Bangladesh
+79%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)
Graduate jobs and salaries in India
Updated Data years: 2025 How we use data
Quick answer
In India, employees with tertiary education earned a median of ₹29,100 a month in 2025 (PPP$ 1,467) — +94% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 8.3%, against 2.5% for all adults aged 25 and over (2025).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +94%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2025)
- ₹29,100median monthly pay with tertiary education (2025)
- 8.3%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 2.5%, 2025)
- 41.7%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2025)
Do graduates earn more in India?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | ₹8,970 | 452 | -40% |
| Basic education | ₹12,047 | 607 | -20% |
| Intermediate education | ₹15,000 | 756 | 0% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | ₹29,100 | 1,467 | +94% |
| All levels | ₹15,000 | 756 | — |
The degree premium ranks 31 of 128 countries with data. That is above the South Asia median of +61%.
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 India?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | ₹40,000 | 2,016 | +167% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | ₹32,000 | 1,613 | +113% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | ₹20,000 | 1,008 | +33% |
| Clerical support workers | ₹19,500 | 983 | +30% |
| Craft and related trades workers | ₹15,000 | 756 | 0% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | ₹15,000 | 756 | 0% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | ₹12,000 | 605 | -20% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | ₹10,000 | 504 | -33% |
| Elementary occupations | ₹10,000 | 504 | -33% |
| All occupations | ₹15,000 | 756 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in India?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 1.1% | 6.7% |
| Basic education | 1.3% | 9.2% |
| Intermediate education | 2.8% | 19.7% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 8.3% | 41.7% |
| All levels | 2.5% | 17.7% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 103 lowest of 130 countries with data. The South Asia median is 5.8%.
Unemployment over time, adults 25+
Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
Studying and working in India
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
- 1.5B (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $11,748 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 34.4% (2025)
Questions about graduate jobs in India
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in India?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in India with tertiary education earned a median of ₹29,100 a month in 2025, compared with ₹15,000 for all employees — +94%. The degree premium ranks 31 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in India?
In 2025, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in India was 8.3%, compared with 2.5% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 41.7%.
Which jobs pay the most in India?
The best-paid occupation group in India in 2025 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of ₹40,000 (PPP$ 2,016). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of ₹32,000.
Where can I find official information about studying in India?
Start with the official study portal and immigration pages linked on this page. They set out entry requirements, student visas and any rights to work after graduating, which change more often than most guides are updated.
Compare with other countries in South Asia
-
-
Nepal
+55%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2017) -
Sri Lanka
+58%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Bhutan
+64%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
Maldives
+50%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2019)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Periodic Labour Force Survey, 2025
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - Periodic Labour Force Survey, 2025
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Periodic Labour Force Survey, 2025
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). India: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/india/ (accessed September 26, 2026)