Jobberman.com, Nigeria's No.1 jobs website recently concluded its Salary Survey, where more than 10,000 professionals across the public and private sectors shared the most critical information about their career and workplace, building a remarkably detailed picture of compensation in the workplace landscape in Nigeria.
The questions were administered online on the Jobberman website and other digital channels which set an important context for the results: the respondents to this survey have some form of access to the internet. A total of 10,980 people participated in the survey and thus make up the sample space. The respondents cut across different industries, levels of education attained, skill sets and years of experience on the job.
2. | Salary Survey
Introduction
2012 marks the 1st Annual Jobberman Salary Survey, where more than 10,000 professionals
across the public and private sectors have shared the most critical information about their
career and workplace, building a remarkably detailed picture of compensation in the workplace
landscape in Nigeria.
Jobberman‟s Annual Salary Survey was originated from the enormous amount of feedback we
received from employers and jobseekers in Nigeria about the lack of transparency and
available information on salaries and remuneration trends in the country.
This survey was carried out as an inquisition into the world of employees in the Nigerian
context in order to give Nigerians an idea of the income level of colleagues in many industries
and job functions.
Our hundreds of thousands of jobseeking members and employers also wanted to understand
the role of additional benefits, allowances, commissions and any other workplace practices in
understanding Nigerian remuneration levels as a whole.
The survey was carried out by Jobberman.com, Nigeria‟s leading job website. The questions
were administered online on the Jobberman website and other digital channels which set an
important context for the results: the respondents to this survey have some form of access to
the internet. A total of 10,980 people participated in the survey and thus make up the sample
space. The respondents cut across different industries, levels of education attained, skill sets
and years of experience on the job.
We hope you find our Salary Survey helpful, and we would like to thank all who participated,
starting a dialogue that we expect to continue for many years.
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3. | Salary Survey
Executive Summary
How much do workers really make? What sector was the worst paying? To answer these
questions, we spoke with over 10,000 professionals from around Nigeria. These together with
our statistical analyses, provide a unique perspective on the workforce compensation landscape
in Nigeria.
Key Findings
The average remuneration level for Nigerians is between 50-100,000
There is gender disparity in most industries
There is an unexploited opportunity for employers to retain great talent by broadening the
range of ancillary benefits for employees beyond basic and statutory pay
Our survey revealed several other interesting and unexpected findings:
The overwhelming majority of respondents have spent less than two years on their jobs.
The median number of years spent on the job is between 3 and 5 years.
The median income is between N51,000 and N100,000 and about 69% of professionals
earn N100,000 per month or less. The male gender appears to be paid higher than the
females.
About 70% of professionals do not receive any form of allowance, bonus, commissions, or
any other form of extra benefit from their employers while 30% receive extra benefits in
various forms.
Employees in the Oil & Gas industry are the best paid, followed by their counterparts in
the banking / financial services industry. The highest proportion of professionals that are
least paid, or that earn less than N20,000 per month are those in the Education industry.
Master’s degree holders account for the highest proportion of those that earn N1, 000,000
and above, followed by Bachelor‟s degree holders. Only 0.7% of those earning above N1,
000,000 per month are PHD holders. The largest proportions of highly paid professionals are
those who have spent above 8 years on their jobs. 57% of those who earn above N1, 000,000
have spent over 8 years on the job.
The most commonly employed skill set among respondents is Accounting/Finance,
followed by Administrative skills and then IT skills. The least common skill sets include
Executive / Top management, Hospitality / Leisure / Travels, Real estate and NGO related
skills.
In general, most workers’ roles are not related to their course of study. 73% of the
professionals in the Legal industry actually studied Law, making the Legal industry the most
consistent employer with respect to employees‟ field of study.
37% of respondents who participated are in desperate need to change jobs, 36% could be
tempted to move or change jobs if the opportunity arose while only 12% are happily
employed. More males than females appear to be “happily employed” and still “could be
tempted to move”, while more females than males are dissatisfied with their current jobs.
The proportion of females with either a Bachelor’s degree or HND is more than that of
males. Seven out of ten professionals that carried out the Survey were males, and yet more
females have a Bachelors or an HND qualification.
