Chad
+167%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Zambia
Updated Data years: 2024 How we use data
Quick answer
In Zambia, employees with tertiary education earned a median of ZMW 7,500 a month in 2024 (PPP$ 991) — +200% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 7.7%, against 4.2% for all adults aged 25 and over (2024).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +200%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2024)
- ZMW 7,500median monthly pay with tertiary education (2024)
- 7.7%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 4.2%, 2024)
- 41.6%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2024)
Do graduates earn more in Zambia?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | ZMW 1,000 | 132 | -60% |
| Basic education | ZMW 1,200 | 159 | -52% |
| Intermediate education | ZMW 3,000 | 396 | +20% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | ZMW 7,500 | 991 | +200% |
| Short-cycle tertiary | ZMW 7,000 | 925 | +180% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | ZMW 8,500 | 1,123 | +240% |
| Master's or equivalent | ZMW 15,000 | 1,982 | +501% |
| All levels | ZMW 2,500 | 330 | — |
The degree premium ranks 12 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 Zambia?
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 | ZMW 8,890 | 1,175 | +256% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | ZMW 8,000 | 1,057 | +220% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | ZMW 7,064 | 934 | +183% |
| Clerical support workers | ZMW 4,542 | 600 | +82% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | ZMW 3,149 | 416 | +26% |
| Craft and related trades workers | ZMW 3,000 | 396 | +20% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | ZMW 2,200 | 291 | -12% |
| Elementary occupations | ZMW 1,200 | 159 | -52% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | ZMW 1,000 | 132 | -60% |
| All occupations | ZMW 2,500 | 330 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Zambia?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 1.7% | 7.1% |
| Basic education | 2.6% | 6.7% |
| Intermediate education | 7.4% | 22.8% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 7.7% | 41.6% |
| All levels | 4.2% | 10.8% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 100 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 Zambia
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
- 21.9M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $4,379 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 4.0% (2012)
Questions about graduate jobs in Zambia
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Zambia?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Zambia with tertiary education earned a median of ZMW 7,500 a month in 2024, compared with ZMW 2,500 for all employees — +200%. The degree premium ranks 12 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Zambia?
In 2024, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Zambia was 7.7%, compared with 4.2% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 41.6%.
Which jobs pay the most in Zambia?
The best-paid occupation group in Zambia in 2024 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of ZMW 8,890 (PPP$ 1,175). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of ZMW 8,000.
Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
-
-
Burkina Faso
+250%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
Mali
+161%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Senegal
+212%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Niger
+346%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Guinea
+16%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2019)
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, 2024
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Zambia: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/zambia/ (accessed September 26, 2026)