25.04.2023
WHAT ARE THE HIGHEST PAID PROFESSIONS IN BULGARIA
Bulgaria remains the European member state with the lowest labor costs, but at the same time it is also the country in the EU with the fastest rate of increase in wages, according to data from the European Statistical Office Eurostat for 2022.
Where are the highest salaries?
The highest wages are received by those employed in the "Information and Communication Technologies" sector. On average, they already exceed BGN 4,400. They are followed by the "Energy" sector, where the average remuneration is over BGN 2,900.
Third in terms of wages are professions in the field of finance and insurance activities. Their gross salary for the last quarter of 2022 for Bulgaria is almost BGN 3,000. Those working in the mining industry are also among the best paid in the country - over BGN 2,400.
On the other side, the lowest paid are the employees in the hotel and restaurant industry. Their remuneration is between BGN 1,000 and 1,400. However, these are also the sectors with the highest share of the gray economy. In addition to them, those working in the "Water supply" sector also have low wages. sewerage services, waste management and remediation'. Their average gross salary is BGN 1,356. Compared to others, salaries in construction are also low - BGN 1,360 and in transport - BGN 1,486.
Almost BGN 1,500 is the remuneration in "Administrative and auxiliary activities". It is noteworthy that in the "Culture, sports and entertainment" sector there is an increase compared to the first quarter of 2022 - from 1,300 the average gross salary has become 1,600 BGN. The salary of those working with real estate is almost the same - 1,633 BGN.
In the "Public Administration" sector, the increase has also jumped significantly - from BGN 1,700 to BGN 2,240.
Over 2,500 BGN are received by those working in the field of "Professional activities and scientific research", the salary of those working in education is 2,165 BGN.
For 2022, salaries have increased by 16.6%
The average gross salary in the country has increased significantly in the last quarter of 2022 - by 16.6% compared to a year earlier or - the average gross monthly salary for October 2022 is BGN 1839, for November - BGN 1851, and for December – 1,947 BGN, according to data from the National Statistical Institute.
The growth is the highest since 2008 and comes amid rapidly rising consumer prices and a tight labor market that has left many employers short on workers. Thus, wage growth almost caught up with inflation, which in the months of October - December was around 17 - 18% on an annual basis.
The largest increase was in the economic activities "Agriculture, forestry and fisheries" - by 23.4%, "Production and distribution of electric and thermal energy and gaseous fuels" - by 23.1%, and "Other activities" - by 22.1%.
In the "Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries" sector, the remuneration at the beginning of 2022 was slightly over 1000, and at the end it amounted to over 1300.
Regional inequalities
The data of the National Statistical Institute also note the regional inequalities in pay. For example, in the last quarter the average salary in Sofia exceeded BGN 2,500, while the national average was BGN 1,947 (gross). The difference is nearly 40%.
In all other regions, average wages remain below the national average.
After the COVID-19 pandemic
The Institute for Market Economy thoroughly researched the average gross monthly salary of employed persons in the 265 municipalities of the country - this includes both those employed in the private and public sectors. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the year of recovery, it turns out that salaries in the Chelopech municipality were the highest for the whole of Bulgaria - BGN 2,930 (average gross monthly salary). In second place is the average salary of Kozloduy municipality (BGN 2,431), followed by Pirdop municipality (BGN 2,205) and Stolichna municipality (BGN 2,144).
In fifth position is the Radnevo energy center (2040 BGN), and the top 10 in the country is completed by Galabovo (1985 BGN), Devnya (1947 BGN), Panagyurishte (1860 BGN), Elin Pelin (1745 BGN) and Bozhurishte (1717).
For another year, the highest salaries in the country are in small municipalities with large employers - the leaders are the municipalities in the Middle Mountains, on whose territory there is a developed mining and related processing industry, as well as in municipalities with very large enterprises in the energy sector, the authors comment of the study.
