The average monthly net salary in Croatia rose to €1,446 in August 2025, up 0.6% in nominal terms and 0.5% in real terms from July, and 9.2% and 4.9% higher respectively from a year earlier, the state statistics bureau (DZS) said on Wednesday.
The median net salary stood at €1,245, down 0.3% from July but 9.8% higher year on year. The highest average net pay was recorded in air transport at €2,430, while the lowest was in clothing manufacturing at €918.
The average gross monthly salary was €2,015, up 0.8% in nominal terms and 0.7% in real terms from July, and 9.6% higher than in August 2024.
From January to August, the average net salary reached €1,434, up 10.1% nominally and 6.2% in real terms from the same period in 2024, while the average gross salary rose 10.8% nominally and 6.8% in real terms to €1,993.
According to the bureau, around two-thirds of employees earned below the national average in August. The sixth decile stood at €1,400, meaning 60% of workers earned up to that amount. The average salary was 3.3% higher than this level.
Roughly 30% of employees earned up to €1,000, 40% up to €1,112, and 50%—the median—up to €1,245. At the upper end, 40% earned more than €1,400, 30% more than €1,567, 20% above €1,794, and 10% over €2,222.
Croatia’s average net wage remains among the highest in the Western Balkans.
In Slovenia, an EU peer, the average net salary stood at about €1,500 in mid-2025. In Serbia, the average net pay was around €855, while in Montenegro it reached €820. Bosnia and Herzegovina reported an average of about €815, North Macedonia around €720, and Albania roughly €640, according to national statistics offices and Eurostat data.
Croatia’s 9.2% annual nominal rise outpaced most regional peers, although real growth of around 5% suggests inflation continues to erode part of the gains.