site.btaCabinet Increases Minimum Salary of University Assistants to BGN 2,780

The minimum salary for the lowest academic position in state higher education institutions will increase to BGN 2,780 retroactively from January 1, 2025, the Government decided at its regular sitting on Wednesday. That is an increase by BGN 264, the Government Information Service reported.

To determine the new amount of pay, the mechanism specified in the Higher Education Act was used to ensure that the minimum salary for the lowest academic position represents 125% of the national average gross salary for the country for the last 12 months for which data have been published by the National Statistical Institute.

The same decree also regulates the minimum salaries of researchers and experts who support teaching and research activities in higher education institutions and scientific organisations. The minimum salary for them is raised to BGN 2,223 for posts requiring higher education and BGN 1,780 for posts requiring secondary education.

The pay rise is expected to have an indicative effect on 2,611 scientists and lecturers holding the lowest academic post in public universities and scientific organisations and on 5,849 researchers and experts.