Mali
+161%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Burkina Faso
Updated Data years: 2025 How we use data
Quick answer
In Burkina Faso, employees with tertiary education earned a median of F CFA 175,000 a month in 2025 (PPP$ 906) — +250% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 14.6%, against 5.1% for all adults aged 25 and over (2025).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +250%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2025)
- F CFA 175,000median monthly pay with tertiary education (2025)
- 14.6%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 5.1%, 2025)
- 39.2%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2025)
Do graduates earn more in Burkina Faso?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | F CFA 30,000 | 155 | -40% |
| Basic education | F CFA 50,000 | 259 | 0% |
| Intermediate education | F CFA 80,000 | 414 | +60% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | F CFA 175,000 | 906 | +250% |
| Short-cycle tertiary | F CFA 149,281 | 773 | +198% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | F CFA 150,000 | 777 | +200% |
| Master's or equivalent | F CFA 208,745 | 1,081 | +317% |
| Doctoral or equivalent | F CFA 347,747 | 1,801 | +595% |
| All levels | F CFA 50,000 | 259 | — |
The degree premium ranks 9 of 128 countries with data. That is above the Sub-Saharan Africa median of +151%.
Earnings over time (PPP$ a month)
Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
PPP$ values are in current international dollars, so part of the rise reflects inflation.
Which occupations pay the most in Burkina Faso?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2025, from highest to lowest. Examples link to our career profiles.
| Occupation group | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | F CFA 150,000 | 777 | +200% |
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | F CFA 113,725 | 589 | +127% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | F CFA 80,761 | 418 | +61% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | F CFA 78,052 | 404 | +56% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | F CFA 75,000 | 388 | +50% |
| Clerical support workers | F CFA 69,315 | 359 | +39% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | F CFA 45,000 | 233 | -10% |
| Craft and related trades workers | F CFA 30,000 | 155 | -40% |
| Elementary occupations | F CFA 30,000 | 155 | -40% |
| All occupations | F CFA 50,000 | 259 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Burkina Faso?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 4.2% | 10.8% |
| Basic education | 6.6% | 14.9% |
| Intermediate education | 9.8% | 40.4% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 14.6% | 39.2% |
| All levels | 5.1% | 14.0% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 121 lowest of 130 countries with data. The Sub-Saharan Africa median is 8.3%.
Unemployment over time, adults 25+
Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
Studying and working in Burkina Faso
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
- 24.1M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $3,072 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 10.0% (2024)
Questions about graduate jobs in Burkina Faso
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Burkina Faso?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Burkina Faso with tertiary education earned a median of F CFA 175,000 a month in 2025, compared with F CFA 50,000 for all employees — +250%. The degree premium ranks 9 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Burkina Faso?
In 2025, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Burkina Faso was 14.6%, compared with 5.1% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 39.2%.
Which jobs pay the most in Burkina Faso?
The best-paid occupation group in Burkina Faso in 2025 was “Professionals”, with median monthly earnings of F CFA 150,000 (PPP$ 777). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of F CFA 150,000.
Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
Compare Burkina Faso side by side
-
-
Zambia
+200%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Chad
+167%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Niger
+346%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Senegal
+212%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Côte d’Ivoire
+186%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2025
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2025
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2025
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Burkina Faso: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/burkina-faso/ (accessed September 26, 2026)