Average salary in Poland compared with Europe – country comparison

The average salary in Poland is growing faster than the EU average, although nominal earnings remain below the European Union level. According to Eurostat’s latest full-year comparative data for 2024, Poland’s average annual salary was EUR 21,246, compared with the EU average of EUR 39,808. The latest figures from Statistics Poland, published on 7 October 2026, show that the average gross monthly salary in April 2026 reached PLN 9,651.59, while the median was PLN 7,695. For foreign investors, these figures highlight the importance of assessing both wage differences between countries and the pace of labour cost growth.

The average salary in Poland is an important indicator when comparing business conditions across Europe. For companies considering investment, job creation or relocating part of their operations, both current salary levels and the pace of wage growth influence workforce planning and employment budgets.

Data from Statistics Poland and Eurostat provide two perspectives: current developments in the Polish labour market and Poland’s position in European salary comparisons.

Average salary in Poland in 2026 – latest Statistics Poland data

According to figures 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 2,209) in April 2026, representing a 5.5% increase compared with the same month of the previous year.

Meanwhile, the median gross monthly salary stood at PLN 7,695 (approximately EUR 1,761), an increase of 6.0% year on year.

The difference between the average and median salary was PLN 1,956.59. This means that the average salary was approximately 25.4% higher than the median.

Why does the average salary not always reflect what most employees earn? The arithmetic mean includes both the lowest and highest salaries, meaning that exceptionally high earnings can significantly increase the overall average. The median is less affected by extreme values and provides a clearer indication of earnings at the midpoint of the salary distribution.

In April 2026, the median salary was PLN 7,695, meaning that half of employees earned no more than this amount. By comparison, the average salary was PLN 9,651.59. For an accurate assessment of salary levels in Poland, both indicators should be considered rather than relying exclusively on the average.

Salary differences are also evident across companies of different sizes. In organisations employing at least 1,000 people, the median salary reached PLN 9,098.87 (approximately EUR 2,083). In the smallest businesses, with up to nine people working, the median remained at the minimum wage level of PLN 4,806 (approximately EUR 1,100).

For employers, this means that the national average alone is insufficient for preparing salary budgets. Company size, investment location, industry and demand for specific skills must also be considered.

EUR conversions are approximate and based on the average exchange rate published by the National Bank of Poland (NBP) on 22 October 2026 (Table No. 206/A/NBP/2026): EUR 1 = PLN 4.3685.

Average salaries in Europe – comparison of EU countries

The latest comprehensive Eurostat comparison available in October 2026 covers 2024. The indicator measures the average annual full-time adjusted salary per employee, calculated using national accounts and Labour Force Survey (LFS) data.

It is important to note that Eurostat and Statistics Poland use different methodologies. Therefore, the average monthly salary published by Statistics Poland should not be compared directly with Eurostat’s annual figures. To ensure consistency across countries, the European comparison uses Eurostat’s harmonised indicator.

The average annual salary in the European Union was EUR 39,808, representing an increase of 5.2% compared with 2023.

The highest salaries were recorded in Luxembourg (EUR 82,969), Denmark (EUR 71,565) and Ireland (EUR 61,051). The lowest figures were reported in Bulgaria (EUR 15,387), Greece (EUR 17,954) and Hungary (EUR 18,461).

Ranking of average salaries across EU countries

Source: Eurostat – Average full-time adjusted salary per employee (nama_10_fte), 2024 data. The comparison covers 26 EU countries for which figures were available in this dataset. The Netherlands was excluded due to differences in the methodology used to provide salary data.

Average salaries in Luxembourg were almost four times higher than in Poland, while those in Germany were approximately 2.5 times higher. Poland’s average was close to Romania’s and exceeded salary levels in Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria.

However, these figures represent nominal salaries expressed in euros. They do not account for differences in price levels, purchasing power or national tax systems.

Poland’s position in Europe – rapid salary growth

Although salaries in Poland remain below those in most Western European countries, Eurostat data indicate considerably faster wage growth.

In 2023, the average annual salary in Poland was EUR 18,226, increasing to EUR 21,246 in 2024. This represents growth of approximately 16.6% in one year.

By comparison, the EU average increased by 5.2% over the same period, from EUR 37,840 to EUR 39,808.

As a result, Poland’s average salary reached approximately 53.4% of the EU average, compared with 48.2% a year earlier.

Such strong growth when expressed in euros reflects not only changes in salaries denominated in Polish zloty but may also be influenced by movements in the PLN/EUR exchange rate. It should therefore not be interpreted directly as an equivalent increase in real purchasing power. Nevertheless, the figures indicate that the nominal salary gap between Poland and the EU average is narrowing.

Where are salaries highest in Europe, and how does Poland compare?

The highest salaries are concentrated primarily in Western and Northern Europe. In 2024, Luxembourg, Denmark, Ireland, Belgium and Austria all recorded average annual salaries exceeding EUR 58,000.

Poland remained among the EU countries with lower nominal salary levels, broadly comparable to those observed in parts of Central and Eastern Europe.

These differences are particularly relevant for multinational businesses. For example, the average annual salary in Germany exceeded Poland’s by EUR 32,545, while the difference between France and Poland was EUR 22,544.

However, this does not mean that the actual difference in employment costs is identical. Total employer costs also depend on social security contributions, employee benefits and the employment regulations applicable in each country.

What do salary differences mean for investors?

Comparing salaries across Europe is valuable when assessing locations for new manufacturing facilities, business service centres, foreign company branches and technology teams.

Poland continues to offer lower average nominal salaries than Germany, France and Austria. However, rising wages mean that its labour cost advantage should not be assessed solely on the basis of historical salary levels.

For companies planning investments, three factors are particularly important: current salary levels in the local labour market, the availability of employees with the required skills and the projected growth in total employment costs.

It is also essential to distinguish between economy-wide average salaries and market rates for specific positions. Salaries for IT specialists, engineers and senior executives may differ significantly from the national average.

Statistics Poland and Eurostat data therefore provide a useful starting point for labour market analysis, but they cannot replace a detailed comparison of employment costs for a specific industry and location.