Rwanda
+559%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Burundi
Updated Data years: 2020 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 Burundi, employees with tertiary education earned a median of BIF 280,000 a month in 2020 (PPP$ 442) — +550% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 8.8%, against 0.8% for all adults aged 25 and over (2020).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +550%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2020)
- BIF 280,000median monthly pay with tertiary education (2020)
- 8.8%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 0.8%, 2020)
Do graduates earn more in Burundi?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | BIF 30,959 | 49 | -28% |
| Basic education | BIF 40,000 | 63 | -7% |
| Intermediate education | BIF 160,000 | 252 | +271% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | BIF 280,000 | 442 | +550% |
| All levels | BIF 43,300 | 68 | — |
The degree premium ranks 3 of 128 countries with data. That is above the Sub-Saharan Africa median of +151%.
Which occupations pay the most in Burundi?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2020, from highest to lowest. Examples link to our career profiles.
| Occupation group | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | BIF 251,788 | 397 | +484% |
| Clerical support workers | BIF 212,555 | 335 | +393% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | BIF 200,000 | 316 | +365% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | BIF 197,661 | 312 | +359% |
| Craft and related trades workers | BIF 108,105 | 171 | +151% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | BIF 90,930 | 143 | +110% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | BIF 60,000 | 95 | +40% |
| Elementary occupations | BIF 32,000 | 50 | -26% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | BIF 30,000 | 47 | -31% |
| All occupations | BIF 43,300 | 68 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Burundi?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 0.2% | — |
| Basic education | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| Intermediate education | 6.4% | 8.5% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 8.8% | — |
| All levels | 0.8% | 1.7% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 111 lowest of 130 countries with data. The Sub-Saharan Africa median is 8.3%.
Studying and working in Burundi
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
- 14.4M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $1,248 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 6.4% (2025)
Questions about graduate jobs in Burundi
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Burundi?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Burundi with tertiary education earned a median of BIF 280,000 a month in 2020, compared with BIF 43,300 for all employees — +550%. The degree premium ranks 3 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Burundi?
In 2020, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Burundi was 8.8%, compared with 0.8% for all adults.
Which jobs pay the most in Burundi?
The best-paid occupation group in Burundi in 2020 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of BIF 251,788 (PPP$ 397). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of BIF 197,661.
Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
-
-
Benin
+83%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Guinea
+16%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2019) -
Senegal
+212%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Chad
+167%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Zambia
+200%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — HIES - Living Standards Survey, 2020
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — HIES - Living Standards Survey, 2020
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — HIES - Living Standards Survey, 2020
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Burundi: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/burundi/ (accessed September 26, 2026)