Minimum wage 2025. Everything you need to know

The minimum wage in Poland will increase again in 2025, which is a continuation of the trend of systematically increasing wages in recent years.

According to the government’s announcements, from January 1, 2025, the minimum wage will be PLN 4,666 gross, which translates into approximately PLN 3,510 net. This is an important change aimed at improving the financial situation of people employed under contracts providing the lowest wages.

Minimum hourly rate 2025

In parallel with the increase in the minimum wage, the minimum hourly rate will also increase. In 2025, it will amount to PLN 30.50 gross, which mainly applies to people working under civil law contracts, such as mandate contracts. The increase is aimed at ensuring adequate protection of employees and adapting salaries to the current cost of living. The so-called The “lowest national income” has increased exponentially over the last decade, improving the standard of living of millions of Poles, but also causing problems for many entrepreneurs, especially smaller ones.

Minimum wage in 2015–2025

It is worth taking a look at how the minimum wage has changed in Poland over recent years. Below is a summary of the gross amounts. In 2015, it was only PLN 1,750 gross (approx. PLN 1,374 net), which from today’s perspective seems to be simply a starvation salary, even taking into account inflation.

2015: PLN 1,750
2016: PLN 1,850
2017: PLN 2,000
2018: PLN 2,100
2019: PLN 2,250
2020: PLN 2,600
2021: PLN 2,800
2022: PLN 3,010
2023: PLN 3,490 (1st half) / PLN 3,600 (2nd half)
2024: PLN 4,242 (1st half) / PLN 4,300 (2nd half)
2025: PLN 4,666

Why is the minimum wage increasing?

Minimum wage increases are a response to dynamically changing economic conditions. Rising inflation, rising costs of living, as well as the need to ensure decent living conditions for employees prompt governments to introduce further increases. A higher minimum wage also aims to reduce income differences and support people employed in the least paid sectors.

What does this mean for employers?

For employers, a higher minimum wage is associated with higher costs of running a business, which may result in the need to optimize costs. Unfortunately, small businesses are often forced to close their operations or move to the so-called “gray zone”.