NGO Jobs In Zimbabwe: How Much Do Jobs At The UN Pay?
Understanding Salaries in the UN: Factors that Affect Pay
Working for the United Nations (UN) can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Whether you’re interested in humanitarian work, international development, or peacekeeping missions, the UN offers a wide range of opportunities to make a positive impact in the world. But like any job, pay is an important consideration when deciding whether to pursue a career with the UN. In this article, we’ll explore the factors that affect salaries in the UN, and what you can expect to earn based on your category, qualification, type of contract, and duty station.
Categories and Qualifications
The UN has two main categories of staff: professional and general services. Professional staff are typically hired for positions that require a higher level of education, such as lawyers, economists, or scientists. General services staff, on the other hand, are hired for positions that require more practical skills, such as administrative assistants, drivers, or cooks. Within these two categories, there are several levels of qualification, ranging from P-1 to P-7 for professional staff, and from G-1 to G-7 for general services staff.
The higher your level of qualification, the higher your salary is likely to be. For example, a professional staff member with a P-1 qualification can expect to earn around $37,000 per year, while a P-7 staff member can earn up to $123,000 per year. For general services staff, a G-1 qualification is the lowest level, with a salary of around $31,000 per year, while a G-7 staff member can earn up to $90,000 per year.
Contract Types
The type of contract you have with the UN can also affect your salary. There are several types of contracts available, including fixed-term, continuing, and temporary appointments. Fixed-term appointments are typically given for a specific period while continuing appointments are more permanent and have no set end date. Temporary appointments are used for short-term needs or to fill in for staff members who are on leave.
Generally speaking, fixed-term appointments offer higher salaries than temporary appointments, as they provide greater job security and stability. However, the UN also offers a range of benefits to staff members, such as health insurance, pension plans, and leave entitlements, which can help offset lower salaries.
Duty Stations
Where you are located also plays a role in determining your salary at the UN. Salaries for UN staff members are based on a system of “post adjustment,” which takes into account the cost of living in different locations around the world. This means that staff members who are posted in more expensive cities or countries will typically receive higher salaries to offset the higher cost of living.
For example, staff members who are posted in New York City, which has a high cost of living, receive a post adjustment of 116.6%, while staff members who are posted in Nairobi, Kenya, receive a post adjustment of 45.6%. This means that a staff member with a P-3 qualification who is posted in New York City can expect to earn around $90,000 per year, while a staff member with the same qualification who is posted in Nairobi can expect to earn around $47,000 per year.
Using the UN Salary Calculator
With so many factors to consider, it can be difficult to know exactly what your salary will be if you work for the UN. That’s where the UN salary calculator comes in. This online tool allows you to input your category, qualification, contract type, and duty station, and receive an estimate of your annual salary.