The latest data from the City Office for Economy, Environmental Sustainability and Strategic Planning confirm the continuation of the positive trend of income growth in the capital.

The average monthly paid net salary per employee in legal entities in the City of Zagreb for November 2025 amounted to 1,698 euros. This figure indicates stable monthly growth of 1.8% compared to October, while on an annual level, compared to the same month of the previous year, a significant increase of 8.4% was recorded.

When we talk about the gross amount, which represents the total labor cost before deductions, it amounted to 2,434 euros. This is an increase of 2.6% compared to the previous month and 8.2% more compared to November 2024. These double-digit growth indices suggest a dynamic labor market, but also employers' adjustment to the country's economic conditions.

Understanding the figures through the difference between net, gross and median

To make these figures clear to every individual, it is important to explain what they actually represent in everyday life. Net salary is the amount that a worker actually receives in their bank account and includes compensation for work performed, annual leave, sick leave up to 42 days, and holidays. On the other hand, gross salary is a broader concept which, in addition to the net amount, also includes legally prescribed mandatory contributions such as pension insurance contributions and income tax.

However, the average salary can often be misleading because it is strongly influenced by extremely high incomes of a small number of employees. That is why the median salary is a statistically much more precise indicator of living standards. The median net salary in Zagreb amounted to 1,444 euros, which in practice means that exactly half of employed Zagreb residents earn less than that amount, while the other half earn more. This figure gives a more realistic picture of how much the "average" worker in the city actually earns.

Drastic differences in income depending on the business sector

Statistics for November 2025 once again revealed deep gaps between different industries. At the very top of the ranking are employees in the crude oil and natural gas extraction sector, where the average net salary reached an impressive 2,546 euros, while the gross amount in that activity exceeds 3,800 euros. These sectors continue to lead in income levels due to the specific nature of the work and high added value.

On the opposite side of the spectrum are workers in the manufacture of leather and related products. In this activity, the lowest average net salary of only 981 euros was recorded, while the gross amount stands at 1,292 euros. Such a difference, where the highest-paid workers earn two and a half times more than those in the lowest-paid sectors, clearly illustrates structural inequality within the city economy.

Detailed insight into salary distribution by groups

To understand how salaries are distributed among the population, deciles are used, that is, the division of employees into ten equal groups from the lowest to the highest incomes. The data show that 10% of the lowest-paid workers in Zagreb, who make up the first decile, receive a net amount of 858 euros or less. This is the lower income threshold that includes a significant number of employees in lower-tier service and manufacturing activities.

On the other hand, the upper threshold is very high. Ten percent of the highest-paid Zagreb residents, who fall into the tenth decile, earn net amounts greater than 2,729 euros, while their gross salary exceeds 4,000 euros. If we observe quartiles, that is, quarters of the total number of employees, it is evident that the bottom 25% of workers receive a salary of up to 1,044 euros net, while the top 25% enjoy incomes above 1,973 euros.

Growth that follows costs but deepens differences

Although the figure of nearly 1,700 euros for the average net salary sounds encouraging and testifies to Zagreb's strong economic activity, it conceals a complex reality.

The fact that the median salary is a full 250 euros lower than the average clearly indicates that high incomes in managerial and energy sectors significantly "improve" the overall statistics. While workers in the oil industry are recording record incomes, those in the leather industry continue to struggle with amounts that barely exceed the threshold of one thousand euros.

Zagreb remains the engine of the Croatian economy, but the challenge of balancing rising living costs and maintaining purchasing power for a broader circle of citizens, and not only for highly educated experts, remains a key issue for future economic policies.