A person working in Plovdiv typically earns around 3,720 BGN per month. Salaries range from 940 BGN (lowest average) to 16,600 BGN (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Salaries in Plovdiv range from 940 BGN per month (minimum salary) to 16,600 BGN per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
The median salary is 3,790 BGN per month, which means that half (50%) of the population are earning less than 3,790 BGN while the other half are earning more than 3,790 BGN. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of the population are earning less than 2,130 BGN while 75% of them are earning more than 2,130 BGN. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population are earning less than 10,400 BGN while 25% are earning more than 10,400 BGN.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a cerificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Bulgaria costs anywhere from 16,500 Bulgarian Lev(s) to 49,500 Bulgarian Lev(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on your situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if you can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Bulgaria earn 6% more than their female counterparts on avergae across all sectors.
Male | 3,390 BGN | |
Female | -6% | 3,190 BGN |
Employees in Bulgaria are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 7% every 20 months.
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
Banking | 6% | |
Energy | 3% | |
Information Technology | 9% | |
Healthcare | 6% | |
Travel | 3% | |
Construction | 9% | |
Education | 6% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Bulgaria for the year 2021. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Junoir Level | 3% - 5% | |
Mid-Career | 6% - 9% | |
Senior Level | 10% - 15% | |
Top Management | 15% - 20% |
The difference in increment rates is somehow justified because employers put more effort to retain more experienced staff since they are harder to acquire than less experienced ones.
49% of surveyed staff in Bulgaria reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 51% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 6% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 51% | |
No Bonus | 49% |
The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
Finance | High | |
Architecture | High | |
Sales | High | |
Business Development | High | |
Marketing / Advertising | High | |
Information Technology | Moderate | |
Healthcare | Moderate | |
Insurance | Moderate | |
Customer Service | Moderate | |
Human Resources | Moderate | |
Construction | Low | |
Transport | Low | |
Hospitality | Low |
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Accounting and Finance | |
Accountant | 2,350 BGN |
Accounting Assistant | 1,820 BGN |
Accounting Manager | 5,530 BGN |
Bookkeeper | 1,710 BGN |
Chartered Accountant | 3,200 BGN |
Corporate Treasurer | 4,660 BGN |
Financial Analyst | 4,380 BGN |
Financial Manager | 7,050 BGN |
Internal Auditor | 3,190 BGN |
Administration / Reception / Secretarial | |
Administrative Assistant | 1,800 BGN |
Office Manager | 3,060 BGN |
Receptionist | 1,340 BGN |
Secretary | 1,540 BGN |
Advertising / Grapic Design / Events | |
Art Director | 3,490 BGN |
Creative Director | 3,340 BGN |
Graphic Designer | 2,280 BGN |
Photographer | 1,990 BGN |
Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense | |
Aerospace Engineer | 4,410 BGN |
Air Traffic Controller | 3,760 BGN |
Flight Attendant | 2,440 BGN |
Pilot | 5,910 BGN |
Architecture | |
Architect | 4,380 BGN |
CAD Drafter | 1,820 BGN |
Automotive | |
Mechanic | 1,320 BGN |
Service Advisor | 2,400 BGN |
Banking | |
Bank Branch Manager | 6,160 BGN |
Teller | 1,320 BGN |
Bilingual | |
Teacher | 2,730 BGN |
Translator | 3,200 BGN |
Business Planning | |
Business Analyst | 4,240 BGN |
Business Development Manager | 5,320 BGN |
Project Manager | 3,950 BGN |
Care Giving and Child Care | |
Nanny | 1,410 BGN |
Nursery Teacher | 1,380 BGN |
Construction / Building / Installation | |
Civil Engineer | 3,280 BGN |
Construction Project Manager | 5,920 BGN |
Health and Safety Officer | 1,610 BGN |
Customer Service and Call Center | |
Call Center Representative | 1,300 BGN |
Customer Service Manager | 4,880 BGN |
Customer Service Representative | 1,350 BGN |
Engineering | |
Electrical Engineer | 3,430 BGN |
Engineer | 3,260 BGN |
Mechanical Engineer | 3,320 BGN |
Executive and Management | |
Chief Executive Officer | 7,920 BGN |
Chief Financial Officer | 7,420 BGN |
General Manager | 6,330 BGN |
Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering | |
Chef | 2,220 BGN |
Executive Chef | 2,540 BGN |
Hotel Manager | 6,490 BGN |
Travel Agent | 2,120 BGN |
Waiter / Waitress | 1,170 BGN |
Health and Medical | |
Dentist | 8,440 BGN |
Dietitian | 7,180 BGN |
Laboratory Technician | 2,630 BGN |
Nurse | 2,650 BGN |
Human Resources | |
Human Resources Manager | 5,530 BGN |
Human Resources Officer | 2,160 BGN |
Information Technology | |
Computer Technician | 2,580 BGN |
Database Administrator | 3,390 BGN |
Developer / Programmer | 3,280 BGN |
Information Technology Manager | 5,840 BGN |
Network Engineer | 2,990 BGN |
Law Enforcement / Security / Fire | |
Police Officer | 2,180 BGN |
Legal | |
Attorney | 6,700 BGN |
Legal Assistant | 1,790 BGN |
Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment | |
Journalist | 3,800 BGN |
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology | |
Biomedical Engineer | 2,880 BGN |
Pharmacist | 4,470 BGN |
Sales Retail and Wholesale | |
Cashier | 1,370 BGN |
Sales Manager | 6,130 BGN |
Sales Representative | 2,300 BGN |
Teaching / Education | |
Elementary School Teacher | 2,380 BGN |
Secondary School Teacher | 2,850 BGN |
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
City | Average Salary |
Burgas | 3,440 BGN |
Plovdiv | 3,720 BGN |
Rousse | 3,380 BGN |
Sofia | 3,860 BGN |
Stara Zagora | 3,240 BGN |
Varna | 3,580 BGN |
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Bulgaria earn 9% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 3,130 BGN | |
Public Sector | +9% | 3,420 BGN |