Hungary had the third lowest average annual gross earnings among the 27 member states in 2025, according to figures published by Eurostat. Full-time equivalent gross earnings in Hungary stood at 20,100 euros, compared with an EU average of 41,500 euros.
Gap remains wide
Hungary’s earnings came to 48.4 percent of the EU average. Only Bulgaria, at 16,200 euros, and Greece, at 18,800 euros, ranked lower. At the other end of the scale, Luxembourg recorded the highest average gross earnings in the EU at 85,600 euros, ahead of Denmark at 73,500 euros and Ireland at 64,400 euros.
The figures are nominal gross earnings, not net pay, and are not adjusted for inflation. Eurostat calculates them from the total economy gross wage bill and the number of employees, with part-time work converted to a full-time equivalent basis.
Growth outpaced EU average
Hungary’s average gross earnings rose from 18,500 euros in 2024 to 20,100 euros in 2025, an increase of 8.6 percent. That compares with EU-wide growth of 4.3 percent, as the bloc’s average rose from 39,800 euros in 2024 to 41,500 euros in 2025.
Hungary’s growth rate exceeded the EU average over the year. The gap in absolute earnings nonetheless remains large.
Source: Eurostat
