Burundi
+550%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2020)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Rwanda
Updated Data years: 2024, 2025 How we use data
Quick answer
In Rwanda, employees with tertiary education earned a median of RWF 231,000 a month in 2024 (PPP$ 639) — +559% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 8.8%, against 4.3% for all adults aged 25 and over (2025).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +559%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2024)
- RWF 231,000median monthly pay with tertiary education (2024)
- 8.8%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 4.3%, 2025)
- 23.7%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2025)
Do graduates earn more in Rwanda?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | RWF 26,000 | 72 | -26% |
| Basic education | RWF 31,200 | 86 | -11% |
| Intermediate education | RWF 90,000 | 249 | +157% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | RWF 231,000 | 639 | +559% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | RWF 231,000 | 639 | +559% |
| All levels | RWF 35,000 | 97 | — |
The degree premium ranks 2 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 Rwanda?
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 | RWF 300,000 | 830 | +756% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | RWF 199,964 | 553 | +470% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | RWF 130,000 | 360 | +271% |
| Clerical support workers | RWF 130,000 | 360 | +271% |
| Craft and related trades workers | RWF 130,000 | 360 | +271% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | RWF 130,000 | 360 | +271% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | RWF 50,000 | 138 | +42% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | RWF 26,000 | 72 | -26% |
| Elementary occupations | RWF 26,000 | 72 | -26% |
| All occupations | RWF 35,000 | 97 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Rwanda?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 2.7% | — |
| Basic education | 3.8% | 6.7% |
| Intermediate education | 7.4% | 17.0% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 8.8% | 23.7% |
| All levels | 4.3% | 8.6% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 111 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 Rwanda
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
- 14.6M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $4,164 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 9.4% (2024)
Questions about graduate jobs in Rwanda
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Rwanda?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Rwanda with tertiary education earned a median of RWF 231,000 a month in 2024, compared with RWF 35,000 for all employees — +559%. The degree premium ranks 2 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Rwanda?
In 2025, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Rwanda was 8.8%, compared with 4.3% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 23.7%.
Which jobs pay the most in Rwanda?
The best-paid occupation group in Rwanda in 2024 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of RWF 300,000 (PPP$ 830). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of RWF 130,000.
Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
-
-
Benin
+83%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Guinea
+16%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2019) -
Senegal
+212%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Chad
+167%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Zambia
+200%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2024
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2024
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2025
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Rwanda: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/rwanda/ (accessed September 26, 2026)