AVERAGE MONTHLY NET AND GROSS EARNINGS OF PERSONS IN PAID EMPLOYMENT, BY ACCOUNTING PERIODS, 2026

The average monthly paid net earnings per person in paid employment in legal entities in the Republic of Croatia amounted to 1 542 euro for the first half-year of 2026 and to 1 466 euro for the second half-year of 2025, which means that the average monthly paid net earnings for the first half-year of 2026 showed a nominal increase of 5.2% and a real one of 2.6%.

The average monthly gross earnings per person in paid employment in legal entities in the Republic of Croatia amounted to 2 163 euro for the first half-year of 2026 and to 2 043 euro for the second half-year of 2025, which means that the average monthly gross earnings for the first half-year of 2026 showed a nominal increase of 5.9% and a real one of 3.3%.

The average monthly paid net earnings per person in paid employment in legal entities in the Republic of Croatia were 7.7% higher in nominal terms and 3.0% higher in real terms for the first half-year of 2026, as compared to the same period of the previous year.

The average monthly gross earnings per person in paid employment in legal entities in the Republic of Croatia were 8.8% higher in nominal terms and 4.0% higher in real terms for the first half-year of 2026, as compared to the same period of the previous year.

For the first quarter of 2026, the average monthly paid net earnings per person in paid employment in legal entities in the Republic of Croatia amounted to 1 531 euro.

For the first quarter of 2026, the average monthly gross earnings per person in paid employment in legal entities in the Republic of Croatia amounted to 2 146 euro.

For the second quarter of 2026, the average monthly paid net earnings per person in paid employment in legal entities in the Republic of Croatia amounted to 1 553 euro, which represented a nominal increase of 7.5% and a real one of 2.2% compared to the second quarter of 2025.

For the second quarter of 2026, the average monthly gross earnings per person in paid employment in legal entities in the Republic of Croatia amounted to 2 181 euro, which represented a nominal increase of 8.6% and a real one of 3.2% compared to the second quarter of 2025.

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 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 kind of employment and 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 for the previous month, which is in line with the pay dynamics in most legal entities, so the average earnings refer to the month for which the payment has been received.

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 person’s will and of no fault of his own and net payments on the basis of compensations, allowances and rewards in sums which are subjects to contributions, taxes and surtaxes.

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

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.

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.

Abbreviations

Published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, Ilica 3, P. O. B. 80
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Persons responsible:
Mario Vlajčević, Director of Demographic and Social Statistics Directorate
Lidija Brković, Director General

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Dean Maslovara, Borislav Maoduš and Ante Mandarić

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