Hungary Gross Wage Growth Hits Over 2-Year Low

Hungary’s gross average wages soared by 26.3% year-on-year to HUF 840,600 in January 2026, accelerating sharply from an 8.5% increase in the previous month. This marked the fastest pace of growth since February 2022, largely driven by robust gains in the public sector, where wages surged 99.0%, following a 7.3% rise in December. Meanwhile, wage growth remained comparatively subdued in the non-profit and private sectors, rising by 9.4% and 7.8%, respectively, easing from 9.8% and 8.7% in the previous month. Excluding one-off payments and bonuses, January wages were 9.4% higher than in the same period a year earlier, reaching HUF 694,700.

Hungary’s gross average wages rose by 8.5% year-on-year to HUF 789,200 in December 2025, slowing from an 8.9% increase in the previous month. This marked the slowest pace of growth since May, weighed down by softer gains in the public sector (7.3% vs 10.7% in November) and the non-profit sector (9.8% vs 12%). Meanwhile, wages in the private sector continued to accelerate, rising 8.7% from 8.1% previously. Excluding one-off payments and bonuses, December wages were 9.4% higher than in the same period a year earlier, reaching HUF 683,400. For the whole year of 2025, average gross wages advanced by 9.8%, reflecting sustained wage growth despite a gradual slowdown in certain sectors.

Hungary’s gross average wage rose by 8.9% year-on-year to HUF 756,400 in November 2025, following an 8.7% rise in the previous month. Wages in the non-profit sector saw an increase of 12% from 8.9%, while wage growth in the private sector stood at 8.1%, unchanged from October. Meanwhile, a slight wage decrease was recorded in the public sector (10.7% vs 10.8%). Excluding one-off payments and bonuses, November wages were 8.7% higher than in the same period a year earlier, at HUF 665,100. Considering the January to November period, average gross wages increased by 9.1%.