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Social mobility is a central concern in the sociology of development. Its identification helps to clarify the dynamics and flexibility of a particular social structure. Mobility and specifically vertical mobility, reflects the number of opportunities for individuals and groups to progress from one social level to another. This chapter analyses social mobility in Brazil, focusing on the role of education in determining status. The importance of 'circular mobility', based on educational background and experience, has increased since the 1970s, and individual variables are becoming more important in determining status. The study evaluates the role of job opportunities as well as ascribed and achieved variables, paying special attention to the net effect of education in the determination of status attainment and social mobility in Brazil. The two sets of data are restricted to male heads of families who are 20-62 years of age. The analysis is carried out by region and age cohort. The age cohort analysis provides a longitudinal view of the phenomenon and covers the evolution of social mobility in Brazil during much of the twentieth century.