- by croatiaweek
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Croatia’s average net salary reached €1,543 in August 2026, while the median wage stood at €1,336, with a significant gap between the country’s highest and lowest-paid industries.
The average monthly net salary in Croatia rose to €1,543 in August 2026, according to the latest figures from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics.
The figure was 0.2% higher in nominal terms than in July, although it fell by 0.2% in real terms after accounting for inflation.
Compared with August 2025, average net earnings increased by 6.7% in nominal terms and 2.4% in real terms.
Average gross monthly earnings also increased over the year, reaching €2,180 in August. This represented a 0.7% nominal increase and a 0.3% real increase compared with July.
On an annual basis, gross earnings rose by 8.2% in nominal terms and 3.8% in real terms.
Median salary stands at €1,336
The median salary provides another perspective on earnings in Croatia.
Median net earnings amounted to €1,336 in August, down 0.7% compared with July but up 7.3% year on year.
Median gross earnings stood at €1,850, representing a monthly decrease of 0.2% and an annual increase of 8.8%.
Unlike the average, which can be influenced by high salaries, the median represents the midpoint of the earnings distribution. Half of employees earn less than the median and half earn more.
The August figures therefore show a difference of €207 between average and median net earnings, highlighting why both measures are useful when assessing salaries.
Air transport records the highest salaries
The gap between industries remained substantial, with air transport recording the highest average earnings and clothing manufacturing the lowest.
The highest average monthly net salary in August was recorded in air transport, at €2,483.
At the other end of the scale, employees in the manufacture of wearing apparel received the lowest average net salary, at €979.
The difference between the two sectors was €1,504 per month.
Air transport also recorded the highest average gross monthly salary, at €3,650, while clothing manufacturing had the lowest, at €1,304.
These figures illustrate the considerable variation in earnings across Croatia’s economic sectors.
Paid working hours fall in August
Employees in Croatia worked an average of 165 paid hours in August, a decrease of 8.8% compared with July.
The highest number of paid hours was recorded in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products, at 180 hours.
The lowest figures were recorded in building services and landscape maintenance, as well as social work activities without accommodation, at 150 hours in each sector.
Despite the fall in total monthly paid hours, average hourly earnings increased.
Average net hourly earnings reached €9.01 in August, up 8.7% from July and 6.9% compared with August 2025.
Average gross hourly earnings stood at €12.73, representing increases of 9.4% month on month and 8.3% year on year.
The increase in hourly earnings alongside the decrease in paid hours is an important distinction when comparing monthly salaries between the two months.
Real wage growth remains positive over the year
Although average net earnings declined slightly in real terms between July and August, the annual comparison remained positive.
Real average net earnings were 2.4% higher than a year earlier, while real gross earnings increased by 3.8%.
Real wage growth measures changes in earnings after adjusting for inflation and offers a better indication of changes in purchasing power than nominal growth alone.
The latest figures show that Croatian salaries continued to rise over the year, although monthly movements varied depending on the measure used.