Greece’s research staff among the lowest‑paid in the OECD

A recent ReICO Observatory report shows that Greece pays its research and innovation personnel the lowest salaries among OECD member states, with annual earnings of roughly $50,000‑$100,000 – about half the OECD average of $96,400 and far below the $205,000 level in the United States. Despite a high proportion of STEM graduates and a solid base of highly educated scientists, the country lags in investment and innovation, relying heavily on low‑productivity service sectors. The low remuneration contributes to a persistent brain‑drain, as many Greek researchers seek better‑paid positions abroad. The report highlights that while Greece’s public universities rank well internationally, chronic under‑funding and poor pay for academic staff undermine the research ecosystem and limit the country’s ability to retain and fully utilise its scientific talent.

The findings underscore the need for policy action to raise research salaries, increase R&D funding, and improve employment conditions if Greece is to capitalise on its educated workforce and curb the outflow of talent.