The latest data on wages in Poland shows that although salaries continue to rise on a yearly basis, short-term fluctuations are still visible. According to the newest study “Distribution of Wages in the National Economy in September 2025”, both the median and the average wage were slightly lower than a month earlier. At the same time, compared with the previous year, wages continued to grow.
According to data from Statistics Poland (GUS), the median gross monthly wage in September 2025 amounted to PLN 7,145.33. This means that half of employees earned no more than this amount, while the other half earned more. Economists often point out that the median provides a more realistic picture of earnings than the average salary.
Median wage fell month-to-month but increased year-on-year
In September 2025 the median wage was 1.8% lower than in August, but 6.9% higher than in September 2024.
A similar trend can be observed in the average wage. The average gross monthly salary in the national economy reached PLN 8,649.13, which represented a 2.0% decrease compared with August, but a 7.1% increase compared with September 2024.
Such month-to-month fluctuations are not unusual. They are often linked to seasonal bonuses, variable pay components, or changes in employment structures.
Women still earn less than men
The data also shows clear differences between the wages of women and men.
The median wage for men amounted to PLN 7,400, while for women it was PLN 6,956.10. Similar disparities can be seen in the average wage figures. Men earned on average PLN 9,032.91, while women received PLN 8,255.75.
The differences become particularly visible among the highest earners. According to the data, within the top 10% of earners, the gap between men and women reached PLN 1,694.90 in favor of men.
Employees of large companies earn the most
Salary levels are strongly influenced by the size of the company.
The highest median wage – PLN 8,423.40 – was recorded in enterprises employing 1,000 or more workers. By contrast, in the smallest companies with up to nine employees, the median wage was only PLN 4,666.
A similar pattern appears in average wages. In the largest companies the average salary exceeded PLN 10,000, while in the smallest firms it stood at PLN 5,818.43.
Wages are higher in the public sector
Differences can also be seen between the public and private sectors.
The median wage in the public sector reached PLN 8,053.20, while in the private sector it amounted to PLN 6,587.50.
When looking at average wages, the public sector recorded PLN 9,241.14, compared with PLN 8,378.60 in the private sector.
The highest salaries are in the technology sector
Looking at wages by industry, the technology sector clearly stands out.
The highest median wage – PLN 11,550 – was recorded in the information and communication sector, which includes IT, telecommunications, and digital services.
Average wages in this sector are even higher. The average salary reached PLN 14,314.88, significantly above the national average.
Young workers earn the least
Wages also vary significantly depending on the age of employees.
The highest median wage – PLN 7,440 – was recorded among employees aged 45–54. The lowest median wage was observed among workers aged 24 and under, where it amounted to PLN 5,816.90.
A similar trend is visible in average wages. The highest average earnings were recorded among employees aged 65 and above, reaching PLN 9,139.72.
Large gap between the lowest and highest earners
The decile analysis reveals a substantial income gap within the labor market.
The lowest-paid 10% of employees earned no more than PLN 4,666 gross. Meanwhile, the top 10% of earners received at least PLN 13,565.16 gross.
This indicates a significant disparity between the lower and upper ends of the wage distribution in Poland.
Regional differences remain visible
Wage disparities also appear in the regional distribution of earnings. According to GUS, in some municipalities the median wage was PLN 5,500 or less. This was the case in approximately 19% of municipalities when considering the location of the employer.
However, when wages are analyzed based on the place of residence of employees, the differences appear smaller. In that case, only 0.4% of municipalities recorded a median wage of PLN 5,500 or less.
The labor market picture is more complex than average wages suggest
The wage distribution data shows that the real picture of Poland’s labor market is more complex than average salaries alone might suggest. Although the average wage is approaching PLN 8,700 gross, half of employees still earn significantly less.
At the same time, large differences persist across sectors, company sizes, gender, and regions.
As emphasized by Statistics Poland, the presented data includes payments from employment contracts as well as certain payments from civil-law contracts concluded with the same employer.
Source: Statistics Poland (GUS) – study “Distribution of Wages in the National Economy.”
