Seplat Graduate Trainee, Entry Level & Staff Salary Structure
Seplat Energy Plc has a simple policy: pay people fairly and set their pay against the best firms in their class. This policy is applied wherever Seplat Energy operates across the globe.
Seplat’s 2024 financial records provide evidence for the firm’s dedication to this policy. Seplat paid ₦71.718 billion in salaries and wages to 1,446 employees, a 47.97% increase compared to ₦48.468 billion paid in 2023. In 2024, a Seplat employee earned an average ₦49.6 million ( ₦4.133 million per month).
There were 2 major reasons for the increase in the wage bill:
- Workforce Expansion: The total number of employees in Seplat increased by 1,016 to 1,446 as a result of the acquisition of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU). The acquisition added 863 Mobil staff to Seplat.
- Currency Depreciation: The decline of the naira against the dollar also impacted the increase in salaries and wages. Some employees of Seplat are paid in US dollars.
Seplat Energy Plc, formerly Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, began operations in 2009, and has subsequently developed into one of Nigeria, and Africa’s, largest home grown independent energy companies.
Seplat is publicly listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Therefore, Seplat competes for its workforce with Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, and Nigerian LNG.
This leads to Seplat’s compensation model remaining highly competitive within the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry.
Seplat has no formal salary publications. However, via employee feedback, recruitment announcements, and industry surveys, salary levels can be approximated.
Overview of Seplat Salary Structure in Nigeria
The table below provides estimated monthly salary ranges for employees at various levels.
| Position | Estimated Monthly Salary |
| Graduate Trainee | ₦250,000 – ₦400,000 |
| Entry Level Staff | ₦600,000 – ₦850,000 |
| Experienced Engineer | ₦900,000 – ₦1.5 million |
| Senior Engineer | ₦1.3 million – ₦2 million |
| Manager | ₦1.4 million – ₦2.3 million |
| General Manager | ₦2.5 million – ₦4 million |
| Executive Director | ₦3 million – ₦6 million+ |
Source: Glassdoor
Figures are estimates compiled from employee reports and industry compensation data. Actual salaries vary depending on role, experience, department, performance, and negotiation.
How Much Does Seplat Pay Its Staff in Nigeria?
Seplat is seen as one of the higher paying Nigerian indigenous firms in the Oil and Gas sector.
Entry level in the firm earn from ₦600,000 to about ₦850,000 on a monthly basis, excluding allowances and performance bonuses.
There is an added advantage for employees in the following fields: Petroleum Engineering, Production Engineering, Drilling, Reservoir Engineering and Geosciences as they are most likely to earn above ₦1 million monthly.
Seplat employees are also noted to receive noncash benefits that provide significant improvement in their total compensation.
The following benefits are reported at Seplat:
- Annual performance bonus
- Housing allowance
- Medical Insurance for the employee and their dependants
- Pension Contributions
- Leave Allowance
- Transportation or Vehicle Allowance
- Life Insurance
- Training and Development
- Overseas Technical trainings
- Productivity Incentives
The noncash benefits package is commensurate with the employee’s position, line of duty, and years of service.
How Much Does Seplat Pay Its Graduate Trainees?
The ₦4 Million Monthly Controversy
In early 2025, Seplat Energy went viral on Nigerian Twitter for an extraordinary reason: reports that the company pays its graduate trainees ₦4 million monthly. This figure sparked widespread discussion about graduate compensation in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
For context, in 2019, Seplat was paying fresh graduates approximately ₦700,000. As the exchange rate depreciated, the equivalent in dollar terms became more valuable—but the ₦4 million figure represents a dramatic escalation even accounting for currency effects.
Verified Graduate Trainee Salary Range
Multiple sources confirm that Seplat Energy graduate trainees earn between ₦6.5 million and ₦7.5 million per year. This translates to approximately:
- ₦541,667 – ₦625,000 per month
- ₦6.5 million – ₦7.5 million annually
Other sources place the monthly salary for graduate trainees in the range of ₦250,000 – ₦450,000 plus benefits including HMO, pension, and possibly housing allowances
The Seplat Energy Technical Graduate Trainee Scheme (TGTS) 2026
Seplat’s Technical Graduate Trainee Programme is a high-impact, structured development programme designed specifically to attract, develop, and retain early-career professionals with strong technical aptitude and growth potential.
