How much do people earn in Poland: real figures by profession and region

Moving to Poland starts with questions about salaries. How much do they pay here? Is it enough to live on? Is it worth coming at all? Let’s look at the real numbers – without embellishment or exaggeration, just facts.

General salary statistics in 2025

Let’s start with the main thing – the average salary in Poland according to GUS (Central Statistical Office) data is about 8200 PLN gross. That’s about 6100 PLN net after all deductions.

But the average is like the average temperature in a hospital. The director gets 30 thousand, the cleaner – 4 thousand, on average it comes out to 17. That’s why the median is more important – when half the people earn more, half less. The median salary is about 6500 PLN gross (4900 net).

Salary distribution

What are the average salaries in Poland for different population groups:

• 25% of workers receive less than 4500 PLN gross
• 50% earn between 4500 and 8000 PLN
• 20% have salaries of 8000-15000 PLN
• 5% receive over 15000 PLN

As you can see, most people earn less than the mentioned “average” salary. This is normal for any country.

Salaries by profession

Now for specifics – who earns what. The average wage in Poland strongly depends on profession and experience.

IT and programming

IT specialists are the kings of the Polish labor market:

• Junior developer – 5000-8000 PLN net
• Mid developer – 8000-15000 PLN
• Senior developer – 15000-25000 PLN
• DevOps – 12000-20000 PLN
• Data Scientist – 10000-18000 PLN

On B2B contracts, the amounts are even higher, but there are nuances with taxes.

Medicine

Medical professionals also earn well:

• Nurse – 4000-6000 PLN net
• Doctor without specialization – 6000-9000 PLN
• Medical specialist – 10000-20000 PLN
• Surgeon – 15000-30000 PLN
• Dentist (private practice) – 10000-25000 PLN

Construction and manufacturing

Blue-collar professions – the foundation for many immigrants:

• General laborer – 3500-4500 PLN net
• Welder – 4500-7000 PLN
• Electrician – 4000-6500 PLN
• Plumber – 4500-7000 PLN
• CNC machine operator – 4000-6000 PLN
• Foreman/supervisor – 5500-8000 PLN

Office workers

Average salary Poland for white-collar workers:

• Accountant – 4500-8000 PLN net
• HR specialist – 5000-9000 PLN
• Marketing specialist – 5000-10000 PLN
• Sales manager – 4500-8000 PLN + bonuses
• Office manager – 3800-5500 PLN

Service sector

Working with people:

• Shop assistant – 3500-4500 PLN net
• Cashier – 3400-4200 PLN
• Waiter – 3500-4500 PLN + tips
• Bartender – 3800-5000 PLN + tips
• Hairdresser – 3500-6000 PLN
• Beautician – 3800-7000 PLN

Differences by cities and regions

Geography matters enormously. Average wage Poland in Warsaw and in a small town are two different realities.

Top cities by salaries

Warsaw – the absolute leader:

• Average salary – 9500 PLN gross
• IT specialist can earn 15000-20000 PLN
• Even cashiers earn 15-20% more than in regions

Krakow – second place:

• Average – 8200 PLN gross
• Many international companies
• Good salaries in IT and business services

Wroclaw – growing market:

• Average – 7800 PLN gross
• Developed manufacturing
• Many vacancies for foreigners

Gdansk/Gdynia – maritime gateway:

• Average – 7600 PLN gross
• Good salaries in logistics and maritime business

Regions with lowest salaries

Eastern Poland traditionally lags behind:

• Podkarpackie voivodeship – average 5800 PLN gross
• Lubelskie – 5900 PLN
• Podlaskie – 6000 PLN

But! Life is cheaper there, so the real standard of living may be comparable.

Specifics for foreign workers

Now an important point – average salary in Poland for Ukrainians and other foreigners. Honestly? Usually lower than for Poles in the same positions.

Why foreigners earn less

• Language barrier – without Polish it’s harder to find a good job
• Qualification recognition – not all diplomas are recognized
• Lack of local experience – employers value Polish work experience
• Legal status – on civil contracts they pay less

Real figures for foreigners

According to our observations:

• First job in production – 3500-4500 PLN net
• With knowledge of Polish – 4500-6000 PLN
• Specialists with experience – 6000-10000 PLN
• IT without language – 8000-15000 PLN (English is enough)

How to increase your salary

Life-tested advice:

• Learn Polish – each language level is +10-15% to salary
• Get Polish certificates in your specialty
• Switch to an employment contract as soon as possible
• Don’t stay in one place for more than 2-3 years without a promotion

Difference between gross and net

Average salary in Poland in PLN is always stated gross, but you receive net. The difference is significant!

What is deducted from gross

These are approximate calculations. The exact amount depends on tax reliefs, form of employment and other factors.

How salaries have changed in recent years

Poland shows impressive salary growth. Over the last 10 years, the average salary has almost doubled!

Dynamics by year

• 2015 – 4150 PLN gross
• 2018 – 5000 PLN
• 2020 – 5800 PLN
• 2022 – 6800 PLN
• 2024 – 7900 PLN
• 2025 – 8200 PLN (forecast)

There was inflation too, of course. But real wages (adjusted for price increases) still grew by about 40%.

