Minimum wage in Bulgaria 2026: gross, net and your rights
The 2026 minimum wage in Bulgaria is BGN 1,213 (€620.20). Work out your net pay with the calculator, see your rights and what to do if it is not paid.
From 1 January 2026 the minimum wage in Bulgaria went up. But what does that mean for you personally: how much will you take home, does your employer owe you a raise, and what should you do if they do not comply with the law?
What is the minimum wage for 2026?
❓What is the minimum wage for 2026?
The increase is BGN 136 compared with 2025 (BGN 1,077): a rise of 12.63%. According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (МТСП), the new minimum will raise the incomes of almost 600,000 people.
+12.63%
Increase of the minimum wage for 2026 compared with 2025
Source: ПМС No. 243/2025
What is the net (take-home) minimum wage for 2026?
The gross figure of BGN 1,213 is before deductions. You take home BGN 941.26 after personal contributions (13.78%) and income tax (10%) are deducted. Work out your exact sum with the calculator below:
Calculator: gross to net salary (2026)
The 2026 minimum wage (BGN 1,213) is entered by default. Change the amount to calculate your own salary.
State social security, ДОО (8.38%)
-BGN 101.65
Universal pension fund, УПФ (2.20%)
-BGN 26.69
Health insurance (3.20%)
-BGN 38.82
Total personal contributions (13.78%)
-BGN 167.15
Taxable income
BGN 1,045.85
Income tax (10%)
-BGN 104.58
Net salary (take-home)
BGN 941.26
The calculation is indicative for category III labour (трета категория труд) without tax reliefs (children, disability). The net pay is the same with and without the УПФ: for people born after 1959 the УПФ contribution (2.2%) replaces an equal reduction of the pension contribution, so the total personal burden stays at 13.78%. The employer pays about 18.92% of additional contributions on top of the gross salary.
You get the same net sum whether or not you take part in a universal pension fund (УПФ). It is also an accurate reference for your salary. See also how much your employer may lawfully deduct in what can be deducted from the minimum wage, and if you are on sick leave, how the benefit is calculated in the sick leave calculator.
Ask Pravko and get an answer with citations from the law.
How has the minimum wage changed over the years?
For context: the minimum wage in Bulgaria has almost doubled in less than 7 years. The trend is continuous growth.
| Year | Minimum wage (BGN) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | BGN 560 | - |
| 2020 | BGN 610 | +8.9% |
| 2021 | BGN 650 | +6.6% |
| 2022 | BGN 710 | +9.2% |
| 2023 | BGN 780 | +9.9% |
| 2024 | BGN 933 | +19.6% |
| 2025 | BGN 1,077 | +15.4% |
| 2026 | BGN 1,213 | +12.6% |
Minimum wage in Bulgaria by year (2019-2026)
Bulgaria still has the lowest minimum wage in the EU in absolute terms (€620), but the pace of growth is among the highest in the European Union.
Your rights at the minimum wage
An increase in the minimum wage is not just a number: it gives you specific rights that your employer is obliged to respect.
Your rights at a minimum wage of BGN 1,213
These rights are guaranteed by the Labour Code
At least BGN 1,213 gross for full-time work*
8 hours a day, 5 days a week
For part-time work: a proportional calculation
4 hours = at least BGN 606.50 gross
The employer must conclude an additional agreement*
If your old contract is based on a lower minimum wage
Insurable income at the NRA cannot be below the minimum wage
Check in the employment contract report by ЕГН (personal identification number)
The right to complain to the Labour Inspectorate*
If the employer does not comply
* Mandatory
Labour Code (КТ)
Art. 244, item 1
Official Bulgarian text
„Министерският съвет определя: 1. минималната работна заплата за страната;“
What happens if your employer does not pay the minimum wage?
Violation of the Labour Code!
Do not stay silent. You have concrete steps you can take to get what you are owed.
Steps when the minimum wage is not paid
Talk to the employer in writing
ImmediatelySend an email or letter asking for payment of the sum due. Keep a copy.
File a complaint with the Labour Inspectorate
Within 7 daysTelephone: 0700 17 670. Online or in person at the regional inspectorate. Anonymous filing is possible.
File a claim in court
If neededThe district court (районен съд) of your place of residence or of the employer’s registered seat. Limitation period: 3 years.
Labour Code (КТ)
Art. 414(1)
Official Bulgarian text
„Работодател, който наруши разпоредбите на трудовото законодателство извън случаите по следващите алинеи, се наказва с имуществена санкция или глоба в размер от 1500 до 15 000 лв.“
The minimum wage and social contributions: what you need to know
Besides your own contributions, the employer pays additional contributions on top of your gross salary. Here is the real cost of an employee on the minimum wage:
Real cost to the employer of an employee on the minimum wage
Gross salary
BGN 1,213.00
State social security (ДОО), employer (17.8%)
Pension, sickness, maternity, work accident
+ BGN 215.91
Health insurance, employer (4.8%)
+ BGN 58.22
Total cost to the employer
Approximate, depends on the category of labour
≈ BGN 1,600
The figures are indicative for category I labour, 2026
BGN 4,130
Maximum insurable income for 2026 (temporary regime)
Source: Extension Act, State Gazette (ДВ) issue 30 of 27 March 2026
Note: BGN 4,600 is only a proposal
If you are a self-insured person, the minimum insurable income at the start of 2026 is still BGN 1,077 (until the budget laws for 2026 are adopted).
Frequently asked questions
❓Does my employer owe me an automatic raise?
Source: КТ, Art. 119
❓What is the hourly minimum wage for 2026?
Source: ПМС No. 243/2025
❓How do I check whether my employer is paying my contributions correctly?
Source: НАП
Ask Pravko and get an answer with citations from the law.
⚠️ Important
Pravko provides legal information, but it does not replace advice from a lawyer. For important legal matters, consult a licensed lawyer.
