MINIMUM AND AVERAGE SALARY IN BULGARIA

Bulgaria’s salary data are now reported in euros because the country adopted the euro on 1 January 2026. When weighing up a move to Bulgaria, compare current gross pay in euros with housing costs, working hours and the terms of the employment contract rather than relying on older figures in Bulgarian lev.

Average pay and the switch to the euro

Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026 at the fixed conversion rate of €1 = BGN 1.95583. The lev is no longer the official currency, so new wage statistics from the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria are published in euros.

According to preliminary NSI data, average gross monthly pay for employees under labour contract was €1,444 in the second quarter of 2026. This measure covers employees with labour contracts; it is not an estimate of income for self-employed people, business owners or people working outside formal employment.

An average is not a typical starting salary for every role. High earnings in Sofia, IT, finance and energy lift the national number. Anyone considering work in Bulgaria should compare an offer with local pay in the relevant occupation, sector and location.

Minimum wage in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian government set the national minimum wage for 2026 at €620.20 per month. This is the euro equivalent of the former BGN 1,213 amount at the official fixed conversion rate. The minimum hourly wage is €3.74.

The monthly minimum applies to a full month of work under the standard eight-hour day and five-day working week. For part-time employment, pay should be adjusted in proportion to working time. An employment contract cannot set basic remuneration below the statutory minimum.

Bulgaria does not have an automatic 13th or 14th salary for all employees. Annual bonuses and other additional payments depend on the employment contract, company policy or a collective agreement.

Gross pay, net pay and tax

Gross pay is the amount before deductions. Net pay is the money received after personal income tax and employee social and health-insurance contributions. Bulgaria’s 10% flat income-tax rate does not mean that net pay is simply gross pay minus 10%.

The employee contribution depends on insurance status, the applicable insurance-income ceiling, the type of work and other individual factors. That is why two employees with the same gross salary can receive different net amounts.

The net salary calculator can provide an initial estimate before an employer issues a payslip.

Pay by city and economic sector

The figures below are preliminary NSI data for the second quarter of 2026. They show average gross monthly pay for employees under labour contract in each district, not the average income of all local residents. The gap between Sofia-capital and smaller districts remains substantial.

Sofia-capital’s higher average does not automatically mean a better financial outcome. Housing and rental competition are also stronger there. Living in Bulgaria is more affordable in some smaller cities, but employment options and local salaries can be narrower.

Average pay by economic sector

This table uses the same NSI source and period. Gross pay includes regular remuneration as well as relevant payments for leave, overtime, shift work, length of service and bonuses. A sector average therefore cannot be treated as the basic pay written into one person’s contract.

Occupation, not only sector, determines what an individual can earn. The roles currently facing labour shortages are covered in Bulgaria’s shortage occupations. The salary comparison tool can help compare the same type of work across destinations.

Living costs and comparing offers

Bulgaria is generally less expensive than Western European destinations, but lower costs do not make every local salary comfortable. Rent, household size, city and the need for a relocation reserve shape the real budget. Current prices in Bulgaria are a more useful reference than a single national spending estimate.

Before relocating, set aside funds for travel, a rental deposit, initial rent, documents and the first months of settlement. The savings calculator helps test whether that reserve is sufficient.

When comparing Bulgaria with another country, use the same scenario: annual gross income, estimated net pay, housing costs and career prospects in the specific occupation. The country comparison tool keeps those factors in one decision.

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