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The average monthly salary in Albania experienced a significant annual increase of 9.6 percent in the first quarter of this year, exceeding the threshold of 90 thousand lek for the first time. The latest INSTAT report shows that the average salary reached 90.119 lek.
The largest increase was recorded in the construction sector, with 22.2%, where the tax action against wage understatement as well as the setting of wage floors from taxes in December 2025 seem to have had an impact.
The tax decision specified that in this sector there could be no salary less than 80 thousand lek. As a result, the average salary in construction increased from 68.221 lek in the first quarter of 2025 to 83.344 lek in the same quarter this year.
While the professions with the fastest salary growth, according to the INSTAT report, are craftsmen, with 15.7%, and elementary professions with 15.3%.
But despite the increase in wages, which is also being driven by employee shortages, the latest data shows that a significant portion of employees in Albania, almost 1 in 4 employees, is paid minimum wages.
Approximately 26.7% of Albanians are paid up to the minimum wage level. Then there are 26.1% who are paid on average from over 50 thousand lek to 75 thousand lek per month, then there are 15.5% who receive from over 75 thousand to 95 thousand lek. A salary over 120 thousand lek results in 16.5% of employees in the country.
How much are Albanians paid?
Up to minimum wage 26.7%
50.001-60.000 13.6%
60.001-75.000 12.5%
75.001 – 95.000 15.5%
95.001-120.000 14.9%
Over 120.000 16.5%
As for the private-state gap, it continues to be high at nearly 21 thousand lekë.
The average salary for a private employee is 83.912 lek, up from 79.857 lek at the end of 2025.
Average salary in the private sector
January-March 2025 75.285 lek
Year 2025 79.857 lek
January-March 2026 83.912 lek
Meanwhile, in the state sector, the average salary reached 105.390 lek in the first quarter of 2026, compared to 103.641 lek at the end of last year.
Average salary in the country
January-March 2025 97.990 lek
Year 2025 103.641 lek
January-March 2026 105.390 lek
According to the report, the sectors with the lowest salaries in private enterprise continue to be those that also have the largest number of employees, such as agriculture, trade, and industry.
