Real wages increased by 4,800 lek in 2025/ Armed forces lead among occupational groups
The average gross monthly salary in Albania increased in 2025, but not as much as official figures suggest at first glance. According to the data, the average salary reached 84,100 lekë, up from 77,456 lekë a year earlier, or 8.58% more. But stripped of 2.2% inflation, the real increase drops to 6.24%, which means that the true increase in purchasing power for the average employee was about 4,833 lekë per month, and not 6,644 lekë as implied by the nominal comparison.
The difference between nominal and real growth is about 1,810 lek per month, which represents the effect of inflation on the average wage.
The same picture emerges when broken down by major occupational groups. All groups result in real wage increases in 2025 compared to 2024, but the pace varies significantly from one group to another. The highest real increase was recorded by the armed forces, where the average gross monthly wage increased from 92,331 lek to 106,988 lek. Adjusted for inflation, this translates into a real increase of 13.38%, or about 12,354 lek per month.
Following them are craftsmen, artisans and related professions, with a real increase of 7.09%, as well as technicians and specialists in implementation, with 7.00%. Also above the national average are specialists with higher education, with 6.46%, as well as employees in the assembly and use of machinery and equipment, with 6.44%.
On the other hand, the lowest real growth rate was recorded among qualified agricultural, forestry and fishing workers, at 4.43%, as well as among managers, legislators, senior civil servants and executive directors, at 4.45%. However, even in these two groups, real wages increased, meaning that the wage increase remained positive even after the effect of inflation is deducted.
In absolute terms, the strongest are specialists with higher education, with a real increase of 6,612 lek, technicians and specialists with 5,972 lek, as well as managers and senior executives with 5,494 lek. Clerks earned 4,815 lek more per month in real terms, while the real increase for craftsmen and artisans was 3,989 lek. The lowest real increase in absolute terms was for other employees of agriculture, forestry and fishing, with about 2,160 lek more in me.
Overall, the data shows that wages have actually increased in 2025, but less than a simple comparison of gross wages would suggest. The official figure of 8.58% for the average wage increase nationwide drops to 6.24% once the impact of inflation is accounted for.
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