Argentina
+37%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Colombia
Updated Data years: 2023, 2025 How we use data
Quick answer
In Colombia, employees with tertiary education earned a median of COP 2,500,000 a month in 2025 (PPP$ 1,501) — +67% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 8.0%, against 7.0% for all adults aged 25 and over (2025).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO) · OECD
- +67%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2025)
- COP 2,500,000median monthly pay with tertiary education (2025)
- 8.0%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 7.0%, 2025)
- 21.0%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2025)
Do graduates earn more in Colombia?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | COP 1,200,000 | 720 | -20% |
| Basic education | COP 1,423,000 | 854 | -5% |
| Intermediate education | COP 1,423,500 | 855 | -5% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | COP 2,500,000 | 1,501 | +67% |
| Short-cycle tertiary | COP 1,600,000 | 961 | +7% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | COP 2,850,000 | 1,711 | +90% |
| Master's or equivalent | COP 5,500,000 | 3,302 | +266% |
| Doctoral or equivalent | COP 6,320,000 | 3,794 | +321% |
| All levels | COP 1,500,000 | 901 | — |
The degree premium ranks 50 of 128 countries with data. That is below the Latin America and the Caribbean median of +67%.
Earnings over time (PPP$ a month)
Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
PPP$ values are in current international dollars, so part of the rise reflects inflation.
Earnings compared with upper secondary education (OECD)
The OECD compares the earnings of adults aged 25–64 with each level of education to those who finished upper secondary school (= 100). Latest year: 2023.
| Education level | Index (upper secondary = 100) |
|---|---|
| All tertiary | 250 |
| Below upper secondary | 70 |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Full-time, full-year earners.
Which occupations pay the most in Colombia?
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 | COP 3,600,000 | 2,161 | +140% |
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | COP 3,000,000 | 1,801 | +100% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | COP 2,000,000 | 1,201 | +33% |
| Clerical support workers | COP 1,600,000 | 961 | +7% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | COP 1,480,000 | 889 | -1% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | COP 1,423,500 | 855 | -5% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | COP 1,423,500 | 855 | -5% |
| Craft and related trades workers | COP 1,423,500 | 855 | -5% |
| Elementary occupations | COP 1,400,000 | 841 | -7% |
| All occupations | COP 1,500,000 | 901 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Colombia?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 4.1% | 9.4% |
| Basic education | 6.1% | 13.9% |
| Intermediate education | 7.7% | 18.4% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 8.0% | 21.0% |
| All levels | 7.0% | 17.5% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 101 lowest of 130 countries with data. The Latin America and the Caribbean median is 3.9%.
Unemployment over time, adults 25+
Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
Studying and working in Colombia
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
- 53.4M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $22,640 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 59.3% (2022)
Questions about graduate jobs in Colombia
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Colombia?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Colombia with tertiary education earned a median of COP 2,500,000 a month in 2025, compared with COP 1,500,000 for all employees — +67%. The degree premium ranks 50 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Colombia?
In 2025, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Colombia was 8.0%, compared with 7.0% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 21.0%.
Which jobs pay the most in Colombia?
The best-paid occupation group in Colombia in 2025 was “Professionals”, with median monthly earnings of COP 3,600,000 (PPP$ 2,161). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of COP 3,600,000.
Compare with other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean
-
-
Peru
+97%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
Mexico
+60%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
Chile
+75%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Guatemala
+127%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
Ecuador
+55%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Integrated Household Survey, 2025
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - Integrated Household Survey, 2025
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Integrated Household Survey, 2025
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Relative earnings and employment by field of study
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Colombia: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/colombia/ (accessed September 26, 2026)