Togo
+54%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Liberia
Updated Data years: 2017 How we use data
Older data (2017) The latest official figure is from 2017. It may not reflect today's labour market.
Quick answer
In Liberia, employees with tertiary education earned a median of $222 a month in 2017 (PPP$ 550) — +77% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 8.3%, against 5.4% for all adults aged 25 and over (2017).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +77%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2017)
- $222median monthly pay with tertiary education (2017)
- 8.3%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 5.4%, 2017)
Do graduates earn more in Liberia?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | $100 | 248 | -20% |
| Basic education | $97 | 241 | -22% |
| Intermediate education | $100 | 248 | -20% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | $222 | 550 | +77% |
| Short-cycle tertiary | $150 | 372 | +20% |
| Master's or equivalent | $214 | 531 | +71% |
| Doctoral or equivalent | $302 | 748 | +141% |
| All levels | $125 | 310 | — |
The degree premium ranks 37 of 128 countries with data. That is below the Sub-Saharan Africa median of +151%.
Which occupations pay the most in Liberia?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2017, from highest to lowest. Examples link to our career profiles.
| Occupation group | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | $200 | 496 | +60% |
| Clerical support workers | $200 | 496 | +60% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | $139 | 345 | +11% |
| Craft and related trades workers | $137 | 340 | +10% |
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | $129 | 321 | +4% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | $125 | 310 | 0% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | $100 | 248 | -20% |
| Elementary occupations | $100 | 248 | -20% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | $70 | 173 | -44% |
| All occupations | $125 | 310 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Liberia?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 2.5% | — |
| Basic education | 3.9% | 6.6% |
| Intermediate education | 9.4% | 21.9% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 8.3% | — |
| All levels | 5.4% | 8.8% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 103 lowest of 130 countries with data. The Sub-Saharan Africa median is 8.3%.
Studying and working in Liberia
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
- 5.7M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $1,981 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 10.8% (2012)
Questions about graduate jobs in Liberia
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Liberia?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Liberia with tertiary education earned a median of $222 a month in 2017, compared with $125 for all employees — +77%. The degree premium ranks 37 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Liberia?
In 2017, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Liberia was 8.3%, compared with 5.4% for all adults.
Which jobs pay the most in Liberia?
The best-paid occupation group in Liberia in 2017 was “Technicians and associate professionals”, with median monthly earnings of $200 (PPP$ 496). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of $100.
Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
-
-
Namibia
+507%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2018) -
Gambia
+54%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2018) -
Botswana
+300%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Lesotho
+186%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Burundi
+550%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2020)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2017
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2017
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2017
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Liberia: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/liberia/ (accessed September 26, 2026)
Notes from the data source
- Break in series: Methodology revised
- The source reports a break in the series, so compare with earlier years carefully.