Average salary in Poland and Germany – wage comparison for investors

The average salary in Poland remains significantly lower than in Germany, although the nominal wage gap is narrowing. According to comparable Eurostat data for 2024, the average annual salary was EUR 21,246 in Poland and EUR 53,791 in Germany – approximately 2.5 times higher. More recent national statistics show continued wage growth: Poland’s average gross monthly salary reached PLN 9,651.59 in April 2026, while Germany’s 2025 average was EUR 4,851 per month for full-time employees, excluding special payments. For investors, these differences are relevant to workforce planning but do not fully reflect total employment costs.

The average salary in Poland and Germany is an important benchmark for businesses comparing operating costs across the two markets. Wage differences influence decisions about manufacturing locations, establishing new subsidiaries and recruiting employees.

However, a meaningful comparison must consider more than average salaries. Median earnings, wage growth and methodological differences between Polish and German statistics are equally important.

What is the average salary in Poland in 2026, according to Statistics Poland?

According to data published by Statistics Poland (GUS) on 7 October 2026, the average gross monthly salary in Poland’s national economy reached PLN 9,651.59 (approximately EUR 2,189) in April 2026. This represented a 5.5% increase compared with April 2025.

The median gross monthly salary was PLN 7,695 (approximately EUR 1,745), an increase of 6.0% year on year.

The difference between the mean and median was PLN 1,956.59. The average salary was therefore approximately 25.4% higher than the median.

The median provides a more representative picture of earnings for an employee in the middle of the wage distribution. The arithmetic mean, by contrast, includes exceptionally high salaries, which can significantly increase the overall figure.

GUS data also reveals substantial differences depending on company size. In organisations employing at least 1,000 people, the median salary was PLN 9,098.87. In the smallest businesses, with up to nine people working, the median remained at the minimum wage level of PLN 4,806.

EUR equivalents are approximate and calculated using the National Bank of Poland (NBP) average exchange rate of 28 October 2026 (Table No. 210/A/NBP/2026): EUR 1 = PLN 4.4090. Currency conversion does not make these figures methodologically comparable with German statistics.

Average salary in Germany according to the latest Destatis data

According to the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the average gross monthly salary for full-time employees in Germany was EUR 4,851 in 2025, excluding special payments such as annual bonuses. The corresponding figure for 2024 was EUR 4,691, representing an increase of approximately 3.4%.

Germany’s statistical office also publishes detailed information on the distribution of earnings. In April 2025, the average gross monthly salary for full-time employees was EUR 4,784, while the median was EUR 4,123. Both figures exclude special payments.

Additionally, Destatis reported that the median annual gross salary for full-time employees in 2025, including special payments, was EUR 54,066.

Germany’s wage distribution also highlights considerable income differences:

• The lowest-paid 10% of full-time employees earned no more than EUR 33,828 gross annually in 2025.
• The highest-paid 10% earned at least EUR 100,719 annually.
• The top-earning 1% of full-time employees received at least EUR 219,110 annually.

These figures demonstrate why the average salary alone is insufficient to assess typical earnings in Germany.

Poland and Germany – a comparison of wages according to Eurostat

An accurate comparison of salaries in Poland and Germany requires statistics based on a consistent methodology.

Eurostat publishes the average annual full-time adjusted salary per employee. This indicator combines national accounts and Labour Force Survey data, converting part-time employment into full-time equivalents.

As of October 2026, the latest complete comparable figures available cover 2024.

Indicator	Poland	Germany
Average annual salary in 2024	EUR 21,246	EUR 53,791
Average annual salary in 2023	EUR 18,226	EUR 50,996
Nominal change in EUR, 2023–2024	+16.6%	+5.5%
Position relative to the EU average in 2024	Below	Above

Source: Eurostat – Average full-time adjusted salary per employee, 2023 and 2024 data. The EU average in 2024 was EUR 39,808.

According to these figures, Germany’s average annual salary in 2024 was EUR 32,545 higher than Poland’s. The German average was approximately 2.53 times the Polish figure, meaning that average earnings in Poland represented around 39.5% of the German level.

It is important to note that Eurostat’s indicator uses a different methodology from the monthly figures published by GUS and Destatis. Consequently, the latest national salary averages should not be treated as directly equivalent to the figures in the European comparison.

Is the salary gap between Poland and Germany narrowing?

Between 2023 and 2024, the gap between average annual salaries in Poland and Germany narrowed slightly. According to comparable Eurostat data, salaries expressed in euros increased by approximately 16.6% in Poland, compared with 5.5% in Germany.

During this period, Poland’s average annual salary increased by EUR 3,020, while Germany’s rose by EUR 2,795. As a result, the nominal difference between average annual salaries in the two countries declined from EUR 32,770 in 2023 to EUR 32,545 in 2024.

However, this does not mean that the purchasing power of Polish salaries increased at the same rate. Figures expressed in euros can also be affected by changes in the Polish złoty exchange rate, while nominal wage growth does not account for inflation.

More recent national statistics also indicate rising wages, although they are not directly comparable. According to GUS, Poland’s average gross salary increased by 5.5% year on year in April 2026. Meanwhile, Destatis reported that German nominal wages rose by 4.1% and real wages by 1.5% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the corresponding quarter of 2025.

These figures confirm continued wage growth in both economies but do not allow a straightforward comparison of growth rates over identical periods in 2026.

Why do average salaries not reflect the full cost of employment in Poland and Germany?

The average gross salary represents only one component of an employer’s total labour costs.

In Poland, employers are responsible for financing certain social security contributions, while Germany operates a separate employer social insurance contribution system. The final cost of employment therefore depends on each country’s regulations, salary levels, employment arrangements and additional employee benefits.

Labour market structure is equally important. The national average salary does not automatically reflect market rates for IT specialists, engineers, manufacturing employees or senior management.

Therefore, comparing average salaries is not equivalent to comparing the total cost of employing someone in the same position in Poland and Germany.

What do salary differences between Poland and Germany mean for investors?

Poland’s lower nominal wage levels remain an important consideration for investors comparing business locations in Poland and Germany.

For manufacturing companies, logistics operators and shared services centres, salary differences can influence operating budgets and the financial viability of different business models.

However, faster wage growth in Poland means that investment planning should consider not only current salary levels but also potential changes in the years ahead.

For foreign businesses, particularly important factors include the availability of skilled employees, local salary benchmarks, labour productivity and total employer costs.

Poland continues to offer significantly lower nominal salaries than Germany, but its labour cost advantage should not be assessed solely on the basis of average earnings. Statistics from GUS, Destatis and Eurostat provide a starting point for a more detailed assessment of individual investment projects.

For more information on earnings across the European Union, read our article: Average salary in Poland compared with Europe – country comparison.

Sources:

• Statistics Poland (GUS) – Distribution of wages and salaries in the national economy in April 2026
• Destatis – Average gross monthly earnings in Germany
• Destatis – Median annual earnings in Germany in 2025
• Destatis – Wage growth in the second quarter of 2026
• Eurostat – Average full-time adjusted salary per employee
• National Bank of Poland (NBP) – Average exchange rate tables