Thursday, 6 August 2026
Wages in Poland continued to increase in February 2026, with both median and average earnings recording annual growth, according to the latest figures published by Statistics Poland (GUS). The data indicate that earnings continued to improve across the labour market, although sizeable differences remained depending on company size and employee characteristics.
The median gross monthly wage reached PLN 7,690.82 in February, an increase of 3.3% compared with January and 7.3% higher than a year earlier. The median represents the midpoint of the wage distribution, meaning that half of employees earned less than this amount while the other half received higher pay. Economists often regard the median as a more accurate reflection of typical earnings than the average because it is less influenced by the highest salaries.
The average gross monthly wage increased by 6.6% compared with January and was 6.4% higher than in February 2025. The slightly faster growth in the median than the average suggests that wage gains were relatively broad-based rather than being concentrated among the highest earners.
Differences between male and female earnings remained relatively modest. The median wage for men stood at PLN 7,753.52, while women recorded a median monthly income of PLN 7,631.04, leaving a gap of just over PLN 120.
Company size continued to have a significant influence on pay levels. Employees working in organisations with 1,000 or more staff received the highest median wage, averaging PLN 9,146.18 per month. At the other end of the market, businesses employing nine or fewer people recorded a median wage of PLN 4,806, equivalent to the statutory minimum wage in force during the reporting period.
The latest figures reflect continued strength in Poland’s labour market, where wage growth has remained resilient despite a more moderate pace of economic expansion. Higher earnings have been supported by a combination of labour shortages, increases in the national minimum wage and continued competition for skilled employees across many sectors of the economy.
While wage growth has strengthened household purchasing power compared with previous years of elevated inflation, the distribution data also illustrate the persistent differences in earnings between large employers and small businesses, where pay levels remain considerably lower than the national median.
The Statistics Poland release provides a detailed picture of wage distribution across the economy and complements the country’s regular average wage statistics by offering a broader view of how income is shared among employees rather than focusing solely on overall averages.
