Average hourly wage in Puerto Rico rose to $16.40 in 2023
According to the most recent edition of the 2023 Jobs and Wages by Occupation survey, a collaborative effort between the Puerto Rico Labor and Human Resources Department and its federal counterpart, the average hourly wage on the island has increased to $16.40, while the median wage rose to $12.09.
In 2022, these figures were $15.54 and $11.29 per hour, respectively. The average annual salary for all occupations now stands at $34,120, up from $32,330 in 2022.
“In line with the economic rebound that Puerto Rico is experiencing, tied to the lowest unemployment rate in history, the highest labor [-force] participation in over a decade and the highest level of employment in the last 15 years, this new publication also reflects that, on average, Puerto Ricans are earning more money than before,” said Puerto Rico Labor Secretary Gabriel Maldonado-González.
Comparing the 2023 survey results with 2021, there is a 12% increase in average salary and an 11% rise in median salary. Maldonado-González said the increases are the result of two minimum wage hikes, now at $9.50 per hour, “while fierce competition persists between employers in all industries to attract and retain talent that motivates them to offer a better compensation and benefits package.”
The secretary of labor emphasized that “virtually all economic sectors have experienced significant improvements in salary levels when compared to 2021. For example, construction increased by 16 percent, while manufacturing and the information sector increased by 11% and 20%, respectively. This upward trend in wages, in turn, mitigates the impact of the inflation we have experienced in recent years and which has been stabilizing recently.”
Individuals with a doctoral or professional degree earned an average hourly wage of $43.28, or $90,020 annually, while workers without a formal education received an average hourly wage of $11.07, with an annual salary of $23,020.
Among the occupations with the highest average salary in 2023 were: radiologist with an average annual salary of $196,520; architecture professor with an average salary of $126,010; industrial production managers with an average annual salary of $124,510 and executive directors with an average annual salary of $123,570.
The Employment and Wage Statistics by Occupation survey is the product of a cooperative agreement between Puerto Rico Labor and Human Resources Department and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Average Annual Salary in 2023 (Percent Change from 2021 to 2023):
- All industries: $34,120 (+12%)
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting: $22,820 (N/A)
- Mining: $24,540 (+12%)
- Utilities: $54,300 (+8%)
- Construction: $30,510 (+16%)
- Manufacturing: $38,130 (+11%)
- Wholesale trade: $39,070 (+12%)
- Retail trade: $26,710 (+11%)
- Transportation and storage: $36,520 (N/A)
- Information: $44,000 (+20%)
- Finance and insurance: $44,700 (+15%)
- Real estate, rental or leasing: $29,170 (+15%)
- Professional, scientific and technical services: $49,470 (+15%)
- Management of companies and enterprises: $49,050 (+8%)
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services: $23,930 (+7%)
- Educational services (public and private): $39,310 (+14%)
- Health care and social assistance: $32,030 (+14%)
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation: $29,190 (+17%)
- Accommodation and food services: $23,280 (+13%)
- Other services: $26,730 (+9%)
- Federal, state and local government: $40,850 (+15%)
The top 30 occupations with the highest average salary in Puerto Rico for 2023 were:
- Radiologists: $196,520
- Postsecondary Architecture Professors: $126,010
- Industrial Production Managers: $124,510
- Executive Directors: $123,570
- General Pediatricians: $122,950
- Internal Medicine Physicians: $121,430
- Directors of Architecture and Engineering: $121,210
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists: $120,630
- Natural Sciences Managers: $113,720
- Family Medicine Physicians: $107,190
- Advertising and Promotions Managers: $105,840
- Sales Managers: $104,760
- Air Traffic Controllers: $103,590
- Computer Systems Information Managers: $101,880
- Marketing Managers: $101,820
- Health Specialties Postsecondary Professors: $101,570
- Medical and Health Services Managers: $99,560
- Pharmacists: $99,140
- General Dentists: $99,090
- Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates: $98,740
- Postmasters and Mail Superintendents: $95,660
- Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers: $95,230
- Financial Managers: $94,220
- Veterinarians: $94,060
- General and Operations Managers: $93,730
- Chemical Engineers: $91,630
- Postsecondary Social Work Teachers: $91,100
- Computer Science Postsecondary Professors: $89,110
- Health Postsecondary Professors: $89,050
- Compensation and Benefits Managers: $86,900
The average salary earned in 2023 by workers with the typical educational level required for their occupation: Pay per hour | Annual wage:
- Doctorate or professional degree: $43.28 | $90,020
- Master’s degree: $23.33 | $48,520
- Bachelor’s degree: $26.15 | $54,400
- Associate degree: $17.65 | $36,710
- Postsecondary non-degree award: $13.18 | $27,410
- Some college, no degree: $13.66 | $28,420
- High school diploma or equivalent: $14.23 | $29,600
- No formal educational credential: $11.07 | $23,020
