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Wages in Greece in 2026

Table of Contents

  1. The minimum wage in Greece
    1. Evolution of the minimum wage in Greece
    2. Position of the Greek minimum wage in 2026 within the EU and associated countries (in euros/month)
    3. Position of the Greek monthly minimum wage in 2026 within the European countries (in Purchasing Power Standard - PPS)
  2. Structure of earnings
    1. Position of the Greek Low-wage earners within the EU and associated countries
    2. Hourly earnings in Greece compared to those of other European countries
    3. Annual wage of Greeks in the European ranking

The charts below show the evolution of the minimum wage in Greece over time, expressed in both current Euros and Purchasing Power Standard (PPS) as well as the comparison with various European countries. While the concept of a minimum wage provides an idea of the minimum pay level, it is also useful to know the proportion of low-wage earners. Multiple charts below will deal with the income structure in Greece and in various European countries.

The minimum wage in Greece

The minimum wage is the lowest remuneration that employers can legally pay their workers. It is an important indicator of the standard of living and the cost of labor in a country. Expressed in euros, it represents the nominal value of the salary, while the Purchasing Power Standard (PPS) removes the effect of differences in price levels between the countries allowing for a more accurate comparison of the real value of the minimum wage across countries and over time. The data is sourced from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union (last update: 30 January, 2026).

Evolution of the minimum wage in Greece

Six-month evolution of the Greek monthly minimum wage between 2010 and 2026.

The minimum wage in Greece in the first semester of 2026 was 1,027 euros per month, which is equivalent to 1,194 euros in purchasing power standard. The minimum wage in Greece has evolved significantly over the years, with various increases and decreases influenced by economic conditions, government policies, and social factors. Expressed in PPS, the minimum wage increased by 53.08 % over the last 10 years.

Position of the Greek minimum wage in 2026 within the EU and associated countries (in euros/month)

Minimum wage levels in different European countries in the first semester of 2026 expressed in euros.

Greece has the 14th position with the highest minimum wage in Europe. Among 26 countries guaranteeing a minimum wage, 12 have a lower minimum wage and 13 have a higher minimum wage than Greece.

However, the standard of living in each country must be taken into account to make the comparison of minimum wages fairer, and therefore the minimum wage must be related to the cost of living by expressing it in "Purchasing Power Standards".

Position of the Greek monthly minimum wage in 2026 within the European countries (in Purchasing Power Standard - PPS)

Minimum wage levels in different European countries in the first semester of 2026 expressed in PPS.

Expressed in Purchasing Power Standards, minimum wages show less marked differences between different countries. While expressed in PPS, Greece has the 14th position with the highest minimum wage in Europe, 12 countries have a lower minimum wage and 13 have a higher minimum wage than Greece.

Structure of earnings

The structure of earnings provides insights into the distribution of wages and helps to understand the composition of the labor market and identify potential disparities or inequalities in earnings.

Position of the Greek Low-wage earners within the EU and associated countries

While the concept of a minimum wage provides an idea of the minimum pay level, it is also useful to know what proportion of employees are paid at this level. Low-wage earners are defined as employees earning less than two-thirds of the national median gross hourly earnings.

Proportion of low-wage earners in different European countries in 2022.

With 21.74 % of employees considered low earners, Greece occupies the 5th place among the countries with the highest proportion, and is 12 positions ahead of the EU average.

Hourly earnings in Greece compared to those of other European countries

How hourly wages in Greece compare to those in other European countries? The gross hourly earnings are defined as the gross wage for the reference month divided by the number of hours paid during that same period. The number of paid hours includes all regular and overtime hours worked and paid by the employer during the reference month. Hours not worked but nevertheless paid are counted as "paid hours" (for example, for annual leave, public holidays, paid sick leave, paid professional training, paid special leave, etc.).

The following chart compares the mean gross hourly earnings of employees* in Greece to those in other European countries, expressed in Purchasing Power Standards (PPS) to take into account the differences in the cost of living between countries. The data is provided by Eurostat, which publishes the results of its survey on the structure of wages every four years, the latest available data being for the year 2022.
[*] Industry, construction and services (except public administration, defense, compulsory social security).

Mean hourly earnings in different European countries in 2022.

Among the 35 countries participating in the Eurostat survey, the mean gross hourly earnings in Greece are the 27th lowest in Europe. Greece is behind the EU average by 14 positions.

In Greece, the mean gross hourly earnings are 11.36 € per hour, while the median* gross hourly earnings are 9.75 € per hour. The 1st decile** of gross hourly earnings is 6.1 € per hour, while the 9th decile** is 18.29 € per hour, 3 times higher than the lowest wages.
[*] Median income is the value below which half the population earns less and the other half earns more.
[**] The 1st decile is the value below which 10% of the employees are paid, while the 9th decile is the value below which 90% of the employees are paid or the value over which 10% are paid.

Annual wage of Greeks in the European ranking

It is interesting to compare annual gross salary because it includes "non-standard payments", i.e. payments that are not made in every payroll period, such as 13th and 14th month bonuses, vacation bonuses, quarterly or annual company bonuses and annual benefits in kind.

Mean annual wages in different European countries in 2022.

Among the 35 countries participating in the Eurostat survey, the mean gross annual earnings in Greece are the 23th lowest in Europe. Greece is behind the EU average by 10 positions.

In Greece, the mean gross annual earnings are 24,020 € per year, while the median gross annual earnings are 19,413 € per year. The 1st decile of gross annual earnings is 5,582 € per year, while the 9th decile is 43,032 € per year, i.e. 7.71 times higher than the lowest earnings.