Average salary in Croatia rises to €1,621, but wide gaps across sectors and regions

ZAGREB, 4 June 2026 (Hina) – Salaries in Croatia have continued to grow, but new analysis shows significant differences between sectors, occupations and regions, according to data from the MojaPlaća salary service operated by Alma Career Croatia.

Based on responses from more than 28,000 participants, the average monthly net salary in Croatia now stands at €1,621, marking a 9% increase compared with the previous year. The median salary is €1,500.

IT Sector Remains Highest Paid

The information technology sector, including telecommunications and digital services, continues to lead wage levels in Croatia. The average net salary in the sector reached €1,904, representing a 10% annual increase.

Energy production and distribution follows, with an average salary of €1,757, up 13% year-on-year, while construction, architecture and real estate ranks third at €1,729, reflecting a 12% rise.

Professional, scientific and technical activities also recorded strong growth, with average salaries increasing by 15% to €1,657.

In contrast, agriculture, forestry and fishing recorded the slowest wage growth, rising by just 3%.

Tourism and Hospitality Shows Wide Pay Differences

The tourism and hospitality sector, a key part of the Croatian economy, recorded an average salary increase of 10%, reaching €1,510 in 2026. However, the data highlights a significant variation in earnings depending on role and employer.

At the top of the sector are head chefs, with an average salary of €2,085, closely followed by hospitality managers at €2,075.

Assistant chefs saw one of the strongest increases, with salaries rising by 23% to €1,223. Chefs recorded a 19% increase, reaching an average of €1,598.

Waiters earn an average of €1,281, up 9% year-on-year, while cleaners saw modest growth of 3%, with average earnings of €992.

The analysis also shows that pay levels in tourism and hospitality depend strongly on employer structure.

Companies in foreign ownership pay higher average salaries of €1,478 compared with €1,361 in domestically owned private companies.

Company size also plays a significant role. Large firms with more than 1,000 employees offer the highest average wages at €1,547, while micro-enterprises with up to 10 staff report significantly lower average salaries of €1,237.

Regional Differences Across Croatia

While Zagreb often leads national wage comparisons, the tourism and hospitality sector shows a different regional picture.

Šibenik-Knin County records the highest average salary in the sector at €1,594, followed by Dubrovnik-Neretva County at €1,528. Zagreb ranks third with €1,464.

At the lower end of the scale are several continental and Slavonian counties. Virovitica-Podravina County reports the lowest average at €1,041, followed by Lika-Senj County at €1,087 and Požega-Slavonia County at €1,088.

Varazdin County stands at €1,331, while Međimurje County records €1,277, placing them mid-range within the national distribution.