UN D-2 Salary in Pyongyang, North Korea

What an internationally recruited Director (D-2) earns at the UN in Pyongyang — the global net base salary plus this duty station's 48% post adjustment and the hardship, danger and non-family allowances on top.

Hardship Category E Post Adjustment 47.5%

D-2 salary in Pyongyang — at a glance

Internationally recruited Professional & Director (P/D) — the global USD scale plus this station's post adjustment. Recruited locally? See the GS/NO local scale.

USD 192,454
Net rem · step 1
USD 207,774
Net rem · mid
USD 226,921
Net rem · top step
USD Post adjustment +48% 10 steps Hardship E January 2026 Checked 1 Sep 2026

Net remuneration = net base + 48% post adjustment (net base USD 130,477–USD 153,845), before hardship/danger allowances and pension.

D-2 salary scale — by step

Global net base (un_scale), effective January 2026, with the 48% post adjustment for Pyongyang. Per year, USD.

StepNet basePost adj (+48%)Net remunerationEst. take-home
Step 1USD 130,477USD 61,977USD 192,454USD 163,192
Step 2USD 133,072USD 63,209USD 196,281USD 166,417
Step 3USD 135,667USD 64,442USD 200,109USD 169,641
Step 4USD 138,265USD 65,676USD 203,941USD 172,870
Step 5USD 140,864USD 66,910USD 207,774USD 176,100
Step 6USD 143,460USD 68,144USD 211,604USD 179,326
Step 7USD 146,055USD 69,376USD 215,431USD 182,551
Step 8USD 148,654USD 70,611USD 219,265USD 185,781
Step 9USD 151,249USD 71,843USD 223,092USD 189,006
Step 10USD 153,845USD 73,076USD 226,921USD 192,232

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 in Pyongyang

Allowances an internationally recruited D-2 may receive at this duty station. Annual USD unless noted.

Post adjustmentCost-of-living multiplier on net base+48%
Hardship allowanceICSC category EUSD 24,460
Mobility incentiveFrom the 2nd assignment onwardUSD 10,350 +
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 for Pyongyang — plus cost of living & relocation
Your Take-Home in North Korea

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

{{ unmatched }} is not a UN salary grade, so the figures below are not for it — the calculator has fallen back to its default. Pick a grade above, or see contract types and what they pay.
You must already have 5 years' continuous UN service to qualify, and it applies from your 2nd duty station onward. Paid for up to 5 years at any one station.
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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) pay is in US dollars; GS/NO on the local scale in local currency. For information only — not official advice.

Other Professional grades in Pyongyang

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

P-1 P-2 P-3 P-4 P-5 D-1

Frequently asked

What is the D-2 salary at the UN in Pyongyang?

A Director D-2 in Pyongyang, North Korea has a net base salary of about USD 130,477 (step 1) to USD 153,845 (top step). With the 48% post adjustment for this duty station, net remuneration is roughly USD 193,106 to USD 227,691 per year, before hardship, danger and other allowances.

How does post adjustment work for a D-2 in Pyongyang?

Post adjustment equalises purchasing power across duty stations. In Pyongyang it is about 48% of net base salary, added on top — so the same D-2 net base is worth more or less depending on the station's cost of living.

These are UN common-system pay figures. The World Bank, IMF and NGOs and other non-UN employers posting in Pyongyang set their own pay — a role here does not guarantee these figures.

Salary & Benefits Tools

Pay Stack calculatorThe full take-home tool — any duty station, every allowance, built layer by layer UN salary scales by grade Post adjustment explained UN contracts & grade levels
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