This follows a 7.47% rise in 2025 and a 10.45% increase last year, according to a PwC study. This trend reflects a general economic deceleration, with uncertain prospects for recovery. 

The tech sector saw the highest average salary increase this year, at 9%, and also boasts the highest average gross salary among the sectors analyzed, at RON 21,085 (around €4,250). 

Following closely, the retail sector recorded an 8.99% increase, and the industrial sector saw a rise of 8.32%. In contrast, the pharmaceutical sector experienced the smallest increase, at just 3.56%. 

"Sectors with higher growth last year have reduced their increases this year and vice versa," writes Gabriela Batîr, Senior Manager at PwC Romania. 

"This means that the differences do not reflect different economic realities, but rather that every 2-3 years each sector adjusts its salaries to the market level, depending on the supply and demand dynamics,” she added.

For the coming year, companies in the industrial sector anticipate the highest average salary growth, at 8.33%, followed by pharmaceutical companies (6.92%) and those in retail (6.68%). Conversely, tech companies expect the lowest increase at 5.29%.

The study also highlighted a persistent gender pay gap, particularly noticeable among higher-earning employees. Women tend to occupy lower-paying jobs, with 74% of employees in the lowest-paid quarter being female, while their representation drops to 56% in the highest-paid quarter. The largest pay gaps are in the banking and tech sectors, while the smallest are in the industrial and pharmaceutical sectors.

Meal vouchers remain the most common benefit offered by companies (84%), followed by additional days off (83%). Other popular perks include free coffee and snacks (70%) and medical subscriptions (64%). While some benefits, like flexible working hours and medical subscriptions, have lost some popularity, others like in-office massages, discounts, and therapy sessions are gaining traction. This shift highlights a growing focus on employee well-being and mental health.

Significant regional disparities in salaries persist. The București-Ilfov region continues to lead with an average gross salary of RON 16,373 (around €3,300), which is over 85% higher than in Moldova with RON 8,874 (€1,744) and Muntenia with RON 8,732 (€1,716) and 52% more than in Banat and Transylvania with RON 10,758 (€2,114).