Remuneration & benefits

By working in the United Nations, you become a part of the force which impacts on every corner of the globe and focuses on a broad range of fundamental issues, such as sustainable development, protection of the environment and refugees, disaster relief and mitigation, counter terrorism, as well as disarmament and non-proliferation.

The United Nations offers you an attractive remuneration package with competitive pay and benefits. The level of pay for staff in the Professional and higher categories who are recruited internationally is set by reference to the highest paying national civil service. Staff members in categories who are locally recruited are compensated in accordance with the best prevailing conditions of service locally.

Travel and shipping expenses when you are moving from one duty station to another.

Assignment grant to assist you in meeting initial extraordinary costs when arriving at or relocating to a new duty station.

Rental subsidy may be provided to assist newly-hired international staff with payment of monthly rent prices which are too high in proportion to total remuneration

International staff who leave their duty station after separation from service may be entitled to a repatriation grant payable on the basis of the number of years of service.

At some duty stations, a hardship allowance linked to living and working conditions is paid and in the case of restrictions as to bringing family members, a non-family hardship allowance is also paid.

Hazard pay and rest and recuperation break when you serve in locations where the conditions are particularly hazardous, stressful and difficult.

Dependency benefits are provided in the form of higher net salaries, allowances for staff with dependents, as well as flat-rate allowances for children and secondary dependents.

An education grant may be payable to internationally- recruited staff members serving outside their home country to cover a part of the cost of educating children in full-time attendance at an educational institution.

Depending on your type of contract, you will be entitled to 18 to 30 days of annual leave per year. In addition, the United Nations also observes 10 paid holidays per year; these differ from one duty station to another.

Internationally-recruited staff may be eligible for home leave travel to renew social, cultural and family ties in your home country; frequency depends on the duty station you are assigned to.

The UN makes provisions for maternity, paternity, and adoption leave with full pay and ranging from two to sixteen weeks depending on which type of leave is being requested.

You will be eligible to participate in one of the United Nations-sponsored medical insurance plans. The monthly premiums are shared between yourself and the Organisation.

If you are appointed for six months or more or complete six months of service without interruption, you become a participant in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund.