Sub-Saharan Africa

Graduate jobs and salaries in Ghana

Updated Data years: 2025 How we use data

Quick answer

In Ghana, employees with tertiary education earned a median of GHS 3,000 a month in 2025 (PPP$ 571) — +73% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 5.0%, against 2.7% for all adults aged 25 and over (2025).

Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)

Do graduates earn more in Ghana?

Median monthly earnings by education level, Ghana, 2025Employees, median monthly earnings. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries.
Education levelLocal currency a monthPPP$ a monthvs all employees
Less than basic education GHS 1,000 190 -42%
Basic education GHS 1,300 248 -25%
Intermediate education GHS 1,200 229 -31%
Advanced (tertiary) education GHS 3,000 571 +73%
Short-cycle tertiary GHS 2,597 495 +50%
Bachelor's or equivalent GHS 3,000 571 +73%
Master's or equivalent GHS 3,735 711 +115%
Doctoral or equivalent GHS 7,400 1,410 +327%
All levels GHS 1,732 330 —

The degree premium ranks 42 of 128 countries with data. That is below the Sub-Saharan Africa median of +151%.

Earnings over time (PPP$ a month)

Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
0459.3918.5 201520172022202320242025

PPP$ values are in current international dollars, so part of the rise reflects inflation.

Which occupations pay the most in Ghana?

Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2025, 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
GHS 4,000 762 +131%
Technicians and associate professionals
IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal
GHS 3,000 571 +73%
Professionals
Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst
GHS 2,800 533 +62%
Craft and related trades workers GHS 2,080 396 +20%
Plant and machine operators and assemblers GHS 2,000 381 +15%
Clerical support workers GHS 1,500 286 -13%
Elementary occupations GHS 1,300 248 -25%
Service and sales workers
Police officer
GHS 1,000 190 -42%
Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers GHS 936 178 -46%
All occupationsGHS 1,732330—

Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Ghana?

Unemployment rate by education level, 2025
Education levelAdults 25+Young people 15–24
Less than basic education1.4%3.5%
Basic education2.5%4.0%
Intermediate education3.6%7.4%
Advanced (tertiary) education5.0%13.2%
All levels2.7%5.9%

Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 71 lowest of 130 countries with data. The Sub-Saharan Africa median is 8.3%.

Unemployment over time, adults 25+

Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
0.03.67.3 20152025

Studying and working in Ghana

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
35.1M (2025)
GDP per person (PPP)
$8,610 (2025)
Tertiary enrolment (gross)
21.3% (2024)

Questions about graduate jobs in Ghana

Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Ghana?

According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Ghana with tertiary education earned a median of GHS 3,000 a month in 2025, compared with GHS 1,732 for all employees — +73%. The degree premium ranks 42 of 128 countries with data.

What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Ghana?

In 2025, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Ghana was 5.0%, compared with 2.7% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 13.2%.

Which jobs pay the most in Ghana?

The best-paid occupation group in Ghana in 2025 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of GHS 4,000 (PPP$ 762). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of GHS 2,800.

Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa

Compare Ghana side by side

  • Mozambique

    +296%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2022)

    Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Madagascar

    +68%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2015)

    Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Côte d’Ivoire

    +186%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2022)

    Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Angola

    +200%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)

    Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Niger

    +346%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2022)

    Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Mali

    +161%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)

    Sub-Saharan Africa

Sources

  1. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2025
  2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2025
  3. ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2025
  4. World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment

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

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