The National Statistical Institute in Bulgaria has reported that the average gross annual salary for 2023 in the country is 24,485 BGN, equivalent to EUR 12,519. This figure represents a significant increase of 15.3% compared to the previous year. The data also revealed that employees working in the field of "Creation and distribution of information and creative products; telecommunications" earned the highest wages, with an average of 59,598 BGN (EUR 30,471.98). In contrast, the hospitality and restaurant industry and the "Agriculture, forestry and fishing" sector reported the lowest average salaries, standing at 14,605 BGN (EUR 7,467.42) and 17,604 BGN (EUR 9,000.78) respectively.
The National Classification of Occupations and Duties indicated that the largest percentage of employees in Bulgaria fall under the "Specialists" category, accounting for 20.1% of the workforce, which amounts to 447,900 individuals. On the other hand, the category with the smallest representation is "Skilled agriculture, forestry and fishery workers," comprising only 0.5% of the workforce, totaling 10,700 people. Furthermore, the statistics show that approximately half of the country's workforce is concentrated in the districts of Sofia (the capital), Plovdiv, and Varna, indicating a significant distribution of employment across these regions. Moreover, it was highlighted that over 60% of people in Bulgaria are living below the subsistence salary level, underscoring socio-economic challenges faced by a significant portion of the population.