Average Salary in Bulgaria 2026
Currency: BGN · Updated for 2026
How much money does a person working in Bulgaria make?
Average Monthly Salary
2,385 BGN
( 28,620 BGN yearly )
~ 1,325 USD per month ( 15,900 USD yearly )
LOW
596 BGN
331 USD
AVERAGE
2,385 BGN
1,325 USD
HIGH
8,348 BGN
4,638 USD
A person working in Bulgaria typically earns around 2,385 BGN per month. Salaries range from 596 BGN (lowest average) to 8,348 BGN (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Distribution of Salaries in Bulgaria
Median and salary distribution monthly Bulgaria
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What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated.
The median (2,099 BGN) represents the middle salary value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (2,385 BGN) is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of workers, and can be skewed by extremely high or low salaries.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does a person's salary progress over time?
- 0–2 Years (Entry Level)14,310 BGN
- 2–5 Years (Junior)18,603 BGN
- 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)24,327 BGN
- 10–15 Years (Experienced)28,620 BGN
- 15+ Years (Senior)34,344 BGN
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The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average +30% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average +31% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by +18% and an additional +20% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
“On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years experience mark.”
Salary Comparison By Education
How does the education level affect your salary?
- High School17,172 BGN
- Certificate20,034 BGN
- Associate22,896 BGN
- Bachelor's28,620 BGN
- Master's34,344 BGN
- PhD40,068 BGN
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High School → Certificate
+17%
Certificate → Bachelor's
+43%
Bachelor's → Master's
+20%
Master's → PhD
+17%
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average +17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn +43% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are +20% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn +17% more than Master's Degree holders on average.
Salary Comparison By Gender
Salary comparison by gender monthly Bulgaria
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Bulgaria earn 11% more than their female counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Bulgaria
How much are annual salary increments? How often do employees get salary raises?
8%
Average Raise
14 months
Review Frequency
6%
Annualized Increase
Employees in Bulgaria are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 8% every 14 months.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in Bulgaria is 6%.
Bonus and Incentive Rates in Bulgaria
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
63%
Received Bonus
37%
No Bonus
63% of surveyed staff in Bulgaria reported receiving at least one form of monetary bonus.
Average Bonus Rate
4%
of annual salary
Types of Bonuses Considered:
• Individual Performance-Based Bonuses
• Company Performance Bonuses
• Goal-Based Bonuses
• Holiday / End of Year Bonuses
Top 5 Highest Paying Industries
Annual average salaries
- Legal38,637 BGN
- Aviation37,206 BGN
- Information Technology37,206 BGN
- Banking35,775 BGN
- Pharmaceuticals35,775 BGN
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Salaries for Popular Jobs
Sample job titles and their average salaries
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | 71,550 BGN | 5,963 BGN |
| Pilot | 57,240 BGN | 4,770 BGN |
| Software Developer | 51,516 BGN | 4,293 BGN |
| Data Scientist | 48,654 BGN | 4,055 BGN |
| Financial Manager | 45,792 BGN | 3,816 BGN |
| Database Administrator | 42,930 BGN | 3,578 BGN |
| Engineer | 40,068 BGN | 3,339 BGN |
| Marketing Manager | 37,206 BGN | 3,101 BGN |
| Project Manager | 35,775 BGN | 2,981 BGN |
| Accountant | 31,482 BGN | 2,624 BGN |
| Hotel Manager | 28,620 BGN | 2,385 BGN |
| Nurse | 25,758 BGN | 2,147 BGN |
| Graphic Designer | 24,327 BGN | 2,027 BGN |
| Chef | 21,465 BGN | 1,789 BGN |
| Teacher | 20,034 BGN | 1,670 BGN |
Salary Comparison By City
Average annual salaries by city
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Sofia | 32,913 BGN |
| Plovdiv | 30,051 BGN |
| Varna | 30,051 BGN |
| Burgas | 30,051 BGN |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more?
2,266 BGN
Private Sector
2,504 BGN
Public Sector
+11%
Public sector employees in Bulgaria earn 11% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Hourly Wage in Bulgaria
14 BGN
per hour
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Bulgaria is 14 BGN. This means that the average person in Bulgaria earns approximately 14 BGN for every worked hour. Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (52 × 5 × 8)
Cost of Living in Bulgaria
Estimated monthly expenses
Rent
250 BGN
/month
Food
81 BGN
/month
Transport
31 BGN
/month
Utilities
40 BGN
/month
Compare Your Salary
See how your salary compares with the average in Bulgaria and explore top-paying jobs.