC |
Director of Technology | 4,020,000 CRC |
Disaster Recovery Analyst | 2,190,000 CRC |
Documentation Specialist | 1,990,000 CRC |
E-Commerce Manager | 2,830,000 CRC |
E-Commerce Marketing Analyst | 2,580,000 CRC |
E-Commerce Marketing Manager | 2,960,000 CRC |
E-Commerce Sales Manager | 2,940,000 CRC |
E-Commerce Strategy Manager | 3,280,000 CRC |
Enterprise Architecture Manager | 2,730,000 CRC |
Enterprise Infrastructure Architect | 2,830,000 CRC |
Enterprise Infrastructure Manager | 3,530,000 CRC |
ERP / CRM Technical Consultant | 2,460,000 CRC |
ERP Analyst | 2,470,000 CRC |
ERP Project Manager | 2,940,000 CRC |
Ethical Hacker | 2,020,000 CRC |
Financial Systems Manager | 3,360,000 CRC |
Flash Developer | 1,990,000 CRC |
Front End Developer | 1,990,000 CRC |
Full Stack Developer | 2,300,000 CRC |
Functional Analyst | 2,420,000 CRC |
Game Developer | 2,090,000 CRC |
GIS Analyst | 2,000,000 CRC |
GIS Developer | 2,280,000 CRC |
Global BI Analyst | 2,380,000 CRC |
Graphical User Interface ( GUI ) Programmer | 1,930,000 CRC |
Graphics Programmer | 1,980,000 CRC |
Graphics Web Designer | 1,830,000 CRC |
Hardware Design Engineer | 2,120,000 CRC |
Hardware Engineering Manager | 3,180,000 CRC |
Hardware Technician | 1,780,000 CRC |
Head of Development | 3,160,000 CRC |
Help Desk Analyst | 2,190,000 CRC |
Help Desk Manager | 2,500,000 CRC |
Help Desk Support | 1,610,000 CRC |
Helpdesk Manager | 2,560,000 CRC |
Imaging Programmer | 2,030,000 CRC |
Informatics Optimization Specialist | 2,390,000 CRC |
Information Assurance Analyst | 2,430,000 CRC |
Information Program Director | 3,290,000 CRC |
Information Security Administrator | 2,560,000 CRC |
Information Security Analyst | 2,620,000 CRC |
Information Security Engineer | 2,170,000 CRC |
Information Security Manager | 3,180,000 CRC |
Information Security Specialist | 2,750,000 CRC |
Information Services Consultant | 2,690,000 CRC |
Information Technology Administrator | 1,770,000 CRC |
Information Technology Asset Manager | 3,140,000 CRC |
Information Technology Consultant | 2,680,000 CRC |
Information Technology Coordinator | 1,840,000 CRC |
Information Technology Director | 3,880,000 CRC |
Information Technology Infrastructure Engineer | 2,030,000 CRC |
Information Technology Manager | 3,730,000 CRC |
Information Technology Operations Manager | 3,710,000 CRC |
Information Technology Product Manager | 3,300,000 CRC |
Information Technology Project Administrator | 1,900,000 CRC |
Information Technology Project Coordinator | 2,300,000 CRC |
Information Technology Project Leader | 2,800,000 CRC |
Information Technology Project Manager | 3,420,000 CRC |
Information Technology Quality Assurance Manager | 2,760,000 CRC |
Information Technology Quality Assurance Team Lead (QA) | 2,530,000 CRC |
Information Technology Quality Specialist | 2,290,000 CRC |
Information Technology Support | 1,530,000 CRC |
Information Technology Team Leader | 2,710,000 CRC |
Information Technology Trainer | 2,380,000 CRC |
Information Technology Training Analyst | 2,280,000 CRC |
Interface Design Manager | 2,870,000 CRC |
Interface Designer | 1,760,000 CRC |
IOS Developer | 2,470,000 CRC |
Java Developer | 2,390,000 CRC |
Javascript Developer | 2,330,000 CRC |
Lead Developer | 2,550,000 CRC |
Linux Administrator | 2,350,000 CRC |
Lotus Domino Administrator | 2,360,000 CRC |
Lotus Notes Developer | 2,170,000 CRC |
Mail Server Administrator | 2,040,000 CRC |
Major Incident Manager | 2,610,000 CRC |
Managed Service Specialist | 2,250,000 CRC |
Microsystems Engineer | 2,350,000 CRC |
Mobile Developer | 2,270,000 CRC |
Multimedia Developer | 2,040,000 CRC |
Multimedia Services Manager | 2,620,000 CRC |
Network Administration Team Lead | 2,570,000 CRC |
Network Administrator | 1,960,000 CRC |
Network Analyst | 2,180,000 CRC |
Network and Infrastructure Manager | 3,570,000 CRC |
Network Engineer | 2,000,000 CRC |
Network Engineering Manager | 2,740,000 CRC |
Network Security Systems Manager | 2,790,000 CRC |
Network Specialist | 2,320,000 CRC |
Network Technician | 1,750,000 CRC |
Nodejs Developer | 2,330,000 CRC |
NT Systems Administrator | 2,110,000 CRC |
Numerical Control Programmer | 1,860,000 CRC |
Online Banking Manager | 3,640,000 CRC |
Online Banking Specialist | 2,860,000 CRC |
OPS Manager | 3,210,000 CRC |
Oracle Database Administrator | 2,220,000 CRC |
Oracle Developer | 2,280,000 CRC |
Perl Developer | 1,890,000 CRC |
PHP Developer | 2,080,000 CRC |
Python Developer | 2,490,000 CRC |
Records Manager | 1,960,000 CRC |
Remedy Developer | 1,820,000 CRC |
Reporting Analyst | 2,310,000 CRC |
Ruby Developer | 2,160,000 CRC |
Salesforce Administrator | 2,110,000 CRC |
Salesforce Developer | 1,840,000 CRC |
SAP Consultant | 2,310,000 CRC |
SAS Programmer | 2,020,000 CRC |
Scrum Master | 1,850,000 CRC |
SEO Associate | 1,930,000 CRC |
SEO Manager | 2,690,000 CRC |
Service Delivery Manager | 2,800,000 CRC |
Service Level Manager | 3,020,000 CRC |
Service Support Lead | 2,250,000 CRC |
SharePoint Administrator | 2,150,000 CRC |
Sharepoint Consultant | 2,230,000 CRC |
Sharepoint Developer | 2,350,000 CRC |
Shift Leader | 2,400,000 CRC |
SOA Analyst | 2,280,000 CRC |
SOC Engineer | 2,120,000 CRC |
