Average Wage in Bulgaria Ranges from BGN 1193 in Sofia to BGN 593 in Vidin

People working in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia earn on average double the remuneration paid to their counterparts in the towns of Vidin and Blagoevgrad.

This is shown by the figures of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) for the third quarter of the year, daily Trud informs.

During this period, the average wage was the highest in Sofia, where it stood at BGN 1193.

The lowest average wage was registered in Vidin – BGN 593, while the second lowest was recorded in Blagoevgrad – BGN 606.

Sofia is the only region in Bulgaria in which the average wage was above the average figure for the country, with the difference being 36.5 %.

Surprisingly, the second highest average wage was registered in one of the poorest regions of the country – Vratsa.

The average wage in Vratsa stood at BGN 871, which was largely due to the high remunerations paid at the only nuclear power plant in the country, which is located near the town of Kozloduy.

In the regions of Stara Zagora, Sofia province and Varna, workers earned on average more than BGN 800.

Compared to the same quarter of last year, the largest wage increase was registered in the city of Pernik – 11.7 %, while the rise in Sofia amounted to 11.5 %.

The opposite trend was recorded in the regions of Smolyan, Kardzhali and Silistra, where wages decreased compared to last year.

In the regions of Ruse, Varna and Pazardzhik wages increased by 2-3 %, while in Yambol, Pleven and Shumen the rise was between 9 % and 11 %.

The highest remunerations were earned in the sector “Creation and distribution of information”, with the average wage being BGN 2037. This represented an increase of 13.3 % compared to last year due to the competition for qualified IT cadres.

In twelve sectors, which provide employment to more than 1.7 million people or more than 77 % of all workers, wages were lower than the average figure for the country.