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4. | Salary Survey
The greatest proportion of respondents have sciences and engineering as their major
while fields like Law, Real estate and property related courses have the least number of
professionals. Fields like Law, Sciences and Education have a greater proportion of females.
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5. | Salary Survey
How our Research was conducted
This study is the 1st edition of our Salary Survey series. This year‟s research is based on
surveys of 10,980 professionals from all over Nigeria. Jobberman conducted 100% of these
surveys online.
As part of our research, we sought to understand the most critical elements responsible for
Salary variations across gender, industries, specialization and educational attainment.
Throughout our analysis, we looked for insights that will be useful for employees, companies
and even students who have started nursing the idea of a „Career‟.
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6. | Salary Survey
Gender
Out of the 10,980 respondents to the survey, there were 74% males and 26%
females.
Gender (sex) Actual %
Male 74%
Female 26%
Total 100%
Educational Qualification
The highest proportion of respondents are Bachelor‟s degree holders (53% of
respondents) while the least group of respondents are PHD holders (which made
up 1% of the respondents).
About 68% of our respondents have some form of tertiary education (either HND
or Bachelor‟s) and on a cumulative basis, 83% have a minimum educational
qualification of either a HND or Bachelor‟s degree.
Educational Qualification Actual %
High School 6%
OND/NCE/Diploma 11%
HND 15%
Bachelor‟s Degree 53%
Masters 14%
PHD 1%
Total 100%
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7. | Salary Survey
Distribution of respondents by Highest Educational Qualification
60%
50%
40%
30%
53%
20%
10% 6% 15%
11% 14% 1%
0%
The proportion of females with either a Bachelor‟s degree or HND is more than
The proportion of that of males with the same qualification.
females with either a Educational Qualification %
Bachelor‟s degree or Male Female
High School 8% 4%
HND is more than that
OND/NCE/Diploma 16% 13%
of males. HND 16% 18%
Bachelor‟s Degree 45% 51%
Masters 13% 12%
PHD 1% 1%
Non response 1% 2%
Total 100% 100%
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8. | Salary Survey
Education Major
This refers to the respondents‟ primary field as described by his or her major
course of study or field of qualification. The greatest proportion of respondents
have sciences and engineering as their major while fields like Law, Real estate
and property related courses have the least number of respondents.
Distribution of respondents by Education Major
Real Estate & Property related… 2%
Law 2%
Healthcare 4%
Education 5%
Arts and related courses 6%
Humanities related courses 8%
Economics and related courses 10%
Others 14%
Accounting 16%
Engineering 17%
Sciences 17%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
Fields like Law, Sciences Despite the fact that the ratio of male to
and Education have a female participation in the survey (74%: 26%) is skewed in favour of the males,
the proportion of females outweighs that of the males in almost all fields except
greater proportion of engineering. Fields like Law, Sciences and Education have a greater proportion
females. of females; as shown below.
Distribution of respondents by Education Major and Gender
25%
21% Male Female
20% 18%
15% 15%
14%
15% 13%
11%
10% 10% 9% 9%
10% 8%
6% 7%
5% 6%
4% 4% 4%
5% 3%
2%
1%
0%
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9. | Salary Survey
Years on the Job
Majority of respondents to this survey have spent less than two years on their
jobs. As shown below, 35% have spent between one and two years on the job,
33% between 3 to 5years, 13% between 6 and 8 years and 19% have spent over 8
years on the job.
Distribution of respondents by Number of Years on the Job
40%
30%
20%
35% 33%
10% 19%
13%
0%
1-2 3-5 6-8 Above 8
The median number of years spent on the job is between 3 and 5 years.
Job Search Status
More males than females The largest proportion of respondents (37%) is in desperate need to change jobs,
appear to be happily 36% could be tempted to move or change jobs if the opportunity arose while
only 12% are happily employed.
employed.
Job Search Status Actual %
Happily employed 12%
More males than females Could be tempted to move with a better offer 36%
Looking from time to time 15%
could be tempted to change
Get me outta here! I need a better job 37%
jobs if they had other
Non response
offers.
100%
More males than females appear to be in the “happily employed” and “could be
tempted to move” category, while more females than males are dissatisfied with
their current jobs.
