Updated: 2025-12-08
Where do salaries stand today in the private and public sectors in Greece? How are average and median salaries structured, and what do these indicators mean for the actual purchasing power of workers?
This article presents a detailed analysis of the salary landscape in Greece for 2024 and 2025, based on official data from the Ergani information system, ELSTAT, and INE GSEE. The goal is to help you understand how salaries are moving in the labour market, which groups of workers have gained or lost ground, and how to compare your income with current trends.
Average Salary
Private sector
The annual report from the Ergani information system for 2024 records an average gross monthly salary of €1,342. The increase compared to 2023 is approximately 7.2%, the largest annual increase since 2008.
This significant rise is linked to:
- The increase in the minimum wage
- Labour shortages in several sectors
- Economic recovery after the pandemic
- The growing number of full-time employment contracts
Full-time employment now accounts for approximately 70% of new hires, compared to 52% in 2016. This raises the average salary, as part-time workers are typically paid close to the minimum wage.
Public sector
According to ELSTAT, the average monthly salary in 2023 was €1,179. Comparisons with the private sector must be made carefully because in the public sector, salaries are usually reported as net or as gross without bonuses, while in the private sector, Christmas and holiday bonuses are mandatory additional payments.
Important: The gap that previously favoured the public sector has closed. Using a unified calculation (adding bonuses to private sector salaries), private sector salaries appear 15.8% to 18.6% higher for comparable positions.
Median Salary and Distribution
What does median salary mean
The average salary is influenced by a few very high salaries and can give a misleading picture. In contrast, the median salary shows the amount received by the worker in the middle of the distribution.
Example: If 50% of workers earn more than €1,000 gross and 50% earn less than this amount, then €1,000 is approximately the median salary.
Private sector
Ergani records that 53% of workers earn more than €1,000 gross. This places the median salary close to this level.
The detailed distribution shows:
| Salary Level | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Below €800 | Minority of full-time, significant share of part-time |
| €1,000 - €1,200 | Largest percentage of private sector workers |
| Above €1,600 | Approximately 12-15% of private sector, by industry |
Increased demand in tech professions, logistics, energy, and finance is raising the upper end of the distribution.
Public sector
According to data from INE GSEE, only 11% of civil servants earn below €800 net. This shows less salary dispersion compared to the private sector.
The unified pay scale limits very high amounts while ensuring progressive but stable scaling.
Impact of Minimum Wage
The minimum wage increased from €586 in 2019 to €880 gross in 2025. These increases affect:
- Hundreds of thousands of positions paid at minimum wage
- Collective agreements that set salaries as a percentage of the minimum
- Unemployment benefits and allowances linked to 55% of the minimum wage
This change mainly affects the private sector, strengthens the lower scales, and raises the median wage.
Minimum wage evolution example
| Year | Gross Salary | Net Salary (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | €586 | €511 |
| 2025 | €880 | €743 |
| Increase | +50% | +45% |
Age Differences
Age structure of private sector
Age distribution has a direct relationship with salary levels:
- 19-24 years: 8.6%
- 25-29 years: 11.1%
- 45-64 years: 41.1%
Younger workers have salaries close to the lower limits, while older workers are often in more specialised positions with higher pay.
Age structure of public sector
The average age of 47.6 years shows mature staff. Appointments in the public sector happen later and mobility is low.
This explains why average salaries appear stable but not particularly high for workers with significant tenure.
Education and Salaries
In the public sector, 60.1% of workers hold a university degree. In the private sector, the corresponding percentage is 32.6%.
Education increases income, but in the public sector the return on qualifications is limited due to the unified pay scale.
Salary comparison with postgraduate degree
A worker with a postgraduate degree in the public sector: net pay is approximately 17.9% lower than comparable positions in the private sector.
In the private sector, specialisation is rewarded more generously and dynamically, especially in high-demand sectors such as technology, finance, and energy.
Geographic Differences
Location directly affects salary:
Distribution by region
| Region | Percentage | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Attica | 50.1% | Higher salaries due to concentration of large companies |
| Thessaloniki | 16.2% | Salaries 10-15% lower than Attica |
| Islands | - | Variable levels, high seasonality in tourism |
| Rural areas | - | Lower salaries, greater reliance on part-time work |
Starting Salaries and Career Progression
Public sector
Progression occurs mainly through pay scale steps.
