A Treasure Hunt
The first post-university years of a graduate could be described as a never-ending treasure hunt to spot and eventually land a high paying job position that will secure a comfortable life. This article is going to shed light on the highest paying jobs in Nigeria and their relevant degree programmes to pursue. It will be an eye-opener for graduates to contemplate, carefully choose and shape their professional careers within Nigeria. However, nothing comes easy. Be aware that these high-paying job positions require advanced education, technical expertise, skills, and experience.
Although locals have been struggling with high unemployment rates, some of the highest paying jobs in Nigeria still thrive and call upon ambitious professionals to join forces. Some of these job positions are inevitably found in Oil and Gas multinational companies considering the country’s abundance of fossil fuels. As per this CNN article “Nigeria is Africa’s biggest oil producer, with fossil fuels accounting for 60% of government revenue and 90% of foreign exchange earnings”. It is one of the most sought-after industries in the region, along with medicine, law, engineering, business, finance and information technology; local sectors that indicate an increasing need for a robust workforce. Keep reading and explore the numerous profitable career prospects that this country has to offer.
What is considered a good salary in Nigeria?
Firstly, let’s touch upon some actual numbers before listing the highest paying jobs in Nigeria. In particular, the 2022 average salary for a full-time job in the country is around ₦250,000 – 350,000 per month. However, it depends on the employer and one’s professional and academic background and experience. Nobody earns a lucrative salary and secures a prosperous life overnight. It is not only the soft and technical skillset that are important. Rather, one should be vigilant enough to seize career opportunities and adjust to the market’s needs and trends. Αdditionally, it takes patience and determination to land and solidify yourself in one of the highest paying jobs in Nigeria or anywhere else around the globe.
The Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in Nigeria
Now, having reached the bread-and-butter of this article, lean back and carefully read what is on offer for you.
Based on the Nigerian Recruitment Application Form Portal, the following are Nigeria’s top 10 highest paying jobs. You can also find the relevant degrees for each profession provided by Unicaf University. You see, we’ve got you covered! Just click on the link and you will be a step closer to pursuing your dream job. Alternatively, you can check what’s on offer from our British Partners and explore further possibilities for your postgraduate studies.
#1 Surgeons / Medical Doctors Salary Range: Surgeons: ₦800,000 – ₦1,500,000 per month, Doctors/Physicians: ₦600,000 – ₦1,000,000
#2 Pilots Salary Range: ₦500,000 – ₦1,000,000 per month (based on level)
#3 Chief Judges Salary Range: ₦500,000 – ₦1,000,000 per month
Relevant Unicaf degrees: Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Arts in Criminology and Social Policy
#4 Military Officers (based on the title) Salary Range: ₦200,000 – ₦1,000,000 per month
#5 Financial Managers, Chief Accountants, Bankers Salary Range: ₦300,000 – ₦900,000 per month
Relevant Unicaf degrees: Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance, Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance – ACCA, Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics and Business, Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Accounting. Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Finance, Bachelor of Science in Business, Accounting and Financial Management, Master of Business Administration – Finance, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Accounting and Finance.
#6 Attorneys Salary Range: ₦250,000 – ₦800,000 per month
Relevant Unicaf degrees: Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Arts in Criminology and Social Policy
#7 Engineers (Petroleum, Aerospace, Telecom, Electrical) Salary Range: ₦200,000 – ₦700,000 per month
Relevant Unicaf degrees: MSc Construction Engineering Management, Master of Science in Civil Engineering*
#8 Business Development Managers, Project Managers (Oil and Gas) Salary Range: ₦200,000 – ₦600,000 per month
Relevant Unicaf degrees: Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration (*also available by UU Malawi and UU Uganda) Master of Business Administration – Oil, Gas and Energy Management, Master of Science in Project Management*
#9 College Professors, Lecturers Salary Range: ₦200,000 – ₦500,000 per month
Relevant Unicaf degrees: PhD and Doctorate degrees offered by the Unicaf University Malawi
#10 IT Jobs (IT Analysts, Developers, Programmers) Salary Range: ₦150,000 – ₦500,000 per month
Relevant Unicaf degrees: Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Computer Science, , Master of Science in Web Design and Development, Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Management Information Systems, MSc Information Security and Digital Forensics, Master of Science in Computing and Information Systems*
Choose wisely
Nevertheless, apart from the strong academic qualifications that will shortlist you among applicants, you also need experience to be a competitive candidate. Hence, you should prioritise targeting the leaders in the industry and keeping an eye on their vacancies. According to this LinkedIn article, among the 25 best workplaces to grow your career in Nigeria are the top banks. These include Access Bank, GTB, Stanbic IBTC Zenith Bank and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. Also, the World’s largest brewer, Anheuser-Bush InBev. The British American Tobacco, BAT Nigeria. Other companies: The Coca-Cola Company, Olam, UBA, FCMB, Shell, Globacom, Fiverr, PwC, Amazon, MTN, Wema Bank, Nestle and Promasidor.
These key players in the Nigerian market could be your future employer and your road to success in a high-paying job. All you have to do is to define your vision and focus on your target. The rest depends on the way you communicate the value of your degrees and advertise yourself to potential employers.