What to expect in the future

The forecasts are optimistic. Poland continues to catch up with Western Europe, and salaries will grow.

Growth factors

• Staff shortage – there’s a lack of workers, especially specialists
• Minimum wage growth – pulls all salaries up
• Investments – new factories and offices of international companies
• Economic development – GDP grows by 3-4% annually

By 2030, the average salary may reach 12000-13000 PLN gross. But that’s if there are no global crises.

Popular questions

Is the average salary enough to live on in Poland?

If you earn the average salary (6100 PLN net), then yes, it’s enough. Renting a one-room apartment in a big city – 2500-3000 PLN, food – 1500 PLN, transport – 200 PLN. There will even be some left for entertainment and small savings.

In which sector is it easiest for a foreigner to find work?

Manufacturing, logistics, construction – people are always needed here. IT – if you have skills, language is not so important. Service sector – at least basic Polish is needed.

Is it worth moving for Polish salaries?

Depends where you’re moving from. From Ukraine, Belarus – definitely worth it, salaries are 2-3 times higher. From Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg) – about the same. From Kazakhstan – depends on the specialization.

How quickly do foreigners’ salaries grow?

First year – minimum or slightly higher. After 2-3 years with Polish language – you can reach market average. After 5 years – if you develop, then above average.

Leszek Woronowicz

PL: Leszek Woronowicz posiada wieloletnie, bogate doświadczenie w obszarze finansów, bankowości oraz doradztwa biznesowego, zdobyte zarówno w Polsce, jak i za granicą.
Brał czynny udział w zakładaniu spółek akcyjnych oraz spółek z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością w Polsce i na Ukrainie, pełniąc rolę doradcy dla międzynarodowych podmiotów, m.in. dla Nestlé Ukraine.
Pracował w szeregu instytucji bankowych, w których kierował m.in. Departamentem Skarbu oraz Departamentem Bankowości Korporacyjnej. Pełnił funkcję członka zarządu jednego z banków poza granicami kraju, a także był stałym członkiem komitetu kredytowego i komitetu ALCO.
Specjalizuje się w ocenie wiarygodności kredytowej przedsiębiorstw, obejmującej analizę bilansów, rachunków wyników oraz przepływów pieniężnych (cash flow) dużych spółek. Posiada również rozległe doświadczenie w analizowaniu dokumentów księgowych oraz ocenie ryzyk prawnych związanych z działalnością przedsiębiorstw i transakcjami finansowymi.
Dysponuje szeroką wiedzą w zakresie rynku instrumentów finansowych, kredytowania oraz rynku kapitałowego. Jako doradca uczestniczył w przygotowaniu memorandum informacyjnych dla dwóch spółek zagranicznych debiutujących na rynku NewConnect. Doradza przedsiębiorstwom w budowaniu skutecznych modeli biznesowych, wspierając je w realizacji strategii rozwoju i ekspansji rynkowej.

EN: Leszek Woronowicz has many years of extensive experience in finance, banking, and business consulting, gained both in Poland and abroad.
He actively participated in establishing joint-stock companies and limited liability companies in Poland and Ukraine, acting as an advisor for international entities, including Nestlé Ukraine.
He has worked at several banking institutions, where he managed, among others, the Treasury Department and the Corporate Banking Department. He served as a board member of a bank outside of Poland and was also a permanent member of the credit committee and the ALCO committee.
He specializes in assessing the creditworthiness of enterprises, which includes the analysis of balance sheets, profit and loss accounts, and cash flows of large companies. He also has extensive experience in analyzing accounting documents and evaluating legal risks associated with business activities and financial transactions.
He has broad expertise in the financial instrument market, lending, and the capital market. As an advisor, he participated in preparing information memorandums for two foreign companies making their debut on the NewConnect market. He advises companies on building effective business models, supporting them in implementing development strategies and market expansion.

RU: Лешек Воронович обладает многолетним, обширным опытом в сфере финансов, банковского дела и бизнес-консалтинга, полученным как в Польше, так и за рубежом.
Он принимал активное участие в создании акционерных обществ и обществ с ограниченной ответственностью в Польше и на Украине, выступая в роли консультанта для международных организаций, включая Nestlé Ukraine.
Работал в ряде банковских учреждений, где руководил, среди прочего, Казначейским департаментом и департаментом корпоративного банкинга. Являлся членом правления одного из банков за пределами страны, а также был постоянным членом кредитного комитета и комитета ALCO.
Специализируется на оценке кредитоспособности предприятий, включая анализ балансовых ведомостей, отчетов о прибылях и убытках, а также денежных потоков (cash flow) крупных компаний. Также обладает широким опытом анализа бухгалтерских документов и оценки юридических рисков, связанных с деятельностью предприятий и финансовыми сделками.
Обладает широкими знаниями в области рынка финансовых инструментов, кредитования и рынка капитала. В качестве консультанта участвовал в подготовке информационных меморандумов для двух иностранных компаний, дебютировавших на рынке NewConnect. Консультирует предприятия по построению эффективных бизнес-моделей, поддерживая их в реализации стратегий развития и рыночной экспансии.