Costa Rica Minimum Wages 2026: Official List + Search Tool

Costa Rica Minimum Wage 2027: Updated List by Job, Search Tool and Approved Increase

---

Costa Rica does not have a single minimum wage. Instead, it has a scale of more than two hundred occupations, each assigned to a category that determines the legal floor an employer must pay. For companies operating in the country, misclassifying a role is one of the most common payroll errors and one of the most costly, because the shortfall carries over into the Christmas bonus (aguinaldo), vacation pay and severance. This guide brings together our updated 2027 list with a search tool, an explanation of each category and the increase approved for next year.

The 2027 increase

Costa Rica’s National Wage Council, a tripartite body made up of government, employer and labor representatives, unanimously approved a 1.70% general increase for all private-sector minimum wages on October 28, 2026, as announced by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS) in press release COP-MTSS-PRE-022-2026. The increase takes effect on January 1, 2027 and is mandatory for every employer in the country, whether employees are paid by the workday or on a piece-rate basis.

The percentage comes from a consensus formula that combines cost of living and productivity growth. Because the cost-of-living component declined according to Central Bank data, the increase rests on recognizing growth in GDP per capita. In practical terms, this means a real gain in purchasing power for minimum-wage earners.

By category: 2026 vs. 2027

The full list by occupation is available on the official website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (in Spanish).

Job categories: how to read the table

Each occupation on the wage scale is identified by a Spanish acronym that defines its category. Before looking up an amount, it is worth understanding what each acronym means, because it determines whether the figure is a daily rate or a full monthly salary. We keep the official Spanish acronyms because they are the ones used in employment contracts, payroll systems and labor inspections.

Daily rate vs. monthly salary

This is where payroll teams most often go wrong, particularly at companies used to annual or hourly pay structures. The MTSS list states it expressly: a minimum wage without an asterisk is set per ordinary workday, that is, per day. Amounts marked with an asterisk are monthly minimum wages. In practice, TONC, TOSC, TOC, TOE and TES are daily rates, while the generic categories (ending in G) and the academic-degree categories are monthly.

2027 minimum wage search tool and list

Type part of the job title or the acronym (for example, “cook” or “TOC”) to filter the full list of minimum wages that take effect on January 1, 2027. Where a role is commonly known by its Costa Rican name, we include it in parentheses so you can search in either language.

Source: amounts calculated by AG Legal by applying the 1.70% general increase (and the additional 0.88768% for TMED) approved by the National Wage Council on October 28, 2026 to the MTSS 2026 Minimum Wage List by Occupation (Decree No. 45303-MTSS). Effective January 1, 2027. Job titles are our English rendering of the Spanish occupational list. Roles marked with an asterisk carry a monthly minimum wage; all others are set per ordinary workday (daily). The domestic work amount is the 2026 figure until the Council approves its adjustment.

Minimum wage vs. average salary in Costa Rica

The minimum wage and the average salary answer different questions. The minimum wage is the legal floor an employer must pay for a given role. The average salary describes what people actually earn across the economy, including professionals, managers and public-sector employees, whose higher pay pulls the average up. For budgeting a position, the minimum wage tells you what you cannot go below; average income data tells you what the market looks like.

The most recent official reference is the National Household Survey (Enaho) 2026, published by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) in October 2026:

Three points help put these figures in context. First, the household figures combine the income of everyone in the home, so they are not the salary of a single employee. Second, salaried work is the main source of household income, accounting for 62.1% of the total, and it fell 3.2% in 2026 according to INEC. Third, averages in Costa Rica are skewed upward by a relatively small number of high earners, so most workers earn less than the average.

By comparison, the 2027 monthly minimum wage for a generic unskilled worker (TONCG) is ₡379,434.87, and for a university bachelor’s degree it is ₡675,367.40. For the average monthly income from the main job broken down by sector, occupation or sex, INEC publishes quarterly tables from its Continuous Employment Survey (in Spanish).

Impact on payroll

According to the MTSS, for a full-time monthly schedule the 2027 adjustment represents the following additional amounts:

• Unskilled worker: ₡6,342.57 more per month.
• Skilled worker: ₡7,135.85 more per month.
• University bachelor’s degree: ₡11,289.33 more per month.
• Mid-level technical graduate (TMED): ₡12,931.56 more per month.

The impact goes beyond the monthly paycheck. Because each adjustment raises the calculation base, the new salary also flows into social security contributions (CCSS), the proportional Christmas bonus (aguinaldo), vacation pay and, where applicable, severance (cesantía). To estimate the total cost of a position, you can use our employer cost calculator; to quantify the effect on a specific termination, see our Costa Rica severance calculator.

