Average monthly salary up 8.1% in last 12 months

Text Mark Taylor
Photo Roman Wimmers / Unsplash

According to Statistics Estonia, in the first quarter of 2022, the average monthly gross salary (salary before tax) rose to 1,593 euros, which is 8.1% more than at the same time last year.

“The average monthly gross salaries were again the highest in information and communication (2,871 euros), financial and insurance activities (2,764 euros), and energy (2,655 euros). Average gross salaries were the lowest in accommodation and food service (974 euros), other services (1,160 euros), and real estate activities (1,162 euros),” explained Argo Tarkiainen, an analyst at Statistics Estonia.

“Wages increased the most in the energy sector (15.7%) and accommodation and food service activities (15%),” added Tarkiainen.

Average monthly gross salaries continued to be highest in Harju (1,744 euros) and Tartu counties (1,583 euros) and lowest in Valga (1,130) and Hiiu counties (1,033 euros). 

Year on year, the biggest growth in salaries were recorded in Põlva (14.8%) and Ida-Viru counties (13.2%). However, these rises have not been seen throughout Estonia, compared to the first quarter of 2021, salaries decreased in Hiiu (10.1%) and Valga counties (0.8%).

Although salaries in Estonia have risen by an average of 8.1 per cent in the past 12 months, which is one of the highest levels in the past 5 years. When compared to the current rate of inflation of 19 per cent (the highest in the EU), the average person in Estonia is worse off than one year ago. 

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Argo Tarkiainen Average Monthly Gross Salary Estonia Gross Salary Inflation Salaries Estonia Salary Statistics Estonia