GUS: median pay in May at PLN 7,550, PLN 1,628 lower than the average

Half of employees in Poland earned no more than PLN 7,550.32 gross in May 2026. This amount shows better than the average wage how much a typical employee earns and can serve as a reference point when setting pay ranges.

Statistics Poland published data on the wage distribution for May 2026. (opens in a new tab) The median stood at PLN 7,550.32 gross. The median is the middle value: half of employees received no more, and half no less. The average wage in the same month was PLN 9,178.16, or PLN 1,627.84 more. The median was therefore 17.7 percent lower than the average. The highest salaries push the average up.

The lowest-paid 10 percent of employees received no more than PLN 4,806, which is the minimum wage. Meanwhile, the top 10 percent of earners received at least PLN 14,239. In companies with up to nine employees, the median was at the level of the minimum wage, while in entities employing 1,000 or more people it was PLN 8,729.80. The highest median, PLN 12,664.44, was recorded by Statistics Poland in the section including, among others, telecommunications, computer programming, consulting and information services.

The median earnings of men amounted to PLN 7,743, and of women to PLN 7,360. The difference was PLN 383. With average wages, the gap is larger: PLN 9,562.34 versus PLN 8,784.95. In 15 out of 20 sections of the economy, men had the higher median, most notably in finance and insurance (by 35.3 percent). In five sections, women had the advantage, most notably in construction (by 36.6 percent).

The median fell nominally by 1.9 percent compared with April, but was 6.6 percent higher than a year earlier. The average wage decreased by 4.9 percent over the month and increased by 5.8 percent year on year.

Since December 24, 2025, employers have been required to inform candidates about pay ranges. The deadline for implementing the EU directive on pay transparency passed on June 7, 2026. The full act is still being prepared and, according to Infor.pl (opens in a new tab), may not enter into force until 2027. Companies employing at least 250 people must submit their first gender pay gap report by June 7, 2027, for 2026 data.