site.btaAverage Monthly Salary in Bulgaria Reaches BGN 2,572 in Q2 of 2025

The average gross monthly salary in Bulgaria in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025 was BGN 2,572, increasing by 5.3% compared to the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said on Tuesday. Preliminary NSI data showed the largest increase in education (21.2%), public administration (17.9%), and mining and quarrying (8.5%).

Compared to Q2 of 2024, the average salary increased by 12%, with the largest growth observed in education (19.1%), culture, sports, and entertainment (17.7%), and water supply, sewerage services, waste management and remediation activities (16%).

NSI data indicates that in 2024 the average salary rose by 17.3%, with the largest increases in public administration (29.7%), other service activities (26.6%), and accommodation and food service activities and education (each by 25.4%).

In Q2 of 2025, compared to the same period of the previous year, the average monthly salary in the public sector increased by 13.8%, while in the private sector it rose by 11.4%.

Wage disparities

The economic activities with the highest average monthly salary of employees under labour and service contracts in Q2 of 2025 were creation and dissemination of information and creative products, telecommunications (BGN 5,551), finance and insurance (BGN 3,763), and production and distribution of electricity and thermal energy and gaseous fuels (BGN 3,592).

The lowest-paid employees were in accommodation and food service activities (BGN 1,581), agriculture, forestry, and fishing (BGN 1,688), and "other" service activities (BGN 1,780).

Employment

The number of employees under labour and service contracts at the end of June 2025 increased by 31,200, or 1.3%, compared to the end of March 2025, reaching 2.38 million. At the end of June 2025, compared to the end of June 2024, the number of employees rose by 36,200, or 1.5%.