Example of a teacher:
- MK1 (newly appointed): approximately €776 net
- MK10 (after years): approximately €1,048 net
Increases are predictable but not large. Long tenure does not lead to very high salaries.
Private sector
Progression is not automatic. It depends on:
- Position change or promotion
- New collective agreement
- Performance and company needs
- Negotiation
This creates large differences between workers with many years of tenure. In high-demand sectors (technology, logistics, finance), increases can be significant.
Allowances and Benefits
Public sector
Basic allowances include:
- Family allowance
- Responsibility position allowance
- Hardship allowance in remote areas
- Benefits for specific services (night shifts, hazardous conditions)
Allowances are institutionalised and do not change frequently.
Private sector
Benefits that may be provided:
- Private health insurance
- Meal vouchers
- Performance bonuses
- Company car for senior positions
- Training programmes
These are not rights for all workers. In many small businesses, the only additional benefit is the Christmas bonus and holiday allowance.
Job Security and Working Hours
Public sector
✅ Advantages:
- Permanence reduces risk of dismissal
- Stable leave framework
- Predictable pension path
- Stable working hours
Private sector
Positives:
- Potential for faster progression
- Freedom to change employer
- Higher salaries in specialised sectors
Negatives:
- Greater likelihood of overtime
- Contract variability
- Risk of reduced hours or dismissal
Personal choice of sector is often linked to how important job security is to the worker.
Collective Agreements
In the private sector today, only approximately 20% of workers are covered by a sectoral agreement. The government and social partners aim for coverage to reach 80% in the coming years.
In the public sector, salaries are set centrally. There are no negotiations on salary levels, only on service matters.
Impact of the 2010-2025 Crisis
Public sector
The 2010-2013 cuts led to a 22% to 40% reduction in salaries. The recovery was not complete. Salaries remained stagnant for almost a decade.
Private sector
Real wages fell by approximately 13% during the crisis.
After 2018, minimum wage increases and falling unemployment led to rising salaries, which exceeded public sector increases.
Gross and Net Salary
Total deductions consist of EFKA contributions, income tax, and solidarity contribution (where applicable).
Minimum wage in private sector
- Gross: €880
- EFKA contributions (13.37%): €118
- Tax: €19
- Net: ~€743
- Total deductions: ~€137
Newly appointed public sector employee
- Net: €776
- Gross: ~€873
- Deductions: ~€97
Deductions are at similar levels, but the net amount is affected by the system of increments and allowances.
🧮 For precise calculations, use the free salary calculators and reverse calculator.
Sectors with Highest and Lowest Salaries
High salaries
- Information technology
- Energy
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Finance
- Airlines
- Telecommunications
Salaries can exceed €2,500 gross in senior positions, with specialised profiles reaching €4,000-€5,000.
Low salaries
- Hospitality and cafés-bars
- Retail
- Agricultural work
- Cleaning services
- Security
Salaries often approach the minimum wage (€880-€1,000 gross).
Outlook for 2025
The three key factors that will determine salaries are:
- New minimum wage increases: Expected increase of 3-5% in 2025
- Expansion of collective agreements: Target coverage of 80% of workers
- Staff shortages: In technical and tourism professions
The trend shows continuation of small to medium increases in the private sector. The public sector may receive adjustments after 2025 due to pressure from salary differences for highly qualified workers.
Key Takeaways
✅ The median salary in the private sector is around €1,000 gross
✅ Private sector net salaries are now 15-19% higher than public sector for comparable positions
✅ In the public sector, benefits and job security remain strong advantages
✅ In the private sector, progression depends on performance and the market
✅ Education and specialisation are rewarded more in the private sector
✅ Location (Attica vs regions) significantly affects salaries
The information in this article is based on official data from the Ergani information system, ELSTAT, and INE GSEE for 2024-2025. For precise calculations and personalised advice, we recommend consulting a tax advisor or labour consultant.