Romanian healthcare workers favor public sector if pay is equal

A study by the recruitment platform MEDIjobs indicates that 55% of Romanian healthcare professionals would prefer working in the public sector over the private sector if salaries were identical. The research was conducted as more than 6,800 positions are being opened within the public healthcare system.

Perceptions of salary levels currently favor the public sector, with 45% of respondents believing public earnings are more attractive than private ones, compared to only 24% who believe the opposite. Participants estimated monthly net income in the public system to be between RON 7,500 and RON 10,000, while estimating private sector income between RON 5,000 and RON 7,500.

However, MEDIjobs data shows that private-sector earnings vary significantly by specialty and experience. Specialist doctors in the private sector can earn between RON 10,000 and RON 15,000 net per month, with high-demand specialties potentially exceeding RON 25,000–30,000. For nurses, offers range from approximately RON 3,500 for early-career professionals to over RON 6,000 for experienced staff. Pharmacist offers start at around RON 5,000 and can exceed RON 7,500 for chief positions.