Polish study fields' earnings diverge sharply from their popularity

Data on Polish graduates shows that highly sought‑after majors such as Japanese studies at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, with more than 22 applicants per place, yield a median starting salary of only 6,500 PLN per month. Sinology graduates earn even less, about 5,600 PLN. By contrast, less‑popular engineering programmes—mechanical engineering in Gdynia and automation & robotics at the Gdańsk University of Technology—provide median earnings around 10,000 PLN.

Salary levels also depend heavily on the institution. Computer science graduates from the University of Warsaw earn a median of 17,600 PLN, while the same degree from other universities can be several thousand zlotys lower. The most lucrative paths for graduates without work experience are technology‑focused: data engineering at Warsaw University of Technology, data‑science at AGH University of Science and Technology, and cryptology and cyber‑security at the Military University of Technology.

Nursing also surprises, with Pomorskie Medical University in Szczecin graduates starting above 11,000 PLN. Law and medicine do not appear among the highest‑paying first‑job fields, but they remain well‑paid later in careers.