Minimum Wage in Bulgaria
Rates in 2026 and 2027
| Year | A month | An hour | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | €620.20 | €3.74 | In force since 1 January 2026, by Council of Ministers Decree No 243 of 13 November 2025 |
| 2027 | €660 | €3.98 | Proposed draft decree, public consultation until 28 October 2026 |
Source: Eurofound: Minimum wage in Bulgaria (Decree No 243 of 13 November 2025); BTA: Government proposes €660 minimum wage for 2027 (15 October 2026); BNR: Government proposes 6.4% increase in minimum wage to €660 (15 October 2026); Fakti: CITUB rejects the proposal of a €660 minimum wage (15 October 2026)1,2,3,4
The hourly rate assumes a full working month of eight-hour days and a five-day week. The 2027 proposal is €39.80, or 6.4%, above the 2026 rate.3,2
The proposal is not final. The trade unions asked for at least €690, and the decree is adopted by the Council of Ministers after the consultation.4,6
How the minimum wage is set
- The old rule: the minimum wage was 50% of the average gross wage over the previous 12 months, which would have given about €692 for 2027.
- The pause: on 24 July 2026 Parliament decided to develop a new mechanism and kept the minimum wage at the 2026 level until then.
- The new rule: Labour Code amendments passed at second reading set the minimum wage on four criteria, the purchasing power of the minimum wage given the cost of living, the level and distribution of wages, wage growth and long-term labour productivity.
- The 2027 range: on the agreed indicators, the 2027 rate could be set between €620.20 and €672.80.
Source: BTA: No consensus on the 2027 minimum wage, Deputy PM Donev says; BTA: Parliament approves new minimum wage formula at second reading (October 2026); BTA: Finance Ministry projects €660 minimum wage for 20276,5,7
Compared with the EU
Source: Eurostat: First 2026 data on minimum wages (30 January 2026)8
On 1 July 2026, minimum wages in the 22 EU countries that have one ranged from €620 in Bulgaria to €2,771 in Luxembourg. Adjusted for prices, Bulgaria’s minimum wage rose above 1,000 purchasing power standards a month in January 2026, from below that level a year earlier.10,8
Cost to the employer and take-home pay
| Gross a month | Employer pays | Employee takes home |
|---|---|---|
| €620.20 (2026) | about €737.54 | about €481.26 |
| €660 (proposed for 2027) | about €784.87 | about €512.15 |
Source: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Bulgaria, individual, other taxes9
Worked out with the lowest employer rate of 18.92% and the employee rate of 13.78%, and 10% income tax on the rest. See Labour Costs and Average Salary.9
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Bulgaria in 2026?
The minimum wage in Bulgaria is €620.20 a month in 2026, or €3.74 an hour, set by Council of Ministers Decree No 243 of 13 November 2025.
What will the minimum wage be in 2027?
The government has proposed €660 a month, or €3.98 an hour, from 1 January 2027, 6.4% more than in 2026. The draft decree is open for consultation until 28 October 2026 and is not yet final.
Is the Bulgarian minimum wage the lowest in the EU?
Yes. On 1 July 2026, minimum wages in the EU ranged from €620 a month in Bulgaria to €2,771 in Luxembourg.
How much does a minimum-wage employee cost the employer?
About €737.54 a month in 2026: the €620.20 gross wage plus employer contributions of at least 18.92%. The employee takes home about €481.26.
Sources
- Eurofound: Minimum wage in Bulgaria (Decree No 243 of 13 November 2025)
- BTA: Government proposes €660 minimum wage for 2027 (15 October 2026)
- BNR: Government proposes 6.4% increase in minimum wage to €660 (15 October 2026)
- Fakti: CITUB rejects the proposal of a €660 minimum wage (15 October 2026)
- BTA: Parliament approves new minimum wage formula at second reading (October 2026)
- BTA: No consensus on the 2027 minimum wage, Deputy PM Donev says
- BTA: Finance Ministry projects €660 minimum wage for 2027
- Eurostat: First 2026 data on minimum wages (30 January 2026)
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Bulgaria, individual, other taxes
- Eurostat: Minimum wage statistics, July 2026 (PDF)
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.
