AVERAGE MONTHLY NET AND GROSS EARNINGS OF PERSONS IN PAID EMPLOYMENT FOR JULY 2026

Since January 2026, data are presented according to the National Classification of Activities – NKD 2025 (NN, No. 47/24), and the information on the application of the new classification is provided in the Notes on Methodology.

The average monthly paid net earnings per person in paid employment in legal entities in the Republic of Croatia for July 2026 amounted to 1 540 euro, which represented a nominal decrease of 1.0% and a real one of 0.8%, as compared to June 2026. As compared to the same month of the previous year, they were 7.2% higher in nominal terms and 3.2% higher in real terms.

The highest average monthly paid net earnings per person in paid employment in legal entities for July 2026 were paid in the activity Air transport and amounted to 2 398 euro, while the lowest earnings were paid in the activity Manufacture of wearing apparel and amounted to 1 005 euro.

The average monthly gross earnings per person in paid employment in legal entities in the Republic of Croatia for July 2026 amounted to 2 164 euro, which represented a nominal decrease of 0.9% and a real one of 0.7%, as compared to June 2026. As compared to the same month of the previous year, they were 8.2% higher in nominal terms and 4.1% higher in real terms.

The highest average monthly gross earnings per person in paid employment in legal entities for July 2026 were paid in the activity Air transport and amounted to 3 514 euro, while the lowest earnings were paid in the activity Manufacture of wearing apparel and amounted to 1 344 euro.

In July 2026, there were 181 paid hours on average, which was an increase of 4.6% compared to June 2026. The highest number of paid hours was recorded in the activity Water transport (191), and the lowest one in Legal and accounting activities (169).

The average monthly paid net earnings per hour for July 2026 amounted to 8.29 euro, which was 4.9% lower than in June 2026. As compared to the same month of the previous year, they increased by 7.4%

The average monthly gross earnings per hour for July 2026 amounted to 11.64 euro, which was 5.0% lower than in June 2026. As compared to the same month of the previous year, they increased by 8.4%

Median net earnings for July 2026 amounted to 1 346 euro, which was 0.1% higher than in June 2026. As compared to the same month of the previous year, they increased by 7.8%.

Median gross earnings for July 2026 amounted to 1 853 euro, which was 0.2% higher than in June 2026. As compared to the same month of the previous year, they increased by 8.9%.

Detailed data can be downloaded from the link PC-AXIS Databases under Employment and wages.

NKD 2025 activity sections

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Since January 2026, statistical data are observed, processed and presented according to the National Classification of Activities, 2025 version (NKD 2025). The classification entered into force on 1 January 2025 (NN, No. 47/24). Its content and structure are completely harmonised with the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Union (hereinafter referred to as: NACE Rev. 2.1). Its implementation ensures a quality international comparability of statistical data.

In order to calculate the indices, the 2025 data were converted from NKD 2007 activities to NKD 2025 activities using the macro method of conversion.

The National Classification of Activities 2025 – NKD 2025 has a different structure compared to NKD 2007 and a more detailed overview of the differences by sections between the new and the existing classification is described in the document Differences between NKD 2007 and NKD 2025.

Data sources

Data on monthly net and gross earnings as well as data on paid hours were gathered by processing data from the Report on Income, Income Tax and Surtax as well as Contributions for Mandatory Insurances (JOPPD form), in effect since 1 January 2014.

All persons or entities that are the payers of income for which the income tax regulations prescribe the obligation of accounting and paying deduction tax are under the obligation to submit the JOPPD form.

Coverage and comparability

Data comprise persons in employment in legal entities of all types of ownership, government bodies, and bodies of local and regional self-government units on the territory of the Republic of Croatia.

Persons employed in crafts and trades and free lances and employed insured persons – private farmers are not covered, so data on their payments are not included in the data on average earnings.

Data on monthly net and gross earnings of persons employed in legal entities include net and gross earnings of persons in permanent employment, irrespective of the type of employment and the number of working hours.

Persons in part-time employment who received earnings are expressed in full-time equivalent.

Data on monthly net and gross earnings are presented according to realised payments in the current month for the previous month, which is in line with pay dynamics in most legal entities, so the average earnings refer to the month for which the payment has been received. This does not apply to paid non-taxable incomes.

Non-taxable incomes received by person in employment are presented in Table 4.

The following non-taxable incomes are covered, according to codes on the JOPPD form:

Data from January 2016 and onwards are not comparable to previously published monthly data.

Definitions

Average monthly paid net earnings comprise income of a person in employment earned for the work done during regular working hours as well as annual leave, paid leave, public holidays and days-off as prescribed by law, sickness leave up to 42 days, absence for continuing professional education, during lay-off and job stop caused against a person’s will and of no fault of their own and net payments on the basis of compensations, allowances and rewards in sums that are subject to contributions and taxes.

Average monthly gross earnings include all kinds of net payments on the basis of employment and the following mandatory allocations: pension insurance contributions and income tax.

Number of paid hours is the number of hours for which persons in employment were paid. They include hours actually worked (hours done during regular working time and overtime hours) and hours not actually worked (annual leave, holidays, sick leave lasting less than 42 days and other paid hours not actually done). Paid hours do not include working hours not actually worked which are paid outside a legal entity (sick leave hours lasting over 42 days, maternity leave hours, hours of shorter working time done by parents, etc.).

Average monthly net and gross earnings per person in employment are calculated by dividing the total of payments with the number of persons in employment expressed in full-time equivalent.

Average monthly net and gross earnings per paid hour are calculated by dividing the total of payments with the total number of paid hours.

Indices of nominal net and gross earnings are calculated from the data on average monthly net and gross earnings for the respective months and year.

Real indices of net and gross earnings are calculated by dividing the indices of nominal net and gross earnings with the consumer price index for the respective month and year.

Median monthly net and gross earnings are calculated by determining a mean after earnings of persons in employment have been rank-ordered from the lowest to the highest one and show that 50% of persons in employment get earnings that are equal to or lower than that amount (median) and another 50% get earnings that are equal to or higher than that amount (median).

Quartile monthly net and gross earnings are calculated by dividing the earnings of persons in employment into four equal parts after they have been rank-ordered from the lowest to the highest one. Then the amount is selected below which 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the earnings of persons in employment are placed. They can be divided to the first (lower) quartile, second quartile (median), third (upper) quartile and fourth quartile.

The first (lower) quartile indicates that 25% of persons in employment get earnings that are equal to or lower than the first quartile, while 75% of persons in employment get earnings that are equal to or higher than the first quartile.

The third (upper) quartile indicates that 75% of persons in employment get earnings that are equal to or lower than the third quartile, while 25% of persons in employment get earnings that are equal to or higher than the third quartile.

Decile monthly net and gross earnings are calculated by dividing the earnings of persons in employment into ten equal parts after they have been rank-ordered from the lowest to the highest one. Then the amount is selected below which 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% of earnings of persons in employment are placed.

The first decile includes persons in employment with the lowest monthly earnings and indicates that 10% of persons in employment get earnings that are equal to or lower than the first decile, while 90% of persons in employment get earnings that are equal to or higher than that amount. The second decile includes persons in employment who get earnings that are higher than those included in the first decile and lower than those included in the third decile, etc.

Published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, Ilica 3, P. O. B. 80
Phone: (+385 1) 48 06 111
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Persons responsible:
Mario Vlajčević, Director of Demographic and Social Statistics Directorate
Lidija Brković, Director General

Prepared by:
Snježana Varga, Marinka Radman Ćosić and Ante Mandarić

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