Structure of Wages in Poland by Occupation in October 2024

Structure of Wages in Poland by Occupation in October 2024

In all major occupational groups, the average monthly wage in October 2024 increased compared to October 2022.

The smallest increase was recorded in the occupational group "Legislators, senior officials and managers" – 21.0%, and the largest in the group "Elementary occupations" – 33.4%.

The average gross monthly wage in October 2024 for persons employed in the major occupational group "Legislators, senior officials and managers" was 41.7% higher than the average wage in the second-highest occupational group "Professionals" (in 2022 it was 48.7% higher).

Compared to the lowest-paid occupational group "Elementary occupations", the average wage in the group "Legislators, senior officials and managers" was 265.7% higher (in 2022 it was 292.9% higher).

Table 1. Average gross monthly wage by major occupational groups in October 2024.

In each of the presented major occupational groups, the average gross monthly wage of men in October 2024 was higher than that of women.

The largest gap was observed in two major occupational groups where men's wages were 26.8% higher than women's ("Craft and related trades workers"; "Plant and machine operators and assemblers").

The distribution of wages of women and men by major occupational groups in 2024 did not change significantly compared to 2022.

Compared to October 2022, nominal wages increased in all major occupational groups. Among men, the largest wage growth was observed in the group "Service and sales workers" (33.0%), and the smallest in the group "Legislators, senior officials and managers" (19.6%). Among women, the largest wage growth was recorded in the group "Elementary occupations" (35.9%), and the smallest increase in the average gross monthly wage among women was recorded in the group "Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers" (22.5%).

Average gross hourly wage
The highest average hourly wage in October 2024 was achieved by men in the major occupational group "Legislators, senior officials and managers"; it was 24.0% higher than that of women in this group. The largest difference in the average hourly wage of men and women was recorded in the major group "Craft and related trades workers", where men earned on average 26.2% more per hour than women.

Median wage by major occupational groups

The median gross wage in October 2024 was highest in the major occupational group "Legislators, senior officials and managers". It was 28.7% higher than the median wage in the second-highest group, "Professionals". Compared to the occupational group "Service and sales workers", which has the lowest median wage, the difference was 6,904.70 złoty.

Table 2. Median gross wage by major occupational groups in October 2024.

In the month under review, in almost all major occupational groups, the median wage of men was higher than that of women. The largest differences were observed in two major occupational groups: plant and machine operators and assemblers (23.7%) and craft and related trades workers (22.6%). The median wage of women exceeded that of men in two major occupational groups: skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers (6.5%) and clerical support workers (0.2%).

The largest difference between the median wage and the average monthly wage was observed in the major occupational group: legislators, senior officials and managers (19.9%). The smallest difference (3.9%) between these two measures was recorded in the major occupational group: elementary occupations.

Median wage – is a value that divides all employees into two equal groups: half earn more than this amount, and half earn less.

Data source: Statistics Poland (GUS).