Common mistakes that create liability

In our payroll audits, the same four mistakes come up again and again, in companies of every size:

1. Confusing the daily rate with the monthly amount. This is the most frequent cause of paying below the legal minimum.
2. Classifying a role by its contract title rather than its actual duties. In an inspection or a lawsuit, what the employee actually does prevails.
3. Failing to apply the adjustment in January. The increase takes effect on January 1, 2027; applying it in February or March creates accumulated back pay.
4. Assuming an agreed all-in salary covers the minimum. If the breakdown does not reach the legal floor for the category, the difference remains payable.

Mandatory compliance and consequences

The adjustment is mandatory for every employer in Costa Rica and applies to anyone earning the minimum wage in the private sector, whether paid by the workday or on a piece-rate basis. No agreement to the contrary is valid. The minimum wage is a non-waivable right, so an employee cannot validly accept lower pay even by signing a document to that effect.

Non-compliance therefore exposes a company on two fronts at once. On one side, MTSS labor inspectors can open a sanctioning procedure that leads to administrative fines. On the other, the employee can sue for the wage difference, with its knock-on effect on the aguinaldo, vacation pay and severance. Where non-compliance is systematic, the accumulated liability usually far exceeds whatever savings the company expected.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum wage in Costa Rica in 2027?

There is no single figure. The Costa Rica minimum wage for 2027 is set by occupational category: for example, ₡379,434.87 per month for a generic unskilled worker (TONCG). Roles in the TONC, TOSC, TOC, TOE and TES categories are set per ordinary workday: ₡12,647.83, ₡13,753.59, ₡14,229.72, ₡16,520.66 and ₡25,638.37, respectively. The 2027 amount for domestic work is still pending a decision by the National Wage Council.

How much is the 2027 minimum wage increase?

The National Wage Council unanimously approved a 1.70% general increase for all private-sector minimum wages. Mid-level technical graduates (TMED) receive an additional 0.88768%, and the adjustment for domestic work will be set in the coming days.

What is the average salary in Costa Rica?

According to INEC’s National Household Survey 2026, average monthly household income was ₡1,163,728 and average income per person was ₡467,197. Average household income from salaried work was ₡723,135 per month. These are household and per-person averages, not the salary of a single employee, and they are skewed upward by higher earners. The legal minimum for each role is set separately by occupational category.

How much is the minimum wage in Costa Rica per month?

From January 1, 2027, the monthly minimum wage for a generic unskilled worker (TONCG) is ₡379,434.87, for a generic semi-skilled worker (TOSCG) ₡412,607.78 and for a generic skilled worker (TOCG) ₡426,891.65. Roles set by daily rate are converted to a monthly figure by multiplying by 30.

When does the new minimum wage take effect?

On January 1, 2027. Until December 31, 2026, the 2026 amounts under Executive Decree No. 45303-MTSS remain in force.

Does the minimum wage apply to foreign companies operating in Costa Rica?

Yes. The increase is mandatory for every employer in the country and for everyone earning the minimum wage in the private sector, regardless of the company’s size, sector or country of origin, and whether employees are paid by the workday or on a piece-rate basis.

How do I convert a daily rate into a monthly salary?

Multiply the daily rate by 30 days. For example, ₡14,229.72 × 30 = ₡426,891.60 per month. This conversion applies only to the TONC, TOSC, TOC, TOE and TES categories; the generic and academic-degree categories are already expressed as monthly amounts.

How do I know whether a role is in the right category?

Classification depends on the role’s actual duties, not on the title in the employment contract. When in doubt, review the job description against the official categories before an inspection or a termination.

Can I pay more than the minimum wage?

Yes. The minimum wage is a legal floor, so employers may agree to higher pay, but never lower.

Does the minimum wage affect termination payouts?

Yes. The Christmas bonus (aguinaldo), vacation pay and severance are all calculated on the salary actually earned, so an incorrectly adjusted salary carries differences into each of those items.

Recommended reading

• Employer Cost Calculator Costa Rica
• Costa Rica Severance Calculator
• Christmas Bonus (Aguinaldo) in Costa Rica: Key Aspects
• Termination for Cause in Costa Rica

This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace individualized legal advice. The 2027 amounts were calculated based on the National Wage Council’s decision of October 28, 2026; always check the executive decree published in La Gaceta before making payroll decisions.