UN FS-3 Salary — Thimphu, Bhutan

What an internationally recruited Field Service (FS-3) earns at the UN in Thimphu — the global net base salary plus this duty station’s 36% post adjustment and the hardship, danger and non-family allowances on top.

FS-3 salary — Thimphu, at a glance

Internationally recruited Field Service (FS) — the UN’s worldwide FS scale plus this station’s post adjustment. Recruited locally? See the GS/NO local scale.

USD 66,224
Net rem · step 1
USD 75,132
Net rem · mid
USD 84,035
Net rem · top step
USD Post adjustment +36% 13 steps Hardship C January 2026 Checked Nov 9, 2026

Net remuneration = net base + 36% post adjustment (net base USD 48,730–USD 61,836), before hardship/danger allowances and pension.

FS-3 salary scale — by step

Worldwide Field Service net base (UN OneHR), effective January 2026, with the 36% post adjustment for Thimphu. Per year, USD.

StepNet basePost adj (+36%)Net remunerationEst. take-home
Step 1USD 48,730USD 17,494USD 66,224USD 55,933
Step 2USD 49,829USD 17,889USD 67,718USD 57,184
Step 3USD 50,918USD 18,280USD 69,198USD 58,423
Step 4USD 52,007USD 18,671USD 70,678USD 59,661
Step 5USD 53,097USD 19,062USD 72,159USD 60,901
Step 6USD 54,194USD 19,456USD 73,650USD 62,149
Step 7USD 55,285USD 19,847USD 75,132USD 63,390
Step 8USD 56,376USD 20,239USD 76,615USD 64,631
Step 9USD 57,471USD 20,632USD 78,103USD 65,877
Step 10USD 58,555USD 21,021USD 79,576USD 67,110
Step 11USD 59,646USD 21,413USD 81,059USD 68,351
Step 12USD 60,743USD 21,807USD 82,550USD 69,599
Step 13USD 61,836USD 22,199USD 84,035USD 70,841

Est. take-home deducts a 7.9% UNJSPF pension and an indicative 2.5% medical premium. Indicative — the estimator below computes single/dependency rates and your exact deductions.

On top of base salary — Thimphu

Allowances an internationally recruited FS-3 may receive at this duty station. Annual USD unless noted.

Post adjustmentCost-of-living multiplier on net base+36%
Hardship allowanceICSC category CUSD 11,010
Mobility incentiveFrom the 2nd assignment onwardUSD 6,900 +
Danger paySecurity-risk designationNot a danger-pay station
Non-family allowanceWhen dependants may not accompany staffFamily duty station
Spouse / single-parent allowanceDependent spouse, or first child if a single parent+6% of net remuneration
Child allowancePer dependent child (flat rate)USD 2,929 / child
See these allowances explained in full — Thimphu, plus cost of living & relocation
Your Take-Home Pay — Bhutan

An estimate for a UN post at Thimphu, Bhutan — for internationally recruited staff (Professional P / D, in US dollars) or locally recruited staff (General Service / National Officer, local scale).

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Field Service net base: UN OneHR scale effective January 2026. The pension line uses pensionable remuneration derived from the ICSC Professional scale (FS figures are no longer published).
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* Health insurance is indicative only — real premiums vary by organization, plan (medical and dental are billed separately) and coverage option. The ~2.5% shown is a placeholder, not a quote.

Indicative estimate — excludes rental subsidy, education grant and settling-in. Professional (P/D) and Field Service (FS) pay is in US dollars; GS/NO on the local scale in local currency. For information only — not official advice.

Other Professional grades — Thimphu

Same duty station, different grade — see the full scale for each.

Frequently asked

What is the FS-3 salary at the UN in Thimphu?

A Field Service FS-3 in Thimphu, Bhutan has a net base salary of about USD 48,730 (step 1) to USD 61,836 (top step). With the 36% post adjustment for this duty station, net remuneration is roughly USD 66,273 to USD 84,097 per year, before hardship, danger and other allowances.

How does post adjustment work for a FS-3 in Thimphu?

Post adjustment equalises purchasing power across duty stations. In Thimphu it is about 36% of net base salary, added on top — so the same FS-3 net base is worth more or less depending on the station’s cost of living.

What is the cost of living in Thimphu, Bhutan?

Everyday prices in Bhutan are roughly 23% of United States levels (World Bank price level index, US = 100). Post adjustment is designed to offset this. For internationally recruited (P/D) staff, our Real UN Purchasing Power estimate for Thimphu is 126/100 (New York = 100) — net pay (base + post adjustment) stretches about 26% further here than in New York.

See the Real UN Purchasing Power — Thimphu
These are UN common-system pay figures. The World Bank, IMF and NGOs and other non-UN employers posting here set their own pay — a role here does not guarantee these figures.