INS: Average Net Salary Fell in May to 5,684 RON

The National Institute of Statistics (INS) has announced that in May, Romanians received lower wage income than in the previous month, with the primary explanation being the removal of bonuses and incentive payments from payrolls that had been included previously.

According to official data, the average net salary stood at 5,684 RON, which is 159 RON (2.7%) less than in April. The average gross salary also fell, to 9,483 RON.

The best and worst paid sectors

The IT sector continues to offer the highest earnings, with an average net salary exceeding 13,000 RON. In second place is oil and natural gas extraction, with an average net salary of over 12,400 RON.

At the other end of the scale are fishing and aquaculture, alongside other service activities, where average salaries fall short of 3,000 RON.

Reasons for the decline

According to INS, the drop in May earnings is primarily due to the absence of bonuses and incentive payments that were made in previous months, as well as weaker financial results in certain economic sectors. The largest decreases were recorded in insurance, the oil industry, telecommunications, and the pharmaceutical industry.

In the public sector, the picture was mixed: salaries rose slightly in education and public administration, whilst in health and social care a small decline was observed.

Comparison with last year

Compared to May 2025, the average net salary is nonetheless 3.2% higher. The INS notes that the real income trends of the population continue to be affected by inflation and a decline in purchasing power.