After a period of continuous growth, statistical data for April 2026 bring an unexpected turn.

According to the latest report by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, the average monthly paid net salary per employee in legal entities of the Republic of Croatia amounted to 1,552 euros in April. This amount represents a nominal decline of 0.2% compared to the previous month, while the real decline is even more pronounced at 1.8%.

Gross salaries follow the negative trend

Similar movements were also recorded in gross earnings. The average monthly gross salary for April reached 2,180 euros, which compared to March marks a nominal decline of 0.1%. When the real value is taken into account, the reduction in gross salary amounts to 1.7%.

However, when viewed in the broader picture on an annual basis, salaries are still significantly above the levels recorded in the same period last year. Nominally, the net salary is higher by 7.9%, and in real terms by 2.0%, while gross earnings record nominal growth of 9.1% and real growth of 3.1% compared to April 2025.

The gap between sectors remains deep

The analysis of activities once again confirms the existence of a huge gap in earnings between different economic sectors. The highest average net salary was paid in the sector of computer infrastructure, data processing, and other information services, where the amount reaches a high 3,077 euros net. On the other end of the spectrum is clothing manufacturing, where employees receive on average only 986 euros net per month. The difference is equally noticeable in gross amounts, where the same IT sector leads with an average of 4,762 euros, while the clothing manufacturing activity records 1,309 euros.

Median salary as a more realistic indicator

When analyzing the median net salary, which shows the amount below which half of employees earn less and half earn more, it amounted to 1,319 euros in April. Unlike the average, the median net salary showed a slight increase of 0.2% compared to March and a significant 8.3% compared to April last year. The median gross salary amounted to 1 810 euros, with monthly growth of 0.3% and annual growth of 9.3%.

Understanding the broader picture

Although the Croatian Bureau of Statistics data for April indicate a short-term pause in salary growth, the annual statistics show that the trend of earnings growth at the level of the whole year remains positive. Such fluctuations on a monthly level are often the result of the specific dynamics of payments in certain activities and do not necessarily indicate a long-term change in trend. The key challenge remains the large difference in salaries between highly productive technological sectors and labor-intensive industries, which is a constant that requires careful monitoring in future periods as well.