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Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan

Graduate jobs and salaries in Afghanistan

Updated Data years: 2020, 2021 How we use data

Older data (2020) The latest official figure is from 2020. It may not reflect today's labour market.

Quick answer

In Afghanistan, employees with tertiary education earned a median of AFN 13,000 a month in 2020 (PPP$ 823) — +27% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 8.4%, against 4.5% for all adults aged 25 and over (2021).

Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)

Do graduates earn more in Afghanistan?

Median monthly earnings by education level, Afghanistan, 2020Employees, median monthly earnings. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries.
Education levelLocal currency a monthPPP$ a monthvs all employees
Less than basic education AFN 10,000 633 -2%
Basic education AFN 10,000 633 -2%
Intermediate education AFN 10,000 633 -2%
Advanced (tertiary) education AFN 13,000 823 +27%
Short-cycle tertiary AFN 10,000 633 -2%
Bachelor's or equivalent AFN 14,500 918 +42%
All levels AFN 10,209 647 —

The degree premium ranks 96 of 128 countries with data. That is below the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan median of +38%.

Which occupations pay the most in Afghanistan?

Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2020, from highest to lowest. Examples link to our career profiles.

Occupation groupLocal currency a monthPPP$ a monthvs all employees
Managers
Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager		 AFN 15,000 950 +47%
Clerical support workers AFN 12,000 760 +17%
Technicians and associate professionals
IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal		 AFN 9,996 633 -2%
Service and sales workers
Police officer		 AFN 10,000 633 -2%
Plant and machine operators and assemblers AFN 10,000 633 -2%
Professionals
Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst		 AFN 8,155 517 -20%
Craft and related trades workers AFN 8,000 507 -22%
Elementary occupations AFN 8,000 507 -22%
Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers AFN 7,158 453 -30%
All occupationsAFN 10,209647—

Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Afghanistan?

Unemployment rate by education level, 2021
Education levelAdults 25+Young people 15–24
Less than basic education3.8%7.5%
Basic education5.8%6.3%
Intermediate education5.9%16.3%
Advanced (tertiary) education8.4%14.6%
All levels4.5%8.8%

Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 106 lowest of 130 countries with data. The Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan median is 9.8%.

Unemployment over time, adults 25+

Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
0.05.410.8 201720202021

Studying and working in Afghanistan

Rules on student visas, work after graduation and recognition of qualifications change often. Use the official sources below and check the date on any advice you read.

Guide: how to choose a country to study in · Guide: getting your degree recognised abroad

Country context

Population
43.8M (2025)
GDP per person (PPP)
$2,236 (2024)
Tertiary enrolment (gross)
10.9% (2020)

Questions about graduate jobs in Afghanistan

Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Afghanistan?

According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Afghanistan with tertiary education earned a median of AFN 13,000 a month in 2020, compared with AFN 10,209 for all employees — +27%. The degree premium ranks 96 of 128 countries with data.

What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Afghanistan?

In 2021, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Afghanistan was 8.4%, compared with 4.5% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 14.6%.

Which jobs pay the most in Afghanistan?

The best-paid occupation group in Afghanistan in 2020 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of AFN 15,000 (PPP$ 950). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of AFN 8,155.

Compare with other countries in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan

Compare Afghanistan side by side

  • Egypt

    +10%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)

    Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan

  • Tunisia

    +83%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2019)

    Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan

  • Jordan

    +50%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)

    Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan

  • Pakistan

    0%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2025)

    Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan

  • Lebanon

    +35%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2019)

    Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan

  • Djibouti

    +75%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2017)

    Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan

Sources

  1. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2020
  2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2020
  3. ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2021
  4. World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Afghanistan: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/afghanistan/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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Notes from the data source
  • Break in series: Methodology revised
  • Data reference period: First quarter
  • The source reports a break in the series, so compare with earlier years carefully.