Chad
+167%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Senegal
Updated Data years: 2024, 2025 How we use data
Quick answer
In Senegal, employees with tertiary education earned a median of F CFA 250,000 a month in 2024 (PPP$ 1,090) — +212% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 14.2%, against 4.4% for all adults aged 25 and over (2025).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +212%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2024)
- F CFA 250,000median monthly pay with tertiary education (2024)
- 14.2%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 4.4%, 2025)
- 29.8%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2025)
Do graduates earn more in Senegal?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | F CFA 65,000 | 283 | -19% |
| Basic education | F CFA 86,113 | 376 | +8% |
| Intermediate education | F CFA 188,130 | 821 | +135% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | F CFA 250,000 | 1,090 | +212% |
| Short-cycle tertiary | F CFA 150,000 | 654 | +87% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | F CFA 214,541 | 936 | +168% |
| Master's or equivalent | F CFA 322,730 | 1,408 | +303% |
| Doctoral or equivalent | F CFA 131,357 | 573 | +64% |
| All levels | F CFA 80,000 | 349 | — |
The degree premium ranks 11 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 Senegal?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | F CFA 284,824 | 1,242 | +256% |
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | F CFA 241,159 | 1,052 | +201% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | F CFA 140,955 | 615 | +76% |
| Clerical support workers | F CFA 140,021 | 611 | +75% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | F CFA 86,667 | 378 | +8% |
| Craft and related trades workers | F CFA 80,000 | 349 | 0% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | F CFA 75,000 | 327 | -6% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | F CFA 65,000 | 283 | -19% |
| Elementary occupations | F CFA 50,000 | 218 | -38% |
| All occupations | F CFA 80,000 | 349 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Senegal?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 2.4% | 2.3% |
| Basic education | 6.4% | 10.2% |
| Intermediate education | 12.9% | 17.6% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 14.2% | 29.8% |
| All levels | 4.4% | 5.0% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 120 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 Senegal
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
- 18.9M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $5,463 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 15.3% (2024)
Questions about graduate jobs in Senegal
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Senegal?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Senegal with tertiary education earned a median of F CFA 250,000 a month in 2024, compared with F CFA 80,000 for all employees — +212%. The degree premium ranks 11 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Senegal?
In 2025, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Senegal was 14.2%, compared with 4.4% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 29.8%.
Which jobs pay the most in Senegal?
The best-paid occupation group in Senegal in 2024 was “Professionals”, with median monthly earnings of F CFA 284,824 (PPP$ 1,242). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of F CFA 284,824.
Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
-
-
Zambia
+200%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Guinea
+16%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2019) -
Burkina Faso
+250%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
Benin
+83%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Rwanda
+559%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - National Employment Survey, 2024
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - National Employment Survey, 2024
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - National Employment Survey, 2025
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Senegal: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/senegal/ (accessed September 26, 2026)