Distribution of respondents by Job Search Status and Gender
80% Female Male
70%
60% 37%
50% 34%
40%
30%
20% 11% 39% 15%
30%
10% 15% 12%
0% 8
Happily employed Could be tempted to Looking from time to Get me outta here! I
move if there is a better time need a better job.
offer
10. | Salary Survey
Industry
Respondents to this survey cut across various industries from ICT/Telecomm to
financial services, FMCG, Oil and Gas, to Government or public sector.
Distribution of respondents by Industry
Retail / Wholesales 1%
Legal 1%
NGO 2%
Logistics / Transportation 3%
FMCG 3%
Trade / Services 4%
Consulting 4%
Healthcare 4%
Advertising / Media 6%
Construction / Real Estate 6%
Manufacturing /… 6%
Oil & Gas / Mining 8%
Education 9%
Others 9%
Government 10%
Banking / Financial… 12%
ICT / Telecommunications 13%
0% 5% 10% 15%
Monthly Income before Tax
29% of respondents earn between N21,000 and N50,000 (which is the largest
proportion of respondents), 26% earn between N51,000 and N100,000 while
only 1% earn over N1,000,000 per month (as expected). The median income is
between N51,000 and N100,000 and about 69% of respondents earn N100,000
per month or less.
Distribution of respondents by Monthly Income
40%
30%
20%
29% 26%
10% e 17%
14% 7% 6% 1%
0%
Less than Between N Between N Between Between N Between N N 1,000,000
N20,000 21,000 and 51,000 and N101,000 and 201,000 and 300,000 and and above
N50,000 N100,000 N200,000 N300,000 N1,000,000
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11. | Salary Survey
80%
The male gender
Male Female
appears to be paid 60%
higher than the 40%
66% 73%
females.
20%
30% 23%
0%
Below 100,000 Above 100,000
Other Allowances, Commissions
Of the 10,980 respondents, about 70% do not receive any form of allowance,
bonus, commissions, or any other form of extra benefit from their employers
while 30% receive extra benefits in various forms.
Bonuses Other allowances %
30%
Allowances, Bonus, commissions 30%
None 70%
None 100%
70%
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12. | Salary Survey
Skill Sets Employed on the Job
The most commonly employed skill set is Accounting / Finance, 17%, followed
by Administrative skills and IT skills 11%. The least common skill sets include
Executive / Top management, Hospitality / Leisure / Travels, Real estate and
NGO related skills.
Distribution of respondents by Skill sets Employed
Skill sets employed on the job Actual %
NGO 1%
Accounting / Finance 17%
Real Estate related skills 1%
Administrative 11%
Hospitality / Leisure / Travels 1%
IT Skills 11%
Executive / Top Management 1%
Sales / Marketing / Bus. Dev. 9%
Legal 2% Engineering 8%
Construction / Building 3% Teaching / Education 7%
Project Management 3% Customer Service 6%
Media / Public Relations /… 3% Others 6%
Factory/Manufacturing… 3% Healthcare / Pharmaceuticals 4%
Human Resources 4%
Human Resources 4%
Factory/Manufacturing Industry 3%
Healthcare / Pharmaceutica 4%
Media / Public Relations /
Others 6% 3%
Advertising
Customer Service 6% Project Management 3%
Teaching / Education 7% Construction / Building 3%
Engineering 8% Legal 2%
Sales / Marketing / Bus. Dev. 9% Executive / Top Management 1%
Hospitality / Leisure / Travels 1%
IT Skills 11%
Real Estate related skills 1%
Administrative 11%
NGO 1%
Accounting / Finance 17%
Non Response
0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
100%
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13. | Salary Survey
How much do workers really make?
Employees in the Monthly Income across Industry
Oil & Gas
The table below is a cross sectional view of the monthly income before tax and
industry are the the different industry classifications.
highest paid.
