Romania’s Real Wages Surge Fast but Stay Below EU Average Amid High Inflation

A recent analysis by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation shows that Romania’s real income grew by 160 % between 2010 and 2025, the fastest increase among EU member states. The median net income rose from €2,448 in 2016 to €8,187 in 2025, yet it remains about 2.8 times lower than the EU average and the country’s wage‑inequality ratio, though improved, stays above the EU norm.

Data from the Romanian statistics office for May 2026 indicate the average net wage rose 3.5 % year‑on‑year to 5,843 RON (≈€1,117). Consumer‑price inflation ran at 10.7 %, causing a 6.5 % real‑wage decline—the steepest drop in ten years. Public‑administration and education wages fell over 13 % in real terms, while healthcare wages slipped 9.2 %. Manufacturing wages declined 4.4 % real, but tobacco processing saw a 15 % rise and IT and specialized financial services pay more than twice the national average. Overall, real wages have been shrinking since mid‑2025 as inflation erodes earlier gains, though they are still about 4 % higher than a year earlier.