The income of employees increased in all counties last year

The average monthly gross income was higher than the Estonian average in Harju and Tartu counties, and the lowest in Valga county (746 euros). In recent years, the indicator for Harju county (which has the highest gross income) has been slightly over 10% higher than the Estonian average, while the indicator for Valga county (which has the lowest gross income) has been about 15% below the Estonian average.

Among cities and rural municipalities, the highest monthly income was earned by employees in Harju county. The monthly gross income was the highest in Viimsi rural municipality (1,293 euros) and the lowest in Kallaste city and Peipsiääre rural municipality (slightly over 630 euros). The difference between the local government units with the highest and the lowest gross income has decreased in recent years – it was 55% in 2012 and 51% in 2013. In Tallinn, the average monthly gross income per employee was 985 euros.

In 2013 gross income was earned by 509,323 persons, which is 4,600 more than the year before. This growth is mainly the result of the 6% increase in the number of earners aged 63 and older. The number of income recipients grew the most in Harju county, followed by Tartu and Ida-Viru counties. The number of income recipients decreased in Järva, Saare, Lääne and Lääne-Viru counties.

Average monthly gross income per employee in local government units, 2013

The analysis is based on the data of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board as at 31 March 2014. The average monthly gross income per employee is calculated by dividing the monthly average sum of disbursements with the monthly average number of persons receiving disbursements.