Sudan
-3%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Uganda
Updated Data years: 2021 How we use data
Older data (2021) The latest official figure is from 2021. It may not reflect today's labour market.
Quick answer
In Uganda, employees with tertiary education earned a median of UGX 600,000 a month in 2021 (PPP$ 456) — +151% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 8.2%, against 2.6% for all adults aged 25 and over (2021).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +151%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2021)
- UGX 600,000median monthly pay with tertiary education (2021)
- 8.2%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 2.6%, 2021)
- 25.8%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2021)
Do graduates earn more in Uganda?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | UGX 108,333 | 82 | -55% |
| Basic education | UGX 130,000 | 99 | -46% |
| Intermediate education | UGX 250,000 | 190 | +4% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | UGX 600,000 | 456 | +151% |
| Short-cycle tertiary | UGX 500,000 | 380 | +109% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | UGX 900,000 | 684 | +276% |
| All levels | UGX 240,000 | 182 | — |
The degree premium ranks 19 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 Uganda?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2021, 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 | UGX 800,000 | 608 | +234% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | UGX 550,000 | 418 | +130% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | UGX 550,000 | 418 | +130% |
| Clerical support workers | UGX 450,000 | 342 | +88% |
| Craft and related trades workers | UGX 325,000 | 247 | +36% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | UGX 308,282 | 234 | +29% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | UGX 216,667 | 165 | -9% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | UGX 108,333 | 82 | -55% |
| Elementary occupations | UGX 108,333 | 82 | -55% |
| All occupations | UGX 240,000 | 182 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Uganda?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic education | 1.1% | 2.4% |
| Intermediate education | 3.9% | 7.9% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 8.2% | 25.8% |
| All levels | 2.6% | 5.2% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 102 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 Uganda
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
- 51.4M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $3,488 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 4.6% (2014)
Questions about graduate jobs in Uganda
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Uganda?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Uganda with tertiary education earned a median of UGX 600,000 a month in 2021, compared with UGX 240,000 for all employees — +151%. The degree premium ranks 19 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Uganda?
In 2021, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Uganda was 8.2%, compared with 2.6% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 25.8%.
Which jobs pay the most in Uganda?
The best-paid occupation group in Uganda in 2021 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of UGX 800,000 (PPP$ 608). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of UGX 550,000.
Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
-
-
Kenya
+617%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2019) -
South Africa
+96%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2020) -
Angola
+200%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Tanzania
+219%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
Mozambique
+296%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - National Labour Force Survey, 2021
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - National Labour Force Survey, 2021
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - National Labour Force Survey, 2021
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Uganda: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/uganda/ (accessed September 26, 2026)