UN FS-1 Salary — Lusaka, Zambia

What an internationally recruited Field Service (FS-1) earns at the UN in Lusaka — the global net base salary plus this duty station’s 43% post adjustment and the hardship, danger and non-family allowances on top.

FS-1 salary — Lusaka, 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 55,118
Net rem · step 1
USD 62,397
Net rem · mid
USD 69,661
Net rem · top step
USD Post adjustment +43% 13 steps Hardship B January 2026 Checked Nov 9, 2026

Net remuneration = net base + 43% post adjustment (net base USD 38,544–USD 48,714), before hardship/danger allowances and pension.

FS-1 salary scale — by step

Worldwide Field Service net base (UN OneHR), effective January 2026, with the 43% post adjustment for Lusaka. Per year, USD.

StepNet basePost adj (+43%)Net remunerationEst. take-home
Step 1USD 38,544USD 16,574USD 55,118USD 47,015
Step 2USD 39,393USD 16,939USD 56,332USD 48,039
Step 3USD 40,238USD 17,302USD 57,540USD 49,059
Step 4USD 41,085USD 17,667USD 58,752USD 50,081
Step 5USD 41,932USD 18,031USD 59,963USD 51,103
Step 6USD 42,787USD 18,398USD 61,185USD 52,135
Step 7USD 43,634USD 18,763USD 62,397USD 53,157
Step 8USD 44,477USD 19,125USD 63,602USD 54,174
Step 9USD 45,329USD 19,491USD 64,820USD 55,202
Step 10USD 46,176USD 19,856USD 66,032USD 56,225
Step 11USD 47,021USD 20,219USD 67,240USD 57,244
Step 12USD 47,866USD 20,582USD 68,448USD 58,264
Step 13USD 48,714USD 20,947USD 69,661USD 59,287

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 — Lusaka

Allowances an internationally recruited FS-1 may receive at this duty station. Annual USD unless noted.

Post adjustmentCost-of-living multiplier on net base+43%
Hardship allowanceICSC category BUSD 6,110
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 — Lusaka, plus cost of living & relocation
Your Take-Home Pay — Zambia

An estimate for a UN post at Lusaka, Zambia — 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 — Lusaka

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

Frequently asked

What is the FS-1 salary at the UN in Lusaka?

A Field Service FS-1 in Lusaka, Zambia has a net base salary of about USD 38,544 (step 1) to USD 48,714 (top step). With the 43% post adjustment for this duty station, net remuneration is roughly USD 55,118 to USD 69,661 per year, before hardship, danger and other allowances.

How does post adjustment work for a FS-1 in Lusaka?

Post adjustment equalises purchasing power across duty stations. In Lusaka it is about 43% of net base salary, added on top — so the same FS-1 net base is worth more or less depending on the station’s cost of living.

What is the cost of living in Lusaka, Zambia?

Everyday prices in Zambia are roughly 30% 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 Lusaka is 125/100 (New York = 100) — net pay (base + post adjustment) stretches about 25% further here than in New York.

See the Real UN Purchasing Power — Lusaka
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.