Average wages - 2. quarter of 2026
Average wage increased by 4.3% in real terms
Publication Date: 03. 09. 2026
Product Code: 110031-26
“In the Q2 2026, the average wage increased in nominal terms by 6.4% to CZK 51 966. Employees in ‘administrative and support service activities’, which mainly include employment agencies and security agencies the wage level of which is low, are considerably better off. The real wage increased in the Q2 by 4.3% and the percentage growth was the same as the one for the first half-year of 2026,“ Jitka Erhartová, Head of the Labour Statistics Unit of the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO), comments.
In the Q2 2026, the average gross monthly nominal wage1*) (hereinafter only referred to as “the average wage”) per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee in the national economy in total was CZK 51 966, which is by CZK 3 105 (6.4%) more than in the corresponding period of 2025. In the aforementioned period, consumer prices increased by 2.0% and the wage thus increased in real terms by 4.3%. The volume of wages increased by 7.1%; the number of employees increased by 0.7%.
Compared to the previous quarter, the average wage growth in the Q2 2026 after seasonal adjustment was 1.6%. After having additional data taken into account, the average wage for the first quarter of 2026 has been refined by almost 2% to CZK 49 3282*).
According to the breakdown of economic activities (industries) by CZ-NACE section, the highest increase of the average wage, compared to the corresponding period of 2025, was recorded in ‘administrative and support service activities’ (16.6%), in ‘public administration and defence; compulsory social security’ (9.0%), and in ‘arts, entertainment and recreation’ (8.7%). The lowest increase occurred in ‘other service activities’ (0.2%) and in ‘mining and quarrying’ (2.2%).
In the first half-year of 2026, the average wage reached CZK 50 650; in the year-on-year comparison, the increment was CZK 2 971 (6.2%). Consumer prices increased during the mentioned period by 1.8%, the wage thus increased in real terms by 4.3%.
1*) The average gross monthly wage is a share of wage funds (including extra pay for overtime work, bonuses, compensation of wages, etc.) per one employee per month. Therefore, it does not indicate what wage one specific employee has.
It has to be kept in mind that from the gross wages the employers pay appropriate amounts for premiums for health insurance and social security and advances of income taxes of natural persons for their employees. Employees are paid net wages.
Median wage values and decile ranges are temporarily unavailable, because along with the reference year of 2025, the data source for modelling those data was terminated (Average Earnings Information System (abbreviated “ISPV” in Czech) of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs) and the new data source – the Integrated Monthly Employer Report (abbreviated “JMHZ” in Czech) – has only recently been deployed and its quality is currently being checked.
2*) The employment statistics and average wage statistics from reporting of enterprises is undergoing this year a major transformation, resulting in the adoption of a brand new data source – the Integrated Monthly Employer Report. Previously, figures for the whole economy were derived from sample surveys in enterprises conducted through the CZSO’s statistical questionnaire and were subsequently grossed up using assessment bases from the Czech Social Security Administration’s records.
Until the end of the first half-year of 2026, however, no additional relevant information was available alongside the CZSO survey data that would allow refinement of these estimates. During the year, statistical and administrative data are being incorporated retrospectively on a gradual basis, which makes it possible to refine estimates for the non-surveyed segments of the national economy through subsequent revisions. This process is part of the transition to the new data source and will contribute to improving the quality and accuracy of the published statistical indicators.
Notes
The data are preliminary. Refined data will be available in December 2026.
Responsible head at the CZSO: Dalibor Holý, Director of the Labour Market and Equal Opportunities Statistics Department, T: +420 274 052 694, E: dalibor.holy@csu.gov.cz
Contact person: Jitka Erhartová, Head of the Labour Statistics Unit, T: +420 274 052 116, E: jitka.erhartova@csu.gov.cz
Method of data acquisition: the direct survey and models of the CZSO
End of data processing: 20 August 2026
Related data set: 110024-26 Registered number of employees and their wages (the second quarter of 2026),
/current-product/41269
The next news release will be published on: 4 December 2026