Burkina Faso
+250%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Mali
Updated Data years: 2024 How we use data
Quick answer
In Mali, employees with tertiary education earned a median of F CFA 182,526 a month in 2024 (PPP$ 949) — +161% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 9.6%, against 2.5% for all adults aged 25 and over (2024).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +161%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2024)
- F CFA 182,526median monthly pay with tertiary education (2024)
- 9.6%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 2.5%, 2024)
- 44.0%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2024)
Do graduates earn more in Mali?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | F CFA 50,000 | 260 | -29% |
| Basic education | F CFA 67,729 | 352 | -3% |
| Intermediate education | F CFA 100,000 | 520 | +43% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | F CFA 182,526 | 949 | +161% |
| Short-cycle tertiary | F CFA 140,000 | 728 | +100% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | F CFA 150,000 | 780 | +114% |
| Master's or equivalent | F CFA 250,000 | 1,300 | +257% |
| Doctoral or equivalent | F CFA 261,148 | 1,358 | +273% |
| All levels | F CFA 70,000 | 364 | — |
The degree premium ranks 18 of 128 countries with data. That is above the Sub-Saharan Africa median of +151%.
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 Mali?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2024, 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 | F CFA 250,000 | 1,300 | +257% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | F CFA 150,000 | 780 | +114% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | F CFA 100,000 | 520 | +43% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | F CFA 76,335 | 397 | +9% |
| Clerical support workers | F CFA 75,000 | 390 | +7% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | F CFA 60,000 | 312 | -14% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | F CFA 50,000 | 260 | -29% |
| Craft and related trades workers | F CFA 40,000 | 208 | -43% |
| Elementary occupations | F CFA 30,000 | 156 | -57% |
| All occupations | F CFA 70,000 | 364 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Mali?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 1.8% | 8.9% |
| Basic education | 4.4% | 19.5% |
| Intermediate education | 8.6% | 25.1% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 9.6% | 44.0% |
| All levels | 2.5% | 10.5% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 116 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 Mali
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
- 25.2M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $3,503 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 5.1% (2015)
Questions about graduate jobs in Mali
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Mali?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Mali with tertiary education earned a median of F CFA 182,526 a month in 2024, compared with F CFA 70,000 for all employees — +161%. The degree premium ranks 18 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Mali?
In 2024, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Mali was 9.6%, compared with 2.5% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 44.0%.
Which jobs pay the most in Mali?
The best-paid occupation group in Mali in 2024 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of F CFA 250,000 (PPP$ 1,300). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of F CFA 150,000.
Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
-
-
Niger
+346%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Zambia
+200%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Chad
+167%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Côte d’Ivoire
+186%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Madagascar
+68%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2015)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Continuous Household Employment Survey, 2024
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - Continuous Household Employment Survey, 2024
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Continuous Household Employment Survey, 2024
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Mali: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/mali/ (accessed September 26, 2026)