Poland’s Central Statistical Office (GUS) released data on the distribution of wages in the national economy for August 2025. The figures show that the median gross monthly wage was PLN 7,280, while the average (mean) gross monthly wage reached PLN 8,827.87. In other words, the median was 17.4% lower than the mean — a clear sign that higher salaries at the top end of the scale push the average upward.
Median vs mean: what it says about a “typical” salary
The median is the midpoint of the pay distribution: half of employees earned no more than PLN 7,280 gross, and the other half earned no less. In practice, the median often reflects a “typical” wage better than the mean, because it is less distorted by very high incomes.
In August 2025, the median wage rose by 0.5% month-on-month (vs July 2025) and increased by 8.7% year-on-year (vs August 2024). The average wage fell by 0.4% month-on-month, but was still 8.0% higher year-on-year.
Gender differences: median pay and top earnings
The median differed by gender:
- Men: PLN 7,543 gross
- Women: PLN 7,044.83 gross
The gap becomes more visible at the top end of the distribution. In August 2025, the top 10% of men earned at least PLN 14,813.72, while the top 10% of women earned at least PLN 12,929.16.
Deciles: where the bottom 10% ends and the top 10% begins
GUS also reports threshold values for the extremes of the wage distribution:
- Bottom 10% (1st decile): up to PLN 4,666.00 gross
- Top 10% (9th decile): at least PLN 13,881.59 gross
Differences by gender appear across most deciles, with the largest nominal gap (in men’s favour) recorded in the 9th decile, at PLN 1,884.56.
Public vs private sector: a sizable gap
In August 2025:
- Median in the public sector: PLN 8,397.14
- Median in the private sector: PLN 6,672.87
The mean wages show a similar pattern:
- Average in the public sector: PLN 9,580.21
- Average in the private sector: PLN 8,486.08
Age and company size: who has the highest median wage?
By age
- highest median: 45–54 years — PLN 7,567.67
- lowest median: 24 and under — PLN 5,877.74
By company size
- highest median: companies with 1,000+ employees — PLN 8,563.06
- lowest median: companies with 9 employees or fewer — PLN 4,666.00
In the smallest entities (9 employees or fewer), the median wage was equal to the statutory minimum wage in force at the time.
Sectors: where wages are highest
Wages vary widely by industry. In August 2025:
- Highest median overall: Information and communication — PLN 11,535.50
- Highest median in the public sector: Financial and insurance activities — PLN 13,245.68
- Highest median in the private sector: Information and communication — PLN 11,600.00
For average wages:
- Highest mean overall: Information and communication — PLN 14,396.45
- Highest mean in the public sector: Financial and insurance activities — PLN 16,072.69
- Highest mean in the private sector: Information and communication — PLN 14,491.82
Gender gaps by sector: where they are largest — and where they reverse
Across most industries, men’s median wages were higher than women’s. The largest percentage difference in the median was recorded in financial and insurance activities (in men’s favour). However, there were also sectors where women’s median wages were higher — the strongest reversal was seen in construction (in women’s favour).
A similar pattern appears in mean wages: the biggest male advantage was again in finance and insurance, while construction showed the strongest female advantage.
Geography: employer location vs place of residence
The report shows that wage patterns differ depending on whether the data is grouped by the employer’s registered location or by employees’ place of residence. When measured by employer location, the spread between municipalities with the lowest and highest median wages is larger; by place of residence, the distribution is more even.
What the dataset covers
The figures refer to cash payments from employment/service relationships and, in certain cases, payments from civil-law contracts (commission contracts, contracts for specific work, and agency contracts) where the work was performed for the same employer or on the employer’s behalf.
