Democratic Republic of the Congo
+66%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2016)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Ethiopia
Updated Data years: 2021 How we use data
Older data (2021) The latest official figure is from 2021. It may not reflect today's labour market.
Quick answer
In Ethiopia, employees with tertiary education earned a median of ETB 5,500 a month in 2021 (PPP$ 409) — +72% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 6.1%, against 3.1% for all adults aged 25 and over (2021).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +72%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2021)
- ETB 5,500median monthly pay with tertiary education (2021)
- 6.1%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 3.1%, 2021)
- 38.2%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2021)
Do graduates earn more in Ethiopia?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | ETB 1,200 | 89 | -63% |
| Basic education | ETB 2,000 | 149 | -37% |
| Intermediate education | ETB 3,000 | 223 | -6% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | ETB 5,500 | 409 | +72% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | ETB 5,321 | 396 | +66% |
| Master's or equivalent | ETB 10,000 | 744 | +213% |
| Doctoral or equivalent | ETB 11,989 | 892 | +275% |
| All levels | ETB 3,200 | 238 | — |
The degree premium ranks 43 of 128 countries with data. That is below the Sub-Saharan Africa median of +151%.
Which occupations pay the most in Ethiopia?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2021, 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 | ETB 6,700 | 499 | +110% |
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | ETB 6,000 | 447 | +88% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | ETB 4,700 | 350 | +47% |
| Clerical support workers | ETB 3,500 | 260 | +9% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | ETB 3,500 | 260 | +9% |
| Craft and related trades workers | ETB 2,500 | 186 | -22% |
| Elementary occupations | ETB 1,624 | 121 | -49% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | ETB 1,500 | 112 | -53% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | ETB 1,500 | 112 | -53% |
| All occupations | ETB 3,200 | 238 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Ethiopia?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 1.5% | 4.1% |
| Basic education | 4.3% | 4.9% |
| Intermediate education | 6.2% | 12.1% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 6.1% | 38.2% |
| All levels | 3.1% | 6.4% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 88 lowest of 130 countries with data. The Sub-Saharan Africa median is 8.3%.
Studying and working in Ethiopia
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
- 135.5M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $3,622 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 5.9% (2014)
Questions about graduate jobs in Ethiopia
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Ethiopia?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Ethiopia with tertiary education earned a median of ETB 5,500 a month in 2021, compared with ETB 3,200 for all employees — +72%. The degree premium ranks 43 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Ethiopia?
In 2021, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Ethiopia was 6.1%, compared with 3.1% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 38.2%.
Which jobs pay the most in Ethiopia?
The best-paid occupation group in Ethiopia in 2021 was “Professionals”, with median monthly earnings of ETB 6,700 (PPP$ 499). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of ETB 6,700.
Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
-
-
Nigeria
+36%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Tanzania
+219%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
South Africa
+96%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2020) -
Kenya
+617%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2019) -
Sudan
-3%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - National Labor Force Survey, 2021
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - National Labor Force Survey, 2021
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - National Labor Force Survey, 2021
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Ethiopia: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/ethiopia/ (accessed September 26, 2026)