Average Salary in Bulgaria
The national average
- Q2 2026: €1,444 a month, 2.6% more than in the first quarter and 9.8% more than a year earlier.
- By month: €1,476 in April, €1,434 in May and €1,421 in June.
- Private and public sectors: pay rose 11.5% over the year in the private sector and 4.8% in the public sector.
Source: BTA: Average wage of €1,444 in Q2 2026, up 9.8% a year (NSI, 12 August 2026)1
Figures are the National Statistical Institute’s average gross monthly pay of employees under labour contract, including regular pay, leave, overtime and bonuses.1,2
By district
Source: WageCentre: Salary in Bulgaria 2026, preliminary NSI data for Q2 2026 (3 September 2026); BTA: The average salary in Smolyan is €1,021, second lowest in the country2,4
Outside the capital, all 27 districts average between €1,012 and €1,363 a month. City-by-city costs are in the city guides.2
By sector
| Sector | Average gross a month, Q2 2026 |
|---|---|
| Information and communication | €3,079 |
| Finance and insurance | €2,140 |
| Electricity and gas supply | €2,036 |
| Professional, scientific and technical | €1,971 |
| Mining and quarrying | €1,965 |
| Public administration and defence | €1,637 |
| Education | €1,527 |
| Health and social work | €1,427 |
| Real estate | €1,298 |
| Transport and storage | €1,266 |
| Wholesale and retail trade | €1,264 |
| Manufacturing | €1,247 |
| Administrative and support services | €1,244 |
| Construction | €1,182 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | €1,031 |
| Hotels and restaurants | €918 |
Source: BTA: Average wage of €1,444 in Q2 2026, up 9.8% a year (NSI, 12 August 2026); WageCentre: Salary in Bulgaria 2026, preliminary NSI data for Q2 2026 (3 September 2026)1,2
Over the year to the second quarter, pay rose fastest in mining (24%), agriculture (19.5%) and other services (15.7%).1
Take-home pay and employer cost
| Gross a month | Employer pays | Employee takes home |
|---|---|---|
| €1,444 (national average) | about €1,717 | about €1,120 |
| €1,943 (Sofia average) | about €2,311 | about €1,508 |
| €3,079 (IT average) | about €3,514 | about €2,486 |
Source: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Bulgaria, individual, other taxes3
Worked out with the lowest employer rate of 18.92% and the employee rate of 13.78%, both on pay up to the €2,300 monthly cap, and 10% income tax on the rest. The full breakdown is on Labour Costs and Social Security.3
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary in Bulgaria?
The average gross salary in Bulgaria was €1,444 a month in the second quarter of 2026, 9.8% more than a year earlier, according to the National Statistical Institute.
What is the average salary in Sofia?
Employees in Sofia earned an average of €1,943 gross a month in the second quarter of 2026, the highest of the 28 districts. Sofia district and Varna followed at about €1,360.
What is the average net salary in Bulgaria?
An employee on the national average of €1,444 gross takes home about €1,120 a month, after 13.78% employee contributions and 10% income tax.
Which sectors pay the most in Bulgaria?
Information and communication pays the most, at €3,079 gross a month on average, followed by finance and insurance at €2,140 and energy supply at €2,036. Hotels and restaurants pay the least, at €918.
Sources
- BTA: Average wage of €1,444 in Q2 2026, up 9.8% a year (NSI, 12 August 2026)
- WageCentre: Salary in Bulgaria 2026, preliminary NSI data for Q2 2026 (3 September 2026)
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Bulgaria, individual, other taxes
- BTA: The average salary in Smolyan is €1,021, second lowest in the country (in Bulgarian)
Figures checked 15 October 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
