GUS data shows Polish median wage at 7,530 PLN with widest gender pay gap in machine operation

National averages and median earnings

In March 2026, the average monthly gross wage in Poland reached 9,698.95 PLN, according to national wage data published by Statistics Poland (GUS). The median monthly wage across the national economy was recorded at 7,530.45 PLN gross, sitting 2,168.50 PLN below the arithmetic average. This median measurement establishes that exactly half of the formal workforce earned 7,530.45 PLN or less per month, while the other half received pay above that threshold. The pronounced difference between the average and median figures reflects the upward statistical pull exerted by higher earners in the economy.

Income deciles and upper thresholds

The national statistical office recorded notable variations across income brackets in its March 2026 dataset. The lowest-earning 10% of workers received a gross monthly compensation of no more than 4,806.00 PLN. In contrast, reaching the threshold for the top 10% of national earners required a gross monthly salary of at least 15,424.85 PLN. This entry requirement into the highest decile differed by gender across the workforce. For male employees, entering the top 10% required earning at least 15,750.29 PLN gross, whereas for female employees, the threshold stood at 15,140.79 PLN gross.

The wage distribution shows how large the pay differences are. In March 2026, 10% of employees received a wage no higher than 4,806.00 PLN, while the entry threshold to the top-paid 10% was 15,424.85 PLN, standing at 15,750.29 PLN among men and 15,140.79 PLN among women.

Occupational salary disparities

Wider wage variations appear across specific job classifications detailed in the Structure of Wages by Occupation report released in October 2024. That survey examined Polish enterprises and entities employing 10 or more people. Representatives of public authorities, senior officials, and managers recorded the highest median earnings at 12,185.73 PLN gross monthly. In the specialists category, the median gross wage reached 9,466.17 PLN, while service workers and sales personnel recorded a median of 5,281.03 PLN. The absolute gap between the highest and lowest median occupational tiers measured 6,904.70 PLN. Average salaries revealed an even wider spread, with managers and public officials averaging 15,213.78 PLN gross, compared to 10,734.04 PLN for specialists.

Sectoral gender wage differentials

Earnings comparisons between male and female workers varied considerably depending on the specific occupational category. In most broad occupational groups, men earned a higher median salary than women. The widest gender gaps favoring men occurred among machine and equipment operators and assemblers at 23.7%, followed by industrial workers and craft trades workers at 22.6%. Conversely, women earned higher median pay in two specific occupational categories. Female median wages exceeded male median wages by 6.5% among farmers, gardeners, foresters, and fishery workers, and by 0.2% among office and clerical employees.

In most major occupational groups, the median wage for men was higher, and the largest differences occurred among machine and equipment operators and assemblers at 23.7% and industrial workers and craftspeople at 22.6%. At the same time, there were groups in which the median wage for women was higher than for men, applying to farmers, gardeners, foresters, and fishermen by 6.5%, as well as office workers by 0.2%.