% Monthly Income
Between Between Between Between
Less Between N
N 51,000 N101,000 N 201,000 N 300,000
Industry than N 21,000 1,000,000
and and and and
N20,000 and and above
N100,000 N200,000 N300,000 N1,000,000
N50,000
ICT /
9% 10% 16% 13% 15% 18% 18%
Telecommunications
Banking / Financial
6% 10% 12% 16% 22% 20% 15%
Services
Government 9% 13% 11% 9% 5% 4% 5%
Others 14% 12% 8% 6% 4% 4% 11%
Education 21% 10% 6% 5% 2% 2% 1%
Oil & Gas / Mining 3% 3% 6% 11% 17% 22% 22%
Manufacturing /
5% 7% 7% 5% 3% 4% 2%
Production
Construction / Real
4% 6% 8% 6% 4% 4% 3%
Estate
Advertising / Media 11% 6% 5% 5% 4% 3% 4%
Healthcare 3% 3% 4% 7% 7% 4% 3%
Consulting 3% 4% 4% 4% 3% 4% 3%
Trade / Services 5% 4% 3% 3% 2% 2% 1%
FMCG 1% 2% 3% 4% 4% 5% 4%
Logistics /
1% 3% 2% 4% 2% 2% 1%
Transportation
NGO 3% 2% 2% 2% 3% 2% 3%
Legal 1% 2% 1% 2% 0% 0% 1%
Retail / Wholesales 1% 2% 1% 0% 1% 1% 1%
Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
As shown in the table above, the highest proportion of respondents that are least
Employees in the paid, or that earn less than N20,000 per month are those in the Education
industry. 13% of those that earn between N51,000 and N100,000 are in the
Education sector Government sector, the banking and financial services industry has the largest
proportion of those that earn between N101,000 and N300,000 while Oil & Gas /
are the least paid. Mining has the largest proportion of those that earn N300,000 and above.
In essence, employees in the Oil & Gas industry are the best paid, followed by
their counterparts in the banking / financial services industry.
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14. | Salary Survey
Does Education make a difference to wages?
The table below is a cross sectional view of the monthly income before tax and
the different levels of educational qualifications.
% Monthly Income
Between Between Between Between
Less Between N N
Educational N 21,000 N 51,000 N101,000 N 201,000
than 300,000 and 1,000,000
Qualification and and and and
N20,000 N1,000,000 and above
N50,000 N100,000 N200,000 N300,000
High School 24% 6% 2% 1% 2% 0.3% 5.4%
OND/NCE/Diploma 24% 17% 7% 2% 1% 2% 7.4%
HND 13% 19% 20% 12% 9% 7% 6.8%
Bachelor‟s Degree 37% 53% 59% 59% 53% 45% 31.8%
Masters 3% 5% 11% 24% 34% 42% 48.0%
PHD 0.3% 0.2% 0.3% 1% 1% 3% 0.7%
Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
In all classifications of monthly income except the last (N1, 000,000 and above),
Bachelor‟s degree holders have the largest representations. In other words, the
highest proportion of those that earn less than N20,000 a month are Bachelor‟s
degree holders, and the same can be said for those who earn between N21,000
and N1,000,000.
For those that earn N1, 000,000 and above, the Master‟s degree holders have the
highest proportion – 48% followed by Bachelor‟s degree holders – 38%. Also,
amongst respondents that earn above N1, 000,000 per month, only 0.7% are
PHD holders.
Distribution of respondents that earn N1, 000,000 and above per month
2%
5%
6%
High School
6%
OND/NCE/Diploma
HND
47%
Bachelors Degree
Masters
34%
PHD
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15. | Salary Survey
Is there a correlation between job hunting urgency and current
pay?
% Monthly Income
Between
Between Between Between N
Less Between N
N 51,000 N101,000 N 300,000 1,000,000
Job search status than N 21,000 201,000
and and and and
N20,000 and and
N100,000 N200,000 N1,000,000 above
N50,000 N300,000
Happily employed 18.8% 10.4% 9.2% 10% 9% 16% 21.2%
Could be tempted to move
21.2% 33.5% 35.7% 46% 49% 52% 45.2%
if there is a better offer
Looking from time to time 12.1% 12.5% 17.0% 17% 20% 15% 13.7%
Get me outta here! I need a
47.8% 43.7% 38.2% 27% 22% 17% 19.9%
better job.
Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
The largest proportion of respondents that earn N100,000 and below (including
Amongst those who earn less than N20,000 per month) are dissatisfied with their current
jobs are in desperate search for a change of jobs.
respondents that
On the other hand, the greater proportion of respondents that claim to be happily
earn above employed earn N1,000,000 and above. In line with the human nature however,
respondents that earn N201,000 and above have the highest proportion of those
N1million per who could be tempted to move if they had better offers.
month, only 0.7% Remarkably, even those who earn above N1,000,000 per month (45.2% of
are PHD holders! them!) could be tempted to move if they had better offers.
Is there a relationship between Monthly Income and Number of Years on the Job?
% Monthly Income
Between
Between Between Between
Less Between N N
N 51,000 N101,000 N 300,000
Years on the job than N 21,000 201,000 1,000,000
and and and
N20,000 and and and above
N100,000 N200,000 N1,000,000
N50,000 N300,000
1-2 55.2% 43.0% 43.0% 23.7% 13.2% 9.4% 9.9%
3-5 30.8% 36.5% 36.5% 31.4% 30.2% 19.5% 21.1%
6-8 8.3% 10.4% 10.4% 18.6% 18.5% 18.8% 12.0%
Above 8 5.7% 10.1% 10.1% 26.3% 38.1% 52.3% 57.0%
Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
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16. | Salary Survey
The greater proportion of respondents who earn N100,000 and below are those
who have the least number of years of experience. 31.4% of respondents who
earn between N101,000 and N200,000 have spent 3 to 5 years on the job.
The largest proportions of highly paid respondents are those who have spent
above 8 years on their jobs. 57% of those who earn above N1, 000,000 have
spent over 8 years on the job.
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18. Is there a connection between Monthly Income and Education
Most workers’ roles are not
Major?
related to their course of
study. The table above shows a cross sectional view of industry and the respondents
education major. Ideally, a respondent‟s education major should determine the
industry classification he or she is employed in. Though that is not entirely the
The Legal industry is the
case here, the figures show some level of consistency between the education
most consistent employer major of respondents and the industry classification in which they are employed.
with respect to employees’
In summary, majority of respondents employed in Mining, construction and real
field of study estate industry are engineering majors (as shown in the highlighted cells on the
table above), 59% in healthcare industry are actually majors in healthcare, etc.
Remarkably, 73% of the respondents in the Legal industry actually studied Law,
making the Legal industry the most consistent employer with respect to
employees‟ field of study. Also, the biggest proportions of respondents in the
NGO industry are accounting majors.
Distribution of respondents in the Legal Industry
Sciences
1%
2% Engineering
6%
9% Accounting
1%
Others
2%
5% Economics and related
1% courses
Humanities related
courses
73% Arts and related courses
Education
Healthcare
Distribution of respondents in the Healthcare Industry
Sciences
17%
Engineering
3%
Accounting
5%
7% Others
59%
2% Economics and related
5%
courses
2%
Humanities related
courses
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19. | Salary Survey
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the 10, 980 people from all over Nigeria who
generously shared their time in completing the survey. Their data
points weaved the compelling insights that make up this survey.
We would also like to acknowledge the contributions of the
Jobberman Team that worked on this Salary Survey.
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20. | Salary Survey
About Jobberman.com
Jobberman.com is a clear market leader in the jobs category in West Africa,
Jobberman is ranked as the #3 Nigerian content website overall by Alexa.com
and the #1 website in the jobs category by Alexa.com.
Operating in all the major cities in Nigeria, with a very long list of industry
accolades and strategic partnerships with nearly all of Nigeria‟s major media
companies, Jobberman is now the largest jobs website in sub-Saharan Africa in
traffic and membership outside of South Africa. In February 2012, Jobberman
got named as #8 in Forbes Magazine Top 20 Tech Start-ups in Africa.
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21. | Salary Survey
For further information
To find out more about this survey, please send an email to the Data &
Analytics Team at data@jobberman.com or contact one of the
following Data Leaders below:
Nkemdilim Isiakpona
nkem@jobberman.com
+234. 806.832.6394
Opeyemi Awoyemi
Opeyemi@jobberman.com
+234.803.838.3146
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