Ethiopia
+72%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2021)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Nigeria
Updated Data years: 2024 How we use data
Quick answer
In Nigeria, employees with tertiary education earned a median of NGN 68,000 a month in 2024 (PPP$ 256) — +36% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 8.3%, against 2.7% for all adults aged 25 and over (2024).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +36%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2024)
- NGN 68,000median monthly pay with tertiary education (2024)
- 8.3%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 2.7%, 2024)
- 15.4%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2024)
Do graduates earn more in Nigeria?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | NGN 45,111 | 170 | -10% |
| Basic education | NGN 30,417 | 115 | -39% |
| Intermediate education | NGN 40,000 | 151 | -20% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | NGN 68,000 | 256 | +36% |
| Short-cycle tertiary | NGN 49,381 | 186 | -1% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | NGN 70,000 | 264 | +40% |
| Master's or equivalent | NGN 150,000 | 565 | +201% |
| All levels | NGN 50,000 | 188 | — |
The degree premium ranks 80 of 128 countries with data. That is below the Sub-Saharan Africa median of +151%.
Which occupations pay the most in Nigeria?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | NGN 83,857 | 316 | +68% |
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | NGN 74,108 | 279 | +48% |
| Clerical support workers | NGN 65,000 | 245 | +30% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | NGN 50,000 | 188 | 0% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | NGN 50,000 | 188 | 0% |
| Elementary occupations | NGN 48,021 | 181 | -4% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | NGN 43,333 | 163 | -13% |
| Craft and related trades workers | NGN 43,333 | 163 | -13% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | NGN 30,000 | 113 | -40% |
| All occupations | NGN 50,000 | 188 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Nigeria?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 1.1% | 1.6% |
| Basic education | 1.3% | 2.9% |
| Intermediate education | 2.4% | 5.9% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 8.3% | 15.4% |
| All levels | 2.7% | 5.4% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 103 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 Nigeria
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
- 237.5M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $9,532 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 9.7% (2011)
Questions about graduate jobs in Nigeria
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Nigeria?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Nigeria with tertiary education earned a median of NGN 68,000 a month in 2024, compared with NGN 50,000 for all employees — +36%. The degree premium ranks 80 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Nigeria?
In 2024, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Nigeria was 8.3%, compared with 2.7% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 15.4%.
Which jobs pay the most in Nigeria?
The best-paid occupation group in Nigeria in 2024 was “Technicians and associate professionals”, with median monthly earnings of NGN 83,857 (PPP$ 316). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of NGN 50,000.
Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
-
-
Democratic Republic of the Congo
+66%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2016) -
Tanzania
+219%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
South Africa
+96%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2020) -
Kenya
+617%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2019) -
Sudan
-3%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — HS - General Household Survey, 2024
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — HS - General Household Survey, 2024
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Unemployment, Under-employment Watch, 2024
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Nigeria: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/nigeria/ (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.