Programme Details:
- Duration: Typically 12–24 months
- Location: Lagos, Nigeria (with possible operational site exposure)
- Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science disciplines (Mechanical, Electrical, Petroleum, Chemical, Civil Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Geology, or related fields)
- Deadline: May 13, 2026
Benefits for Graduate Trainees:
- Competitive monthly salary (₦6.5m – ₦7.5m annually)
- Hands-on on-the-job training
- Employment upon completion
- Health insurance benefits
- Paid leave and other benefits
Reality Check: The Discrepancy
It’s important to note the significant gap between the viral ₦4 million monthly figure and the verified ₦541,000–₦625,000 monthly range. The ₦4 million figure may refer to:
- Total annual compensation including bonuses and benefits
- A specific, exceptional case
- Misinformation or exaggeration
Nevertheless, even at ₦6.5–₦7.5 million annually, Seplat’s graduate trainee salary ranks among the highest in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector
Executive and Director Compensation at Seplat
Seplat’s leadership team commands some of the highest executive pay packages in Nigeria.
CEO Compensation
Roger Thompson Brown, Seplat’s CEO, is expected to earn approximately ₦3.90 billion in annual pay in 2026, making him Nigeria’s highest-paid CEO. For the financial year ended December 2024, Brown earned $1.98 million in total remuneration, comprising fixed pay, performance-related bonuses, and long-term incentive awards.
Executive Director Salaries
Executive director salaries at Seplat are set in US dollars:
| Executive Director | 2024 Annual Value (USD) |
| CEO (including residency allowance) | $1,602,649.50 |
| CFO (including housing & 13th month) | $700,000 |
| COO (including housing & 13th month) | $792,098.10 |
The CEO’s base salary includes a dual residency allowance, while the CFO’s and COO’s base salaries include Housing and 13th Month allowances in line with local market practice
Board and Senior Management
In 2024, 14 directors, the chairman, and the CEO received a combined ₦14.93 billion in compensation.
Seplat’s Remuneration Committee ensures that compensation arrangements for the Chairman, Executive Directors, and senior management support the strategic aims of the business while promoting the recruitment, motivation, and retention of skilled labour
How Seplat Compares to Competitors
Seplat vs. The Industry
Seplat has been ranked as Nigeria’s highest-paying company. The company pays some staff on an hourly basis, with notable examples including:
| Role | Hourly Rate (USD) |
| Sales Associate | $8.73/hour |
| Intern | $28.66/hour |
| Customer Service Representative | $10.54/hour |
Industry Context
The EnergyPay Nigeria 2025 Salary Review surveyed 1,200 respondents across 21 companies, including Shell, Chevron, TotalEnergies, Seplat, NLNG, Waltersmith, and Dangote Refinery. While specific comparative data is not publicly available, Seplat consistently ranks at or near the top of industry compensation surveys.
Key Differentiators
- USD Denomination: Executive salaries are set in dollars, providing protection against naira depreciation
- Annual Salary Reviews: Regular adjustments to maintain competitiveness
- Comprehensive Benefits: Industry-leading medical, housing, and retirement packages
Factors That Influence Salaries at Seplat
Several factors determine employee earnings, including:
- Academic qualifications
- Professional certifications
- Technical specialization
- Years of industry experience
- Job location
- Business performance
- Individual performance reviews
- Leadership responsibilities
Employees working in upstream operations, drilling, production, and reservoir engineering generally earn more than administrative staff due to the technical nature of their work.
Summary
Seplat Petroleum Development Company has set the gold standard for compensation in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Graduate trainees receive between ₦6.5- ulla7.5 million per annum, while senior workers make over ₦36 million monthly. Seplat’s wage structure is a pointer to a firm that sees its workforce as its greatest asset.
The average staff salary of ₦49.6 million per annum, inclusive of benefits such as housing allowances and 24-hour medical care, and executive compensation packages in US dollars all underscore a compensation philosophy that seeks to attract, retain and motivate top talent in an increasingly competitive market.
As Seplat continues to grow from 588 employees in 2023 to over 1,500 in 2025 and navigates the transition to new leadership in August 2026, one thing is clear: Seplat Energy remains committed to compensating its people fairly and benchmarked against the best in class.
Seplat Energy is one of the highest paying companies in Nigeria and it is a career destination for both fresh graduates and seasoned experts.
Salary estimates are based on Seplat Energy’s financial records, Glassdoor, MySalaryScale and industry sources. Actual pay may differ based on experience, geography, function and more. For the most recent information, consult Seplat Energy’s official releases and financial filings.