UN Job Grades Explained — P-1 to D-2, G, NO, FS & More

Updated 2026 · 10 min read

The United Nations uses a structured grading system that determines your salary, responsibilities, and career path. Understanding these grades is essential whether you're applying for your first UN position or planning your next career move.

1. Grade System Overview

The UN common system — used by the UN Secretariat and most specialised agencies — divides staff into several categories. Your grade determines your base salary, which is then adjusted by a post adjustment (for Professional and above) or set on a local scale (for General Service). Within each grade, you progress through steps — typically one step per year — each providing a modest salary increase.

2. Professional Grades (P-1 to P-5)

Professional staff are internationally recruited — they can come from any UN Member State and are expected to serve at different duty stations. Salaries are set in USD and adjusted based on cost of living at the duty station.

P-2 is the most common entry point for young professionals. The Young Professionals Programme (YPP) and Junior Professional Officer (JPO) schemes often place candidates at P-2. P-3 is the workhorse grade — mid-career professionals with substantive expertise. P-4 and P-5 require demonstrated leadership and deep specialisation.

3. Director Grades (D-1, D-2)

Director-level positions sit above P-5 and carry significant management responsibilities. D-1 typically leads a section, unit, or programme with 15+ years of experience. D-2 (Principal Director) leads a division or major office — these are among the most senior competitively recruited positions.

Above D-2 sit the appointed leadership positions: Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) and Under-Secretary-General (USG), which are political appointments by the Secretary-General or the relevant agency head.

4. General Service Grades (G-1 to G-7)

General Service staff are locally recruited at the duty station and paid in the local currency based on a survey of comparable local employers. GS roles cover administrative, clerical, and technical support functions.

• G-1 to G-3: Entry-level support — drivers, mail clerks, security guards, general assistants
• G-4 to G-5: Mid-level — administrative assistants, finance assistants, IT support
• G-6 to G-7: Senior — team leaders, senior assistants, technical specialists

A GS staff member in Geneva will earn a very different salary than one in Nairobi for the same grade — GS salaries are entirely location-dependent. Use the GloJobs salary calculator to compare GS salaries by duty station.

5. National Officer Grades (NO-A to NO-D)

National Officers perform professional-level work but are recruited exclusively from nationals of the country where the position is located. Grades run from NO-A (equivalent to P-2/P-3) through NO-D (equivalent to P-5). They are common in field operations — UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, and WFP use them extensively.

NO salaries follow a local professional scale — higher than GS but lower than the international P scale for the same grade equivalent.

6. Field Service Grades (FS-4 to FS-7)

Field Service staff are internationally recruited for peacekeeping and special political missions. They combine elements of both GS and P categories — performing technical and logistical functions in the field. FS-4 and FS-5 are roughly equivalent to G-6/G-7, while FS-6 and FS-7 overlap with P-2/P-3 in terms of responsibility and compensation.

7. Other Categories

Beyond the core grading system, you'll encounter several other position types:

• Internships: Unpaid or stipend-based (varies by agency). Require current enrolment in or recent completion of a degree programme. Typically 2–6 months.
• UN Volunteers (UNV): Specialist or community volunteers with a living allowance. Often a stepping stone to staff positions.
• Junior Professional Officers (JPO): Sponsored by your home government. Usually P-2 level for 2–3 years. Excellent pathway to a regular P-2/P-3 position.
• Consultants / Individual Contractors: Short-term experts hired for specific deliverables. No grade — compensation is negotiated per contract (often benchmarked to P-3/P-4 equivalency).
• IICA / LICA (UNDP): International/Local Individual Contractor Agreements used by UNDP and UNOPS. IICA levels roughly map: IICA-1 ≈ P-2, IICA-2 ≈ P-3, IICA-3 ≈ P-4.

8. Career Progression Between Grades

Moving within a grade (step increases) is mostly automatic — one step per year of satisfactory service, typically 13 steps per grade. Moving between grades requires applying competitively to a higher-graded vacancy. There is no automatic promotion.

Key progression facts:

• GS → P transitions are possible via the G-to-P examination (UN Secretariat) or by applying to P-2 vacancies openly
• P-3 → P-4 is the most competitive jump — many staff spend several years at P-3
• Moving from one agency to another (lateral transfer) is possible and can accelerate career growth
• Temporary assignments (TDY), surge deployments, and loan arrangements let you gain experience at a higher level

Read our guide on building a UN career from intern to staff for a step-by-step progression strategy.