Earnings Differentials in the Greek Private Sector: The Case of Lower and Upper Secondary General and Vocational Education Graduates

This study examines the gross annual earnings of secondary education graduates in Greece, utilizing data obtained from a primary statistical survey carried out in the private sector. The analysis is conducted based on the level of secondary education (lower and upper), type of upper secondary education (General or Vocational Lyceum), gender, years of work experience and age. The results reveal earnings differentials in favor of upper secondary graduates both overall and by gender, thus reinforcing human capital theory. Furthermore, graduates of General Lyceums exhibit higher earnings compared with graduates of Vocational Lyceums. The analysis also highlights the persistence of gender-based wage disparities, with male graduates earning more than female graduates even at equivalent levels of educational attainment.