Key Facts: Micronesia Wages
- Country
- Micronesia (FSM)
- Continent
- Oceania
- Currency
- United States Dollar (USD)
- Minimum Wage
- $2.65 /hr
- Average Gross Monthly Salary
- $1,200 /month
- Average Gross Annual Salary
- $14,400 /year
- Standard Work Week
- 40 hours
- Data Source
- Federated States of Micronesia Division of Labor / Pacific Community (SPC) / Pacific Labour Market Information System
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-04
Micronesia — Average Salary & Wages
United States Dollar (USD) Data verified Jan 2026 Sources
The average salary in Micronesia is
$14,400 a year
The minimum wage in Micronesia is $2.65/hr as of 2026. The average gross monthly salary is $1,200 ($1,200 USD).
Micronesia's minimum wage is near the median for Oceania, ranking #8 out of 15 countries with statutory minimum wages. The standard work week is 40 hours.
Estimated average for formal sector workers, predominantly government employees. The cash economy is very limited and most households supplement income with subsistence fishing and agriculture. Government employment (national and state) is the dominant formal employer. Remittances from the US and Guam are economically significant.
Minimum Wage Trend
• PPP ADJUSTED
In Micronesia, the minimum wage has the purchasing power of $2.76/hr in the United States, adjusted for local cost of living using the World Bank PPP conversion factor.
In Context
At minimum wage, a full-time worker in Micronesia earns $459/mo. That is 38% of the average gross salary.
- Monthly (full-time)
- $459 at min. wage
- Share of avg. salary
- 38% gross, before tax
Wage Breakdown
- Hourly
- $2.65
- Daily
- $21.20Hourly rate × 8 hours
- Monthly
- $459Hourly rate × 40 hours/week × 52 weeks / 12 months
The FSM national minimum wage of $2.65/hour applies to government sector employees. Individual state governments (Chuuk, Pohnpei, Yap, Kosrae) may set different rates for state and private sector workers. The figure is well below US federal minimum wage levels and reflects the very limited cash economy. FSM citizens can freely migrate to the US under the Compact of Free Association; outmigration (especially to Guam, Hawaii, and the US mainland) is substantial and reduces domestic labor supply. The effective date is an estimate; the rate has not been confirmed as recently revised. Note: minimum wage figure shown ($2.65/hr) is from 2015 (10+ years stale). FSM uses Compact-related minimums; rate may have been adjusted but is not directly verified in this dataset.
Work Week
- Standard
- 40 hrs/wk
- Maximum
- 48 hrs/wk
- Overtime
- 1.5x pay
FSM labor law sets a standard 40-hour workweek for government workers. English is the official language of government; Chuukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, and Kosraean are also official state languages. FSM is in free association with the United States and follows broadly similar labor frameworks for the formal public sector.
How Micronesia Compares
| Metric | Micronesia | Oceania Avg. | Oceania Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. wage (USD equiv.) | $2.65/hr | $4.78/hr | $18.22/hr (Australia) |
| Avg. salary (USD equiv.) | $1,200/mo | $1,346.08/mo | $5,397.97/mo (Australia) |
Countries with Similar Minimum Wages
| Country | Min. Wage /hr (USD) |
|---|---|
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | $2.59 |
| Serbia | $2.52 |
| Belize | $2.50 |
| Maldives | $2.49 |
| Vanuatu | $2.48 |
| Micronesia | $2.65 |
Cost of Living
Wages tell half the story. See purchasing power, prices, and quality-of-life context for Micronesia on our sister site.
Cost of living in Micronesia on costofliving.is →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Micronesia?
The minimum wage in Micronesia is $2.65/hr, effective since 2015-01-01. The FSM national minimum wage of $2.65/hour applies to government sector employees. Individual state governments (Chuuk, Pohnpei, Yap, Kosrae) may set different rates for state and private sector workers. The figure is well below US federal minimum wage levels and reflects the very limited cash economy. FSM citizens can freely migrate to the US under the Compact of Free Association; outmigration (especially to Guam, Hawaii, and the US mainland) is substantial and reduces domestic labor supply. The effective date is an estimate; the rate has not been confirmed as recently revised. Note: minimum wage figure shown ($2.65/hr) is from 2015 (10+ years stale). FSM uses Compact-related minimums; rate may have been adjusted but is not directly verified in this dataset.
What is the average salary in Micronesia?
The average gross monthly salary in Micronesia is $1,200 (approximately $1,200 USD). Estimated average for formal sector workers, predominantly government employees. The cash economy is very limited and most households supplement income with subsistence fishing and agriculture. Government employment (national and state) is the dominant formal employer. Remittances from the US and Guam are economically significant. Source: Pacific Community (SPC) / World Bank estimated (formal sector) (2022).
How many hours is the standard work week in Micronesia?
The standard work week in Micronesia is 40 hours, with a legal maximum of 48 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the normal rate. FSM labor law sets a standard 40-hour workweek for government workers. English is the official language of government; Chuukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, and Kosraean are also official state languages. FSM is in free association with the United States and follows broadly similar labor frameworks for the formal public sector.
How has the minimum wage in Micronesia changed over time?
The minimum wage in Micronesia has changed as follows: $2.65 in 2015, $2.65 in 2020, $2.65 in 2024. This represents 3 recorded adjustments.
What is the average salary in Micronesia in USD?
The average gross monthly salary in Micronesia is approximately $1,200 per month in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
How does Micronesia's minimum wage compare to the Oceania average?
Micronesia's minimum wage ranks #8 out of 15 countries with statutory minimum wages in Oceania, placing it near the median for Oceania.
From Insights
All Insights →In-depth wage analysis and data stories from wage.is Insights.