At a glance
- Total time
- Paid monthly
- Official fees
- Minimum wage €620.20 gross
- Where
- Your employment contract
- Bulgarian needed?
- Helps with local jobs
Bulgarian salaries are among the lowest in the EU, but they are rising fast. This guide gives the official figures for 2026 and shows how much of a gross salary you actually take home.
The key numbers for 2026
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage | €620.20 a month, gross |
| Average gross salary (April to June 2026) | €1,444 a month |
| Income tax | 10% flat |
| Employee social security | About 13.8% of gross pay, up to a maximum insurable income of €2,300 a month |
Salaries in Sofia, and in IT, finance and outsourcing, are well above the average. Salaries in smaller towns are often much lower.
From gross to net: an example
Salaries in Bulgaria are usually quoted gross, per month. For a gross salary of €2,000:
| € | |
|---|---|
| Gross salary | 2,000.00 |
| Employee social security (about 13.78%) | − 275.60 |
| Taxable income | 1,724.40 |
| Income tax (10%) | − 172.44 |
| Net pay | about 1,552 |
Above €2,300 a month, you stop paying social security on the extra, so higher earners keep a larger share. Your employer also pays its own contributions on top of your gross salary.
Tips for expats
- Always ask whether an offer is gross or net.
- Ask about extras: food vouchers, private health insurance, a sports card and a 13th salary.
- Check that the full salary is in your contract. Part paid “in cash” lowers your pension and can affect your residence.
- Non-EU citizens on an EU Blue Card need a salary above the Blue Card threshold. See our work permits guide.
How the minimum wage has changed
| Year | Minimum wage, gross per month |
|---|---|
| 2025 | BGN 1,077 (about €551) |
| 2026 | €620.20 |
The minimum wage is set each year by the government, linked to the average wage. It rose by about 13% for 2026.
Your rights at work
- At least 20 working days of paid holiday a year, plus public holidays.
- Overtime paid at least 50% extra on working days, 75% at weekends and 100% on public holidays.
- Extra pay for night work and for each year of service with the same employer.
- Sick pay: your employer pays the first days, then the state takes over.
- A 13th salary or a Christmas bonus is common at larger employers, but it is not required by law.
What your employer pays
On top of your gross salary, your employer pays its own social security contributions, usually about 19% of your gross pay up to the maximum insurable income. That is why the cost of an employee is higher than the salary on the contract.
Common mistakes
- Comparing a Bulgarian gross salary with a net salary from home.
- Forgetting that social security stops above €2,300 a month, which makes higher salaries go further.
- Accepting a contract at the minimum wage with the rest paid “in cash”. It hurts your pension, sick pay and maternity pay.
Looking for work? See our finding a job in English guide and our visa sponsorship guide.
Sources
- Bulgarian National Radio: average salary in Q2 2026
- PwC: Bulgarian income tax and social security
- Eurofast: insurable income from 1 August 2026
General information. The example is rounded and assumes standard employee contributions; your payslip may differ slightly.