Greece Ranks Ahead of 10 EU Countries in Net Earnings

by · Greek City Times

Greece’s Ministry of National Economy and Finance has challenged opposition criticism of the country’s wage levels, citing Eurostat figures showing that net earnings have risen significantly since 2019 and that Greece now ranks ahead of 10 European Union countries.

The ministry accused opposition parties PASOK and Hellenic Solution (EL.A.S.) of presenting a selective picture of the Greek economy by focusing on gross annual salaries while overlooking developments in net earnings.

It said the figures contradicted claims that Greece remained among the lowest-ranked countries in Europe for wages.

Since 2019, Greece’s gross monthly minimum wage has increased from 650 euros to 920 euros in 2026, a rise of 270 euros or 41.5%.

Read more: Greek Ministry Says Net Wages Have Risen 42.3% since 2019

Meanwhile, data from the ERGANI employment information system show that the average monthly salary of full-time private-sector employees rose from 1,264 euros in 2019 to 1,516 euros in 2025. Based on 14 monthly payments, this represents an annual salary of 21,224 euros.

Eurostat figures also show that Greece’s labour cost index increased by 38.6% between the second quarters of 2019 and 2026, compared with a 24.4% rise in the Consumer Price Index over the same period.

The ministry said the figures demonstrated that labour costs had increased substantially faster than the general price level, despite the international inflation shock and successive economic crises in recent years.

Greece’s Minimum Wage in the European Context

According to the ministry, Eurostat data show that Greece’s minimum wage reached 1,073 euros in the second half of 2026 when calculated on an annualised 12-month basis.

This places Greece at the same level as Portugal and considerably ahead of countries including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.

Net Earnings Show Significant Growth

The ministry highlighted net earnings as another crucial indicator, arguing that workers’ actual purchasing power depends on the money they retain after taxes and social security contributions, alongside the cost of living.

Eurostat figures show that average annual net earnings increased significantly across all household types after 2019.

For single-person households, average annual net earnings rose from 15,112 euros in 2019 to 21,498 euros in 2025, an increase of 42.3%.

Greece now ranks ahead of 10 EU countries in this category: Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Portugal.

For two-earner households with two children and average-level salaries, annual net earnings reached 51,867 euros in 2025, compared with 37,995 euros in 2019, representing an increase of 36.5%.

Greece also ranks ahead of more than 10 EU countries in this household category. The ministry said similar increases and rankings applied to other household types, including comparisons based on purchasing power standards rather than euros.

The ministry questioned why PASOK and Hellenic Solution had not highlighted these figures, arguing that the improvement in net earnings contradicted their portrayal of widespread economic failure.

Government Acknowledges Gap with EU Average

The ministry acknowledged that Greek wages and household incomes had not yet reached the levels the government wanted to achieve.

It noted that Greece remained below the European average, while high prices continued to place pressure on households and strengthening purchasing power remained a priority.

The government would therefore continue its policies to increase real wages, reduce taxes and boost disposable incomes, the ministry said.

It also pledged to introduce emergency support measures whenever international crises placed additional pressure on citizens’ daily lives, using the opportunities created by fiscal stability.

The ministry added that Greece’s overall economic performance since 2019 reflected a substantial decline in unemployment, higher employment, stronger real incomes and per-capita consumption, a reduction in absolute poverty, increased household savings and lower household debt relative to disposable income.

PASOK and Hellenic Solution could continue selecting the figures that suited their arguments, the ministry said, adding that the government would continue delivering results that benefited citizens.

(Source: AMNA)

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