Average Costa Rica Salaries in 2025: Minimum Wage Official List and HR info

If you’re an entrepreneur, human resources manager, or investor looking at Costa Rica, you need to know this year’s average Costa Rica salaries and employment laws. This guide explores wages, labor law, and the national labor landscape for 2025.

1. Unveiling Costa Rica’s Salary Landscape

a. Exploring Average Salaries

Costa Rica boasts a growing economy and skilled labor. Average monthly salaries for employees range from CRC 500,000 (USD 1,000) to CRC 1,500,000 (USD 3,000) depending on industry, education, experience, and position.

b. Minimum Wage Regulations

Minimum wage laws ensure sector-wide pay equity. In 2025, the minimum wage for a receptionist in the private sector is about CRC ₡399,203.69 (US$780) per month. Each occupation has its own government-set minimum updated every year.

Minimums differ by industry, role, and region—reflecting cost of living and employee protection standards. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS) revises wages annually.

2. How Costa Rican Workers Develop Specialization

• Education & Training: A robust system invests in technical and vocational upskilling.
• Bilingualism & Multiculturalism: English proficiency and adaptability boost employability—especially for foreign companies (Amazon, Intel, tourism, and others).
• Industry Leadership & Innovation: Costa Rica is a regional hub in IT, pharma, renewable energy, and more—often hailed as the “Silicon Valley of Latin America.”

3. USA vs. Costa Rica: Salary for Businesses Compared

• Cost-Effectiveness: Costa Rican salaries are considerably lower than the US; nearshoring/outsourcing to CR offers substantial savings for businesses while tapping into specialized talent.
• Skilled Talent: The workforce is well-trained—ideal for everything from software development to client care.

4. Advantages of Nearshoring in Costa Rica

• Cost Savings: Lower wage costs without sacrificing talent or quality standards.
• Specialized Talent: Costa Rican professionals are highly ranked and close to the US both in skills and geography, with excellent international reputation.
• Time Zone Match: Real-time collaboration is smooth due to geographic proximity and similar work hours.

5. Why New Companies Invest in Costa Rica

• Political and economic stability
• Modern infrastructure and high digitalization
• Favorable government incentives

