Average hourly earnings of employees in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Average hourly earnings of employees was 3,184 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Average hourly earnings of employees in Costa Rica, 1989–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average hourly earnings of employees in Costa Rica is 3,184, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average hourly earnings of employees in Costa Rica peaked at 4,403 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 108, in 1989.
Costa Rica ranks 13th of 73 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average hourly earnings of employees in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 108 | — |
| 1990 | 127 | +17.6% |
| 1991 | 162 | +27.6% |
| 1992 | 193 | +19.1% |
| 1993 | 250 | +29.5% |
| 1994 | 293 | +17.2% |
| 1995 | 349 | +19.1% |
| 1996 | 403 | +15.5% |
| 1997 | 468 | +16.1% |
| 1998 | 550 | +17.5% |
| 1999 | 611 | +11.1% |
| 2000 | 689 | +12.8% |
| 2002 | 730.3 | +6.0% |
| 2003 | 793 | +8.6% |
| 2006 | 1,017 | +28.3% |
| 2007 | 1,222 | +20.1% |
| 2008 | 1,735 | +42.0% |
| 2009 | 2,028 | +16.9% |
| 2010 | 1,925 | -5.1% |
| 2011 | 2,139 | +11.1% |
| 2012 | 2,217 | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 2,382 | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 2,514 | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 2,634 | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 2,716 | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 3,280 | +20.8% |
| 2018 | 3,191 | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 3,731 | +16.9% |
| 2020 | 4,403 | +18.0% |
| 2021 | 3,365 | -23.6% |
| 2022 | 3,253 | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 3,054 | -6.1% |
| 2024 | 3,193 | +4.6% |
| 2025 | 3,184 | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 108 | 108 | 108 | 1 |
| 1990s | 340.6 | 127 | 611 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,173 | 689 | 2,028 | 7 |
| 2010s | 2,673 | 1,925 | 3,731 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,409 | 3,054 | 4,403 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More work & labour data for Costa Rica
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.9965 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.9952 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.9977 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.61 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.29 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,205 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 569.35 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,908 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,868 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 3,776 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average hourly earnings of employees in Costa Rica?
- Average hourly earnings of employees in Costa Rica was 3,184 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 4,403 in 2020.
- What is the lowest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 108 in 1989.
- How does Costa Rica rank for average hourly earnings of employees?
- Costa Rica ranks 13th out of 73 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average hourly earnings of employees rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Average hourly earnings of employees (Local currency). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. The earnings of employees relate to the gross remuneration in cash and in kind paid to employees, as a rule at regular intervals, for time worked or work done together with remuneration for time not worked, such as annual vacation, other type of paid leave or holidays. Earnings exclude employers' contributions in respect of their employees paid to social security and pension schemes and also the benefits received by employees under these schemes. Earnings also exclude severance and termination pay. Data are converted to U.S. dollars as the common currency, using exchange rates or using purchasing power parity (PPP) rates for private consumption expenditures. The latter series allows for international comparisons by taking account of the differences in relative prices between countries. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.