PayPulse 2025 Highlights Regional Salary Gaps in the Caribbean

The Caribbean Society for Human Resource Professionals (CSHRP) has released PayPulse 2025, the fourth edition of its regional salary survey, revealing major differences in pay and cost of living across Caribbean countries.

The report is the most wide-ranging to date, with 206 survey responses from 119 companies in 20 Caribbean countries. This represents a 48 percent increase in responses and more than double the number of participating regional companies compared to 2024. The survey covers 137 job roles across 34 industries.

A key new feature of the 2025 report is the Affordability Index, which compares average monthly salaries with basic living costs, including housing, food, utilities, and transportation. An index of 100 percent means salaries fully cover living expenses.

The findings show mixed results across the region. Belize recorded the highest affordability score at 233.99 percent, followed by Guyana (138.63 percent) and Grenada (136.56 percent). Countries such as The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, and Jamaica fell within the moderately affordable range. However, eight countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Saint Lucia, and Aruba, scored below 100 percent, meaning average salaries do not cover basic monthly living costs.

The report also examined salary competitiveness. Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Belize had the highest share of jobs paying above the regional market rate. In contrast, most roles in Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, and Guyana paid below market value.

By industry, Construction, Architecture, and Property had the highest share of below-market salaries, while Hospitality, Tourism, and Catering performed best overall. The highest-paying sectors included Human Resources, Banking and Financial Services, and Hospitality and Tourism.

Hiring data showed that most positions are filled within three to eight weeks, but senior and specialized roles such as CEOs, CFOs, and IT managers often take nine weeks or more to fill. Entry-level roles are usuaally filled in less than three weeks.

The highest-paying roles across the region remain senior executive positions, led by Chief Executive Officer, followed by Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

The survey also reviewed employee benefits, finding that health insurance and retirement plans are widely offered for professional and leadership roles, while benefits such as company vehicles and transportation allowances are mainly limited to senior management.

CSHRP said PayPulse 2025 provides critical data to help employers, employees, and policymakers better understand pay trends and living costs across the Caribbean. The full report is available for purchase at www.cshrpteam.com.