Sudan
-3%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Kenya
Updated Data years: 2019, 2021 How we use data
Older data (2019) The latest official figure is from 2019. It may not reflect today's labour market.
Quick answer
In Kenya, employees with tertiary education earned a median of KES 43,116 a month in 2019 (PPP$ 997) — +617% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 6.6%, against 4.2% for all adults aged 25 and over (2021).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +617%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2019)
- KES 43,116median monthly pay with tertiary education (2019)
- 6.6%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 4.2%, 2021)
- 22.8%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2021)
Do graduates earn more in Kenya?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | KES 800 | 18 | -87% |
| Basic education | KES 6,000 | 139 | 0% |
| Intermediate education | KES 8,400 | 194 | +40% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | KES 43,116 | 997 | +617% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | KES 40,000 | 925 | +565% |
| Master's or equivalent | KES 100,000 | 2,312 | +1,563% |
| All levels | KES 6,000 | 139 | — |
The degree premium ranks 1 of 128 countries with data. That is above the Sub-Saharan Africa median of +151%.
Which occupations pay the most in Kenya?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2019, 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 | KES 31,130 | 720 | +418% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | KES 24,639 | 570 | +310% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | KES 20,000 | 462 | +232% |
| Clerical support workers | KES 20,000 | 462 | +232% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | KES 10,000 | 231 | +66% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | KES 8,000 | 185 | +33% |
| Craft and related trades workers | KES 1,200 | 28 | -80% |
| Elementary occupations | KES 1,000 | 23 | -83% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | KES 600 | 14 | -90% |
| All occupations | KES 6,000 | 139 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Kenya?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 2.0% | — |
| Basic education | 2.9% | 8.2% |
| Intermediate education | 5.9% | 14.6% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 6.6% | 22.8% |
| All levels | 4.2% | 12.3% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 92 lowest of 130 countries with data. The Sub-Saharan Africa median is 8.3%.
Unemployment over time, adults 25+
Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
Studying and working in Kenya
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
- 57.5M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $7,016 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 10.4% (2024)
Questions about graduate jobs in Kenya
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Kenya?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Kenya with tertiary education earned a median of KES 43,116 a month in 2019, compared with KES 6,000 for all employees — +617%. The degree premium ranks 1 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Kenya?
In 2021, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Kenya was 6.6%, compared with 4.2% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 22.8%.
Which jobs pay the most in Kenya?
The best-paid occupation group in Kenya in 2019 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of KES 31,130 (PPP$ 720). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of KES 24,639.
Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
-
-
Uganda
+151%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2021) -
South Africa
+96%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2020) -
Tanzania
+219%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
Angola
+200%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Mozambique
+296%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — HS - Continuous household survey, 2019
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — HS - Continuous household survey, 2019
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — HS - Continuous household survey, 2021
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Kenya: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/kenya/ (accessed September 26, 2026)