Poland’s median wage rises 15.3% year-on-year in January 2025, but gender and regional gaps persist

The median gross monthly wage in Poland’s national economy stood at PLN 6,882.80 in January 2025, reflecting a nominal year-on-year increase of 15.3%, according to data released by Statistics Poland. However, despite the overall rise in wages, disparities remain significant across gender, age groups, sectors, and regions.

The median wage was 21% lower than the average gross wage, which reached PLN 8,717.18 in January. Compared to December 2024, the median wage decreased by 5.3%, while the average wage dropped by 4.3%.

Gender differences remain evident. The median wage for men was PLN 7,032.61, exceeding the median for women by PLN 298.27. The gap widened in higher income brackets: among the top 10% of male earners, wages were at least PLN 15,088.60, while the comparable figure for women was lower.

Age also plays a significant role in wage levels. Employees aged 35-44 had the highest median wage at PLN 7,196.56, while the lowest was among workers aged 24 or younger, at PLN 5,474.54.

Wages varied significantly based on the size of the employer. The median wage in companies employing 1,000 or more people was PLN 8,102.28, compared to PLN 4,666.00 in businesses with nine or fewer employees.

Sectoral differences were pronounced. The Information and Communication sector recorded the highest median wage at PLN 11,098.52. In the public sector, the highest median wage was in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (PLN 18,841.26), while in the private sector, Mining and Quarrying led with a median of PLN 12,298.62. In most industries, men earned higher median wages than women, with the largest gender gap of 41.4% seen in Financial and Insurance activities. However, in the Construction sector, women earned 32.8% more than men on average.

Geographical disparities were also highlighted. In around 29% of municipalities (gminas), the median wage was PLN 5,500 or lower. However, differences were smaller when measured by employees’ places of residence rather than the location of their employers.

Statistics Poland emphasized that these findings are based on a nationwide survey covering both employment contracts and other forms of work agreements linked to an employment relationship.