In the last three months, men had an average 13% higher salary than women.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 9th of January, 2018, according to the data from MojaPlaća (MyWage) in the fourth quarter of 2017, the average monthly net salary in Croatia amounted to 5,586 kuna, which is 1% more than it was in the previous quarter.
Compared to the same period in 2016, the average net salary was 2% higher. Median salary is somewhat lower and amounts to 5,000 kuna. If net wage bonuses are included, then the average monthly wage is 5,853 kuna, which is also a solid 1% more than it was in the previous quarter. Regarding wage expectations, respondents expect an average of 5,453 kuna for services rendered at work, which is 2% lower than the real average salary in Croatia.
In the fourth quarter of 2017, besides those employed in the top management category, which averaged 120% higher than the average, the most well paid occupations are those in technology and development (66% more than the average), human resources (+36%), and information technology (+35%).
The lowest average salaries include workers in the textile and leather industry (-45%), auxiliary occupations (-40%) and workers in the service industry (-34%). Workers in one of the most popular categories, and by far Croatia's most profitable sector, tourism and hospitality, have an approximately 21% lower salary than the average.
Men are still paid more. In the last three months, men had an average 13% higher salary than women. Men averaged 5,931 kuna per month on average, while women earned an average of 5,240 kuna. However, when compared to the previous quarter, the average monthly net salary of both men and women is lower by 1%.
Naturally, the level of education greatly affects the salary level, perhaps even more so than would be expected. People with a university degree have an average 50% higher salary than those with high school education, and 23% higher than the average. A completed Masters degree or PhD increases the salary on average by as much as 103% in relation to those with secondary education.
Compared to the average salary in the survey, respondents with secondary education and no further education have an average 18% lower salary than those who underwent higher education, while those with a postgraduate or MBA school have a 66% higher salary than the average.
The wage level also depends on the ownership structure of a company, therefore private sector company wages are 13% higher than the average and average 6,193 kuna, while corporate wages are predominantly at 5,224 kuna (5% less than the average) . The average wage in state-owned companies is the same as the average at 5.579 kuna, while public and local self-government salaries are 3% higher than the average and amount to 5,562 kuna.
As might be expected, employment in a big company means a bigger sum. In companies with fewer than ten employees, the average salary is 13% below the average and amounts to 4,778 kuna, while in companies with up to 19 employees it is 3% lower than the average and amounts to 5,310 kuna.
The average salary in companies with 20 to 49 employees is 5,644 kuna and 3% higher than the average. The highest average salary is in companies with more than 1,000 employees; 6% higher than the average and amounts to 5,835 kuna.
Logically, salaries remain the highest in the City of Zagreb. When looked at on a county by county basis, the lowest wages in the fourth quarter of 2017 were recorded in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Virovitica-Podravina County, and Požega-Slavonia County where the average monthly net salary was 20% less than the average.
In line with expectations, the highest average wage was recorded in the City of Zagreb, which is 13% above the average, at 6,233 kuna per month. After the City of Zagreb, Dubrovnik-Neretva County follows where salaries are just 2% lower than the average.
When it comes to perks and benefits, most employees receive travel expenses (44%) as benefits. A quarter (25%) of employees have mobile phone for personal use as a benefit, and parking is available (totally or at least partially) to 19%. 18% of respondents report having comfortable, flexible working hours, and 15% receive some sort of education from their workplace. One fourth of the respondents (25%) didn't report having any additional benefits at work.