6. Official 2025 Salary List: Type the job title into the search bar.

Official Costa Rica Jobs and Salaries List 2025

Position	Salary	Position	Salary
Parking attendant (non chauffeur)	¢12.326,95	Gardener (designs gardens)	¢13.767,45
School bus escort	¢12.326,95	Jewelry box	¢13.767,45
Animal trainer	¢13.767,45	Car washer and waxer	¢12.326,95
Customs broker	¢24.805,47	Pool cleaner (chemical free)	¢12.326,95
Sales agent *	¢413.023,64	Septic tank cleaner	¢13.767,45
Mason	¢13.767,45	Llantero	¢13.306,79
Automotive Enlister (sander)	¢13.306,79	Radio broadcaster	¢15.983.96
Credit Analyst *	¢413.023,64	Television announcer	¢24.805,47
Event entertainer	¢13.767,45	Television lighting technician	¢24.805,47
Steam leveler with steam equipment	¢13.767,45	Master Builder (Construction)	¢15.983.96
Sawyer (uses motorized saw)	¢13.767,45	Manicurist; Makeup Artist	¢13.767,45
Legal assistant *	¢476.866,07	Masseuse	¢13.767,45
Home assistant (Special care)	¢15.983.96	Computer corrective maintenance	¢15.983.96
Customs Agent Assistant	¢15.983.96	Building maintenance	¢13.767,45
Accounting Assistant *	¢413.023,64	Computer preventive maintenance	¢13.767,45
Dental assistant	¢15.983.96	Boiler mechanic (Maintenance)	¢15.983.96
Kitchen assistant	¢13.306,79	General Mechanic	¢13.767,45
Assistant in general mechanics	¢13.306,79	Precision mechanic	¢15.983.96
Assistant operator, construction	¢13.306,79	Industrial sewing machine mechanic	¢15.983.96
Baqueano	¢13.306,79	Messenger	¢367.108,55
Barber	¢13.767,45	Miscellaneous *	¢367.108,55
Barista	¢13.767,45	Miscellaneous nursing homes	¢12.326,95
Warehouse Manager (Manager) *	¢399.203,69	Video camera monitor	¢399.203,69
Winemaker (Laborer) *	¢367.108,55	Forklift operator	¢13.306,79
Cashier	¢413.023,64	Maid	¢12.326,95
Waiter	¢12.326,95	Babysitting, except in the child’s home	¢12.326,95
Press cameraman	¢24.805,47	Babysitter in the child’s home (Domestic work) *	¢258.376,22
Singer	¢13.767,45	Clerk (General) *	¢399.203,69
Bartender	¢13.306,79	Stacker operator	¢13.306,79
Boat captain	¢15.983.96	S”pider” Operator (Screen Printing)	¢13.767,45
Gas cylinders and fire extinguishers charger	¢13.306,79	Radio booth operator	¢15.983.96
Butcher office clerk	¢13.306,79	Boiler operator	¢13.767,45
Butcher butcher	¢13.767,45	Excavator operator	¢15.983.96
Carpenter	¢13.767,45	Stationary crane operator	¢15.983.96
Taster	¢15.983.96	Heavy machinery operator	¢13.767,45
Locksmith	¢13.767,45	Radio cab operator	¢13.767,45
Chapulinero	¢13.767,45	Construction worker	¢13.767,45
Chef	¢15.983.96	Hand milker	¢12.326,95
Bus checker	¢12.326,95	Milker with machine	¢13.767,45
Collector *	¢399.203,69	Baker	¢13.767,45
Cook	¢13.767,45	Griller	¢13.306,79
Bartender (Bartender or Barwoman)	¢13.767,45	Pastry chef	¢13.767,45
Ambulance driver (first aid)	¢13.767,45	Shrimp peeler	¢12.326,95
Bus driver (no charge)	¢13.767,45	Agricultural laborer (manual labor)	¢12.326,95
Bus driver (conductor)	¢15.983.96	Agricultural laborer (motor mower and similar)	¢13.306,79
Trailer driver	¢15.983.96	Loading and unloading laborer	¢12.326,95
Light vehicle driver	¢13.306,79	Construction laborer	¢12.326,95
Heavy vehicle driver	¢13.767,45	Garden laborer (manual labor)	¢12.326,95
Minibus driver (minus 11 passengers)	¢13.306,79	Garden laborer (motor mower and similar)	¢13.306,79
Concierge * Concierge	¢367.108,55	Boat laborer	¢12.326,95
Private accountant *	¢432.819,25	Pilero (dishwasher)	¢12.326,95
Private accountant *	¢576.094,24	Automotive painter	¢15.983.96
Private accountant *	¢653.427,21	Broad brush painter	¢13.767,45
Private accountant	¢784.139,53	Pistero (fuel dispenser)	¢13.306,79
Copilot (First Aviation Officer)	¢24.805,47	Pistero-collector (responsible for money)	¢413.023,64
Fabric piece cutter (patterns)	¢13.767,45	Pizza maker (assembles and bakes pizza)	¢13.306,79
Piece stitcher (machine garments)	¢13.767,45	Pizzero (cocinero)	¢13.767,45
Seamstress (Dressmaker)	¢15.983.96	Porter*.	¢367.108,55
Counter (Ticket seller) *	¢413.023,64	Inventory processor (hand hell)	¢13.767,45
Demonstrator (display)	¢12.326,95	Computer programmer (no degree)	¢15.983.96
Demonstrator-salesperson	¢13.306,79	Programmer in radio stations	¢15.983.96
Dependent	¢13.306,79	Supplier * Supplier	¢413.023,64
Flight dispatcher	¢24.805,47	Receptionist*	¢399.203,69
Graphic Arts Designer	¢15.983.96	Garbage and recycling collector	¢12.326,95
Digitizer	¢13.767,45	Coffee picker per trunk	¢1.138,14
Cabinetmaker	¢15.983.96	Coyol collector	¢12.326,95
Aspiring educator without degree	¢476.866,07	Watchmaker	¢13.767,45
Electrician	¢13.767,45	Repostero	¢13.767,45
Electromechanical	¢15.983.96	Sabanero	¢12.326,95
Packer, labeler (manual)	¢12.326,95	Sacristan	¢12.326,95
Office Clerk	¢13.306,79	Manual waste sorter	¢12.326,95
Surveyor *	¢399.203,69	Salon Waitress	¢12.326,95
Automotive straightener	¢13.767,45	Tailor (Tailor-made garments)	¢15.983.96
Soccer Coach (First and Second Division)	¢15.983.96	Secretary *	¢413.023,64
Inventory scanner (hand held)	¢399.203,69	Secretary *	¢432.819,25
Esthetician	¢15.983.96	Secretary *	¢576.094,24
Stevedore per kilo fruits and vegetables	¢0,0840	Secretary *	¢653.427,21
Motion stevedore	¢443,33	Secretary *	¢784.139,53
Stevedore per ton	¢103,97	Serigrapher (design)	¢15.983.96
Stylist	¢13.767,45	Serigrapher (Estampa diseños)	¢13.767,45
Florist	¢13.767,45	Welder (Special Welding)	¢15.983.96
Plumber	¢13.767,45	Welder in general	¢13.767,45
Photocopier (Photocopy Center)	¢13.306,79	Logger (uses motor saw)	¢13.767,45
Press photographer	¢15.983.96	Upholsterer	¢13.767,45
Milling machine operator (Metalworking)	¢15.983.96	Tattooist	¢13.767,45
Fumigator in houses and buildings	¢13.306,79	Cab driver	¢13.767,45
First Division Football Player	¢15.983.96	Air conditioning technician	¢13.767,45
Soccer Player Second Division	¢13.767,45	Orthopedic appliance technician	¢24.805,47
Social Media Manager (Community Manager, designs final artwork)	¢15.983.96	Contact lens technician	¢24.805,47
Social media manager (Community manager, monitors and responds)	¢399.203,69	Domestic/Industrial	¢24.805,47
Social media manager (Community manager, carrie, and interprets data)	¢413.023,64	Refrigeration Technician	¢24.805,47
Gondolier	¢12.326,95	machine technician machine technician	¢24.805,47
Securityman*	¢399.203,69	Telephone operator *	¢399.203,69
Custody safekeeping and securities safekeeping*.	¢413.023,64	Metal lathe operator	¢15.983.96
Tourist guide	¢13.767,45	Domestic work *	¢258.376,22
Tinsmith	¢13.767,45	Tractor Operator (Caterpillar or Tire)	¢13.767,45
Glass installer (cutting, framing)	¢13.767,45	Truck Wagon Driver	¢13.767,45
Dance instructor	¢13.767,45	Greengrocer	¢13.306,79
Fitness instructor (no degree)	¢13.767,45	Flyer´s distributor	¢12.326,95
		Shoemaker	¢13.767,45

*Note: Monthly salaries can be improved depending on experience, education, and position level. Hourly wage = monthly salary ÷ 30 ÷ 8.

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