LISBON, Portugal — In a time when students across the globe are questioning the return on investment of a university education, new data from the OECD confirms what many in Portugal have long suspected: higher education pays off. But not all degrees are created equal. A closer look at income distribution, employability, and long-term job stability reveals which academic paths lead to above-average earnings—and which may leave graduates struggling to catch up.
According to the OECD’s 2025 Education at a Glance report, based on 2023 data, 83% of Portuguese adults aged 25 to 64 with at least a bachelor’s degree earned above-average salaries, and 36% of those with higher education earned more than double the national average salary. The report also highlights significantly better employment rates among university graduates compared to those without tertiary education.
In contrast, 53% of adults with only secondary education earned below the average wage, and this number rises to 66% among those who did not complete 12th grade. Less than 10% of non-graduates earned more than double the average wage, reinforcing the value of higher education.
The Income Advantage: Higher Education in Portugal
First, the good news: completing higher education—whether a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree—clearly boosts income potential in Portugal. The average salary for a Portuguese worker with only secondary education is estimated at €1,100 per month, while a university graduate typically earns around €1,700 to €2,200, depending on the field.
At the top end, some professionals with specialized degrees are earning €3,000 to €6,000+ per month, placing them in the country’s highest income brackets. These numbers confirm that, despite rising tuition costs and student debt concerns, the long-term financial payoff of university education is solid.
Fields of Study: Winners and Runners-Up
🥇 1. Medicine and Dentistry
Unsurprisingly, medicine and dentistry top the list of best-paying degrees. Graduates in these fields enjoy high demand, strong job security, and starting salaries that far exceed the national average.
- Average starting salary: €2,800–€3,200/month
- 10-year average salary: €4,000–€6,500/month
- Employability: 96–98%
Portugal’s ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals has only strengthened the market for these degrees. While medical school is long and competitive, the return is among the most reliable.
🥈 2. Engineering (especially IT, Electrical, Civil)
Engineering remains a safe—and often lucrative—bet. Fields like software engineering, electrical engineering, and civil engineering offer consistently high placement rates and above-average earnings.
- Average starting salary: €1,600–€2,200/month
- 10-year average salary: €2,500–€4,000/month
- Employability: 93–96%
Tech-focused engineering disciplines are especially well-positioned in the global market, with many graduates working for international firms remotely from Portugal.
🥉 3. Computer Science and Data Analytics
With Portugal positioning itself as a tech hub, degrees in computer science, cybersecurity, AI, and data analytics are exploding in popularity—and salaries are keeping pace.
- Average starting salary: €1,700–€2,500/month
- 10-year average salary: €3,000–€5,000/month
- Employability: 95%
Many tech companies operating in Lisbon, Porto, and Braga actively recruit from local universities, making this one of the fastest-growing fields in Portugal.
4. Law
Graduates in law see mixed outcomes depending on whether they enter public service, private practice, or corporate law. While early careers can be challenging, long-term income potential remains high.
- Average starting salary: €1,200–€1,800/month
- 10-year average salary: €2,500–€4,500/month
- Employability: 88–92%
5. Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
Healthcare-adjacent degrees like pharmacy and biomedical sciences offer solid earning potential and relatively stable job prospects, particularly in urban centers.
- Average starting salary: €1,500–€2,200/month
- 10-year average salary: €2,500–€3,800/month
- Employability: 90–94%
6. Architecture
Architecture offers creativity and prestige, but income levels vary widely depending on the economy and experience.
- Average starting salary: €1,200–€1,500/month
- 10-year average salary: €2,000–€3,000/month
- Employability: 82–86%
7. Business and Economics
Business administration, finance, and economics remain popular and generally well-compensated, especially with a master’s degree or MBA.
- Average starting salary: €1,400–€2,000/month
- 10-year average salary: €2,500–€4,000/month
- Employability: 90–93%
Fields with Modest Returns
While most degrees offer value over time, some fields have more modest immediate returns or require additional effort to reach higher pay brackets.
1. Humanities and Social Sciences
Degrees in history, philosophy, sociology, and literature offer rich academic grounding but limited job-specific applications without further specialization.
- Average starting salary: €1,000–€1,200/month
- 10-year average salary: €1,400–€2,200/month
- Employability: 70–80%
2. Fine Arts and Performing Arts
While Portugal has a vibrant cultural scene, careers in fine arts, music, and theater can be financially unstable.
- Average starting salary: €900–€1,100/month
- 10-year average salary: €1,200–€2,000/month
- Employability: 60–75%
3. Education and Teaching
Education remains vital but underpaid, particularly in the early years. Public school teachers see salary progression mainly through seniority.
- Average starting salary: €1,100–€1,300/month
- 10-year average salary: €1,700–€2,300/month
- Employability: 85–90%
Employment Rates and Gender Equality
According to 2024 OECD data, 91% of higher education graduates in Portugal were employed, compared to 86% among those with only a secondary education. Although the difference in employment rate (5 percentage points) is smaller than the OECD average (9 points), the salary gap is significant.
Importantly, higher education also closes gender employment gaps:
- Women without a high school diploma: 66% employment
- Men without a high school diploma: 79%
- Women with a high school diploma: 82%
- Men with a high school diploma: 88%
- Both men and women with higher education: 89%
These numbers highlight the particular benefits of university education for women in the Portuguese labor market.
Graduates with master’s degrees and especially PhDs also experience even higher employment and income levels than those with just bachelor’s degrees, underscoring the cumulative benefits of advanced education.
Rising Enrollment and Educational Progress
Between 2019 and 2024, the share of 25–35-year-olds in Portugal with higher education rose from 38% to 43%, reflecting a growing national commitment to advanced learning. However, Portugal still ranks among the OECD countries with the highest percentage (38%) of adults who did not complete 12th grade.
Most new students entering higher education are women, who also tend to complete their degrees within three years of the expected time at higher rates than men.
Dropout rates are improving, too. Portugal’s first-year university dropout rate sits at 8%, well below the OECD average of 13%.
Regional Variations
Wages and job availability also depend on geographic location:
- Lisbon and Porto offer the highest salaries and greatest job density.
- Coimbra, Braga, and Aveiro are emerging hubs, especially for STEM fields.
- Interior regions tend to have lower wages and fewer job openings, though remote work is shifting this slowly.
Higher education is still one of the most powerful tools for economic mobility in Portugal. But success isn’t guaranteed—it depends on what you study, where, and how you connect education to the job market.
For students and families facing tough decisions about the future, understanding the financial realities of each degree path is essential. Because in the race from classroom to career, the smartest move may be knowing not just that a degree pays—but which one does it best.
