MINIMUM AND AVERAGE SALARY IN POLAND
Poland’s salary figures make most sense when read alongside the contract type, the city, and housing costs. A gross offer that looks competitive in a smaller regional centre may not go as far in Warsaw or Krakow. Anyone planning a move can place the numbers in the wider context of living and working in Poland.
AT A GLANCE
- From 1 January 2026, Poland’s statutory minimum wage is PLN 4,806 gross per month, roughly €1,120.
- The minimum hourly rate for covered civil-law contracts is PLN 31.40 gross, roughly €7.30.
- Average monthly gross pay across the national economy was PLN 8,903.56 in 2025, about €2,070.
- The detailed sector and regional tables use the latest fully comparable annual GUS datasets, covering 2024.
CONTENTS
Minimum wage in Poland in 2026
From 1 January 2026, the national minimum wage in Poland is PLN 4,806 gross per month. At an indicative rate of PLN 4.30 to €1, that is about €1,120. The statutory minimum is national: it is not lower in smaller towns or in lower-paying voivodeships.
For covered contracts of mandate and service contracts, the 2026 minimum hourly rate is PLN 31.40 gross, or about €7.30. It should not be treated as a universal hourly wage, however. Employment contracts, self-employment arrangements and some sector-specific arrangements follow different rules.
IMPORTANT
The minimum wage is a gross amount before employee social-insurance contributions and income tax. Overtime pay, night-work supplements and certain statutory allowances are generally calculated separately rather than absorbed into the minimum.
When assessing an offer, the key question is not only whether the monthly figure exceeds the minimum. The agreement should state the contract type, working hours, gross pay, probation period and insurance arrangements. These details matter just as much when applying for a work visa for Poland.
Average and median salary in Poland
Statistics Poland (GUS) reports that the average monthly gross wage and salary in the national economy was PLN 8,903.56 in 2025, approximately €2,070. This is an arithmetic average, so it is pulled upward by well-paid positions in technology, finance, energy, management and large companies.
Median pay is often more useful when comparing an ordinary job offer. In December 2025, the median monthly gross wage was PLN 7,907.20. Half of employees earned less than this amount and half earned more. Average and median figures are both gross amounts; neither shows take-home pay.
As an illustration, a single employee without children, not enrolled in PPK and employed under a standard contract of employment would take home roughly PLN 6,370 from gross monthly pay of PLN 8,903.56. The result changes with tax reliefs, age, residency, contract type and pension-scheme participation. The net salary calculator is the better way to assess a specific offer.
NOTE
Vacancies in Poland commonly quote brutto, meaning gross pay before deductions. Netto means the amount paid after deductions, but it is not directly comparable unless the contract and the employee’s circumstances are the same.
Average salary in Poland by economic sector
The table covers every PKD section published in GUS’s final annual national-economy release for 2024. These are average gross monthly earnings, not typical entry-level rates. The figures are sorted from highest to lowest.
Highest average-paying sectors, 2024
| Economic sector | Gross monthly pay, PLN | Approx. EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Information and communication | 13,432.31 | 3,124 |
| Mining and quarrying | 13,111.94 | 3,049 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 12,615.43 | 2,934 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply | 12,001.08 | 2,791 |
| Public administration, defence and compulsory social security | 10,202.97 | 2,373 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 10,087.98 | 2,346 |
| Human health and social work activities | 8,678.81 | 2,018 |
| Education | 8,349.71 | 1,942 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and aquaculture | 8,168.95 | 1,900 |
| Real-estate activities | 7,562.12 | 1,759 |
| Manufacturing | 7,563.08 | 1,759 |
| Transportation and storage | 7,388.57 | 1,718 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 7,348.01 | 1,709 |
| Water supply, sewerage and waste management | 7,198.71 | 1,674 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles | 7,015.02 | 1,631 |
| Construction | 6,611.82 | 1,538 |
| Other service activities | 6,513.39 | 1,515 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 6,477.15 | 1,506 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 5,405.29 | 1,257 |
Sector averages should not be read as guaranteed salaries for individual roles. Experience, language ability, seniority and location can make a substantial difference. The strongest concentration of international employers and office roles remains in the capital, while working in Warsaw also usually comes with higher housing costs.
