28.8.2022 | Estonia

Salaries in Estonia have risen 10% in the past year

Text Mark Taylor
Photo lilzidesigns / Unsplash

According to the latest data from Statistics Estonia, in the 2nd quarter of 2022, the average monthly gross salary (before tax) was 1,693 euros. This is 10.1% more than at the same time last year.

“Second-quarter wage growth of 10.1% was the highest in recent years,” said Argo Tarkiainen, an analyst at Statistics Estonia. One reason for the wage growth could be wage pressures related to general price hikes, the analyst noted.

By job sector, average monthly gross salaries were the highest in information and communications (3,034 euros), financial and insurance activities (2,746 euros), and energy (2,337 euros). “Average gross wages were the lowest in accommodation and food service (1,048 euros), real estate (1,183 euros), and other service activities (1,255 euros),” Tarkiainen pointed out.

Average salaries increased the most in accommodation and food service activities (up 18.6%) and manufacturing (up 14.8%).

The average monthly gross salary continued to be highest in Harju (1,829 euros) and Tartu counties (1,753 euros) and lowest in Valga (1,182) and Hiiu counties (1,117 euros).

Compared to the same period last year, the biggest growth in salaries and wages was recorded in Ida-Viru county (16.0%) and Põlva county (14.8%). However, salaries decreased in both Valga (0.3%) and Hiiu counties (4.4%).

Gross salary is the salary before social taxes, unemployment insurance, and pension payments are deducted. Therefore, the average Net (or take-home) salary in Estonia in the second quarter of 2022 was 1350 euros.