Average wages and salaries were 2,011 euros in the first quarter
According to Statistics Estonia, in the first quarter of 2025, the average monthly gross wages and salaries were 2,011 euros, which is 6.1% higher than in the first quarter of 2024.
Sigrid Saagpakk, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that, in the first quarter of 2025, the average monthly gross wages and salaries were the highest in Tallinn (2,384 euros) and in Harju (2,263 euros) and Tartu (2,023 euros) counties. “Compared with the first quarter of last year, the biggest increase in wages was seen in Tartu (7.2%) and Ida-Viru (6.9%) counties. The rise in average monthly wages was the slowest in Harju county, excluding Tallinn – 4.8%,” noted Saagpakk.
The average monthly gross wages and salaries in the first quarter of 2025 were 475 euros higher than in the first quarter of 2022. “In the last three years, the average wages in the first quarter have grown by roughly 31%,” added Saagpakk.
In the first quarter, the average wages and salaries were the highest in information and communication (3,605 euros), followed by financial and insurance activities (3,344 euros) and electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (2,714 euros).
“The lowest average wages and salaries were registered in accommodation and food service activities at 1,285 euros. The increase in average gross wages was the greatest in electricity supply (8.7%) and water supply (8.0%),” said Saagpakk.
The median of gross wages (salaries) is the wage level at which half of the employees earn less than that level and half earn more than that level. The median wages were 1,649 euros in the first quarter of this year and increased by about 100 euros year on year.
The largest number of employees – 99,500 – worked in manufacturing, which accounted for 17% of all employees. This was followed by wholesale and retail trade (incl. repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles) with nearly 87,100 employees, education with almost 64,500 employees, and human health and social work activities with close to 48,500 employees.
Since the first quarter of 2023, Statistics Estonia uses data from the employment register of the Tax and Customs Board and the income and social tax declarations to publish the average wages and salaries. People working under employment contracts, the Civil Service Act*, and service contracts are included.
* Excluding employees in the areas of governance of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Interior.
More detailed data have been published in the wages and salaries and labour costs section on our website.
When using Statistics Estonia’s data and graphs, please indicate the source.
For further information:
Heidi Kukk
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 5696 6484
press [at] stat.ee (press[at]stat[dot]ee)