Wednesday, 3 December 2025
Average wages in Slovakia continued to grow in the third quarter of 2025, but the pace of real wage growth eased as inflation picked up. According to data from the Statistical Office, the average nominal monthly wage reached EUR 1,569, which is 5.7% higher than a year earlier. In real terms, after adjusting for inflation, wages increased by 1.3%, the second weakest growth rate in the last two years. Seasonally adjusted wages were unchanged compared with the second quarter.
Nominal wage growth was recorded across all 19 monitored sectors, with increases ranging from just under 2% in professional, scientific and technical activities to more than 12% in the real estate sector. However, not all sectors kept pace with inflation. Three areas experienced real wage declines: professional, scientific and technical activities (-2.4%), arts and recreation (-1.4%), and administrative services (-1%).
Real wages rose in 16 sectors, with the strongest gains—above 5%—in real estate activities, mining and quarrying, and healthcare. Wage increases in healthcare reflected the financial adjustments applied to selected medical professions in 2025.
The two largest employers in the country, industry and trade, also saw slower nominal wage growth in Q3. Industry wages grew by 5.7% year-on-year, in line with the national average, bringing the sector’s average wage to EUR 1,672. In trade, wages rose by 5.3% to EUR 1,487, resulting in real wage growth of 1%.
Employees in information and communication, financial and insurance services, and energy utilities continued to earn the highest wages, all exceeding EUR 2,500 on average. At the opposite end of the scale, accommodation and food services remained the lowest-paid sector, though the average wage there passed EUR 1,000 for the first time. All sectors now report an average wage above this threshold.
Regionally, Bratislavský kraj remained the only region with wages above the national average, reaching EUR 1,866. Other regions ranged from EUR 1,252 in Prešovský kraj to EUR 1,495 in Trnavský kraj. Nominal wages increased in all regions, with the highest annual rise in Nitriansky kraj (8.4%). After inflation adjustment, all regions recorded real wage growth, with Nitriansky kraj again leading (3.9%) and Bratislavský kraj recording the smallest increase (0.3%).
For the period from January to September 2025, the average monthly wage reached EUR 1,580, up 6.5% year-on-year. Real wages over the first three quarters rose by 2.3%. Eighteen sectors reported real wage gains in this period, while only one—electricity, gas and steam supply—registered a real decline.
