UN careers
UN grade levels explained
Understand UN P, D, General Service, National Professional Officer and Field Service grades before applying.
Last reviewed 15 August 2026
A UN grade is a post classification, not a universal job title. Read the recruitment category first, then the grade, duty station, contract, languages and mandatory eligibility requirements.
Read the category before the number
| Family | Meaning in practice |
|---|---|
| P-1 to P-5 | Internationally recruited Professional roles, from early professional work to senior specialist or management responsibility. |
| D-1 and D-2 | Director levels with wider strategic, management or representational accountability. |
| GS | Locally recruited administrative, operational and technical roles with local salary scales. |
| NO or NPO | Professional work requiring national context, often with nationality or residency conditions. |
| FS | Field-facing operational, technical and mission-support roles. |
What P grades normally indicate
P-1 and P-2 roles suit early professional candidates who can show completed, relevant work. P-3 commonly requires ownership of a substantial workstream, technical advice or a defined portfolio. P-4 and P-5 vacancies usually add senior judgement, team leadership, budget responsibility, representation or quality assurance. D-1 and D-2 are director roles, not simply higher P-5 posts.
Do not infer a fixed experience threshold from a grade. Compare your evidence with the vacancy's required education, experience type, languages and decision-making scope. A P-3 health vacancy, for example, can require very different evidence from a P-3 finance or programme post.
Pay and location
ICSC describes Professional and higher-category pay as a worldwide base salary plus post adjustment. GS and NPO salary scales are local. That is why the same-looking number cannot be compared across categories or duty stations. Use the salary calculator as an estimate, then read the vacancy and offer terms.
Apply to the role, not the label
Search live jobs by grade and job area. Choose a vacancy where your examples match the actual operating problem, stakeholder level and accountability. The official job description remains the final authority.
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Related guides
Common questions
Is P-3 a mid-level UN job?
P-3 often involves experienced professional work
Are GS jobs internationally recruited?
General Service roles are locally recruited