The army has been pouring in money since January. Privates and officers will get raises
The Ministry of National Defense is planning 3% raises in the army. We are checking how much the new salaries of soldiers will be.
The Ministry of National Defense has prepared a draft regulation that provides for increases in basic salaries for professional soldiers. The changes are intended to cover everyone – from privates to generals – and are in line with the government’s decision to increase wages in the entire budget sphere. In 2026, salaries in uniformed services are to increase by 3%, i.e. by the forecast inflation rate.
New rates
Although the scale of the increases is not large, the new rates are to apply retroactively from January 1, 2026. According to the justification for the project, the minimum basic salary of a professional soldier will increase from PLN 6,000 to PLN 300 to PLN 6,000 PLN 500 gross, which means an increase of PLN 200 per month.
The draft regulation specifies in detail how remuneration will change in particular grade groups. Senior officers are to receive from PLN 290 to PLN 660 more gross per month. In the case of junior officers, the increases will range from PLN 270 to PLN 280. Senior non-commissioned officers can count on an increase in their salary by PLN 250, while junior non-commissioned officers will receive from PLN 220 to PLN 230 more. Privates will gain from PLN 200 to PLN 210 gross per month.
Approximately 154,000 people will benefit from the announced changes. professional soldiers. As the Ministry of National Defense emphasizes, the increase in basic rates will also translate into the amount of allowances, including the allowance for long-term military service. This means that the real salary increase may be higher than the base increase itself.
Pay raises for soldiers
The Ministry of Defense estimated that the total cost of introducing the increases will be approximately PLN 540 million. The table published by the Ministry of National Defense summarizes the current and planned rates of basic salaries depending on military rank. The documents show that the monthly increases will range from PLN 200 to PLN 660 gross.
If the draft regulation comes into force as planned, the new salary rates in the army will apply from the beginning of 2026, and soldiers will receive compensation from January.