Salaries by voivodeship and city
The latest fully comparable official regional release covers 2024. GUS publishes average gross monthly pay for each voivodeship as a whole, including its cities, towns and rural areas. The city column below identifies the administrative capital; it is not a separate city-level salary statistic.
| Voivodeship | Administrative capital | Gross monthly pay, PLN | Approx. EUR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masovian | Warsaw | 9,488.94 | 2,207 |
| Lower Silesian | Wrocław | 8,359.59 | 1,944 |
| Lesser Poland | Kraków | 8,249.31 | 1,918 |
| Silesian | Katowice | 8,096.38 | 1,883 |
| Pomeranian | Gdańsk | 8,066.89 | 1,876 |
| Łódź | Łódź | 7,646.62 | 1,778 |
| Opole | Opole | 7,536.33 | 1,753 |
| West Pomeranian | Szczecin | 7,512.51 | 1,747 |
| Podlaskie | Białystok | 7,446.20 | 1,732 |
| Greater Poland | Poznań | 7,428.35 | 1,728 |
| Lubusz | Gorzów Wielkopolski / Zielona Góra | 7,425.38 | 1,727 |
| Lublin | Lublin | 7,374.45 | 1,715 |
| Kuyavian-Pomeranian | Bydgoszcz / Toruń | 7,322.89 | 1,703 |
| Świętokrzyskie | Kielce | 7,236.58 | 1,683 |
| Subcarpathian | Rzeszów | 7,175.92 | 1,669 |
| Warmian-Masurian | Olsztyn | 7,133.90 | 1,659 |
Masovian Voivodeship leads because Warsaw has a large concentration of head offices, finance, technology and professional services. A higher salary does not automatically mean more disposable income: rent can absorb much of the difference. The practical trade-off between income, housing and everyday expenses is clearer when considering life in Poland as a whole.
Payroll taxes, take-home pay and living costs
Under the standard employment contract, personal income tax is charged at 12% on annual taxable income up to PLN 120,000 and 32% on income above that threshold. Poland also has a tax-free allowance, while employee pension, disability and sickness contributions are deducted before health insurance is calculated.
The employee share of the main social-insurance contributions is 13.71%: 9.76% for pension insurance, 1.5% for disability insurance and 2.45% for sickness insurance. Health insurance is generally 9% of the relevant base. Employers also pay their own contributions, so the employer’s total cost is higher than the gross salary written in the contract.
IMPORTANT
There is no single gross-to-net conversion for every worker. The outcome depends on the contract, tax reliefs, residence status, age, PPK participation and personal circumstances. Do not compare net figures from different contracts as though they were like for like.
Rent is usually the largest moving expense. Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław and Gdańsk can offer stronger labour markets, but a room, studio and one-bedroom flat have very different effects on a budget. Before accepting an offer, use the savings calculator to allow for travel, a rental deposit, the first month of accommodation and an emergency reserve.
Once the monthly budget is clear, the salary comparison tool can help put a Polish offer beside pay levels in another country.
Sources
- Statistics Poland — GUS
- Local Data Bank of Statistics Poland
- Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy of Poland
- Social Insurance Institution — ZUS
- Ministry of Finance of Poland
- Eurostat
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Poland in 2026?
From 1 January 2026, the statutory minimum wage is PLN 4,806 gross per month, approximately €1,120 at an indicative PLN/EUR rate.
What is the minimum hourly rate in Poland?
The 2026 minimum hourly rate for covered contracts of mandate and service contracts is PLN 31.40 gross.
What is the average salary in Poland?
Average monthly gross pay in the national economy was PLN 8,903.56 in 2025. It is an average, so it should not be treated as the typical individual salary.
What is the difference between average and median pay?
Average pay is the arithmetic mean and is affected by very high salaries. Median pay is the middle value: half of employees earn less and half earn more.
Which voivodeship has the highest average salary?
In the latest full GUS regional data for 2024, Masovian Voivodeship had the highest average gross monthly pay at PLN 9,488.94. Warsaw has a major influence on this result.
How much is left after tax from a Polish salary?
The answer depends on the contract and personal tax position. As an illustration, PLN 8,903.56 gross per month gives a single employee without children roughly PLN 6,370 net under standard assumptions.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of WageCentre, with a degree in finance and 15+ years of professional experience. He writes about salaries, taxes, labour markets, immigration and financial planning for relocation.
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