East Asia and Pacific

Graduate jobs and salaries in Vietnam

Updated Data years: 2024 How we use data

Quick answer

In Vietnam, employees with tertiary education earned a median of ₫10,000,000 a month in 2024 (PPP$ 1,397) — +25% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 1.3%, against 1.0% for all adults aged 25 and over (2024).

Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)

Do graduates earn more in Vietnam?

Median monthly earnings by education level, Vietnam, 2024Employees, median monthly earnings. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries.
Education levelLocal currency a monthPPP$ a monthvs all employees
Less than basic education ₫6,000,000 838 -25%
Basic education ₫7,100,000 992 -11%
Intermediate education ₫8,000,000 1,117 0%
Advanced (tertiary) education ₫10,000,000 1,397 +25%
Short-cycle tertiary ₫8,600,000 1,201 +8%
Bachelor's or equivalent ₫10,300,000 1,438 +29%
Master's or equivalent ₫14,000,000 1,955 +75%
Doctoral or equivalent ₫17,126,629 2,392 +114%
All levels ₫8,000,000 1,117 —

The degree premium ranks 99 of 128 countries with data. That is below the East Asia and Pacific median of +52%.

Earnings over time (PPP$ a month)

Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
0768.41.5K 20152024

PPP$ values are in current international dollars, so part of the rise reflects inflation.

Which occupations pay the most in Vietnam?

Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2024, from highest to lowest. Examples link to our career profiles.

Occupation groupLocal currency a monthPPP$ a monthvs all employees
Managers
Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager
₫13,000,000 1,815 +62%
Professionals
Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst
₫11,100,000 1,550 +39%
Technicians and associate professionals
IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal
₫9,100,000 1,271 +14%
Clerical support workers ₫8,600,000 1,201 +8%
Plant and machine operators and assemblers ₫8,100,000 1,131 +1%
Craft and related trades workers ₫8,000,000 1,117 0%
Service and sales workers
Police officer
₫7,000,000 978 -12%
Elementary occupations ₫6,200,000 866 -22%
Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers ₫6,000,000 838 -25%
All occupations₫8,000,0001,117—

Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Vietnam?

Unemployment rate by education level, 2024
Education levelAdults 25+Young people 15–24
Less than basic education1.2%3.1%
Basic education0.9%4.6%
Intermediate education1.0%6.0%
Advanced (tertiary) education1.3%15.6%
All levels1.0%6.4%

Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 3 lowest of 130 countries with data. The East Asia and Pacific median is 2.3%.

Unemployment over time, adults 25+

Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
0.01.83.6 20152024

Studying and working in Vietnam

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
101.6M (2025)
GDP per person (PPP)
$18,089 (2025)
Tertiary enrolment (gross)
37.6% (2024)

Questions about graduate jobs in Vietnam

Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Vietnam?

According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Vietnam with tertiary education earned a median of ₫10,000,000 a month in 2024, compared with ₫8,000,000 for all employees — +25%. The degree premium ranks 99 of 128 countries with data.

What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Vietnam?

In 2024, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Vietnam was 1.3%, compared with 1.0% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 15.6%.

Which jobs pay the most in Vietnam?

The best-paid occupation group in Vietnam in 2024 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of ₫13,000,000 (PPP$ 1,815). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of ₫11,100,000.

Compare with other countries in East Asia and Pacific

Compare Vietnam side by side

  • Philippines

    +54%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)

    East Asia and Pacific
  • Japan

    2.4%
    unemployment, tertiary-educated adults (2020)

    East Asia and Pacific
  • Thailand

    +74%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2025)

    East Asia and Pacific
  • Myanmar

    -16%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2020)

    East Asia and Pacific
  • South Korea

    2.6%
    unemployment, tertiary-educated adults (2025)

    East Asia and Pacific
  • Indonesia

    +60%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2023)

    East Asia and Pacific

Sources

  1. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2024
  2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2024
  3. ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2024
  4. World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Vietnam: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/vietnam/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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