Software Analyst | 2,210,000 CRC |
Software Architect | 2,150,000 CRC |
Software Development Manager | 3,000,000 CRC |
Software Engineer | 2,300,000 CRC |
Software QA Engineer | 1,990,000 CRC |
Software Sales | 1,960,000 CRC |
Software Specialist | 2,020,000 CRC |
Software Support Engineer | 1,760,000 CRC |
Software Test Engineer | 1,980,000 CRC |
Solutions Architect | 2,940,000 CRC |
Storage Engineer | 1,860,000 CRC |
Supervisor | 1,570,000 CRC |
Support Analyst | 1,960,000 CRC |
Support Specialist | 2,270,000 CRC |
System Administrator | 2,020,000 CRC |
Systems Analyst | 2,130,000 CRC |
Systems Architect | 2,310,000 CRC |
Systems Consultant | 2,830,000 CRC |
Systems Engineer | 1,820,000 CRC |
Systems Integrator | 2,300,000 CRC |
Technical Analyst | 1,980,000 CRC |
Technical Consultant | 2,540,000 CRC |
Technical Manager | 2,370,000 CRC |
Technical Project Manager | 2,970,000 CRC |
Technical Sales | 2,210,000 CRC |
Technical Trainer | 2,220,000 CRC |
Technical Writer | 2,040,000 CRC |
Technology Business Analyst | 2,330,000 CRC |
Technology Director | 3,660,000 CRC |
Technology Specialist | 2,680,000 CRC |
Teradata Developer | 1,810,000 CRC |
Test Analyst | 2,170,000 CRC |
Tester | 1,830,000 CRC |
Testing Manager | 3,120,000 CRC |
TIBCO Developer | 1,930,000 CRC |
UNIX Administrator | 2,370,000 CRC |
Usability Engineer | 2,200,000 CRC |
User Experience Consultant | 2,320,000 CRC |
User Experience Design Expert | 2,300,000 CRC |
User Experience Designer | 1,920,000 CRC |
User Experience Researcher | 2,440,000 CRC |
User Interface Designer | 2,110,000 CRC |
VB Developer | 1,720,000 CRC |
VB.NET Developer | 2,390,000 CRC |
Video Game Designer | 1,920,000 CRC |
Visual Information Specialist | 2,150,000 CRC |
Web Applications Manager | 2,640,000 CRC |
Web Content Specialist | 2,430,000 CRC |
Web Designer | 2,080,000 CRC |
Web Developer | 2,010,000 CRC |
Web Editor | 1,780,000 CRC |
Web Project Manager | 2,430,000 CRC |
Web Promotions Specialist | 2,220,000 CRC |
Web Security Administrator | 2,200,000 CRC |
Web Security Manager | 3,350,000 CRC |
Web Support Analyst | 1,660,000 CRC |
Web Writer | 1,740,000 CRC |
Webmaster | 1,920,000 CRC |
Windows System Administrator | 2,020,000 CRC |
Wireless Consultant | 2,540,000 CRC |
Writer and Documentor | 1,930,000 CRC |
Information Technology salaries in Costa Rica range from 1,230,000 CRC per month (minimum average salary) to 3,860,000 CRC per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
The median salary is 2,470,000 CRC per month, which means that half (50%) of people working in Information Technology are earning less than 2,470,000 CRC while the other half are earning more than 2,470,000 CRC. 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.
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of people working in Information Technology are earning less than 1,660,000 CRC while 75% of them are earning more than 1,660,000 CRC. Also from the diagram, 75% of people working in Information Technology are earning less than 3,290,000 CRC while 25% are earning more than 3,290,000 CRC.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Costa Rica costs anywhere from 11,800,000 Costa Rican Colon(s) to 35,400,000 Costa Rican Colon(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.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Costa Rica who work in Information Technology earn 6% more than their female counterparts on average.
Male | 2,450,000 CRC | |
Female | -5% | 2,320,000 CRC |
Information Technology professionals in Costa Rica are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 10% every 16 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 9% granted to employees every 17 months.
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.
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
Banking | 7% | |
Energy | 5% | |
Information Technology | 3% | |
Healthcare | 1% | |
Travel | 8% | |
Construction | 6% | |
Education | 4% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Costa Rica 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.
Information Technology is considered to be a moderate bonus-based field due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
47% of surveyed staff in Information Technology reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 53% 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 | 53% | |
No Bonus | 47% |
The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, 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 BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
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.
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting 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: | Example: |
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.
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.
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.
The average salary for Information Technology is 0% more than that of All Jobs.
City | Average Salary |
San Jose | 2,520,000 CRC |
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Costa Rica earn 6% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 2,310,000 CRC | |
Public Sector | +6% | 2,450,000 CRC |