Average gross monthly earnings in Romania reached 9,709 lei in July this year, up 1.5% from the previous month, while average net earnings increased by the same percentage, according to data released on Friday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
According to official statistics, during the period under review, average net earnings increased in most economic activities as a result of occasional bonuses being paid (quarterly, annual, holiday or performance bonuses), payments in kind and cash benefits, amounts from net profit and other funds (including value vouchers). Increases in average net earnings were also due to higher production output or higher receipts, depending on contracts and projects, as well as staff reductions in some economic activities involving employees whose earnings were below the average.
The most significant increases in average net earnings at the CAEN Rev.3 division level were recorded as follows: 23.4% in legal and accounting activities and 20.2% in the extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas; between 8% and 14.5% in architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis; the manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers; rental and leasing activities; warehousing and support activities for transportation; the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products; and other professional, scientific and technical activities.
Other increases, ranging from 3.5% to 6.5%, were recorded in the manufacture of textiles; postal and courier activities; the production and supply of electricity and heat, gas, hot water and air conditioning; gambling and betting activities; agriculture, hunting and related services; the manufacture of clothing; investigation and security activities; fishing and aquaculture; landscape services and services to buildings; various membership organisations; the manufacture of basic metals; and retail trade.
On the other hand, decreases in average net earnings in July compared with June 2026 were caused by occasional bonuses having been paid in previous months (quarterly, annual or performance bonuses), payments in kind and cash benefits, amounts from net profit and other funds (including value vouchers), as well as lower production output or lower receipts, depending on contracts and projects.
Thus, decreases in average net earnings at the division level ranged from 7.5% to 11.5% in the manufacture of tobacco products; publishing activities; the manufacture of computers and electronic and optical products; telecommunications; the manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.; and the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations. Decreases of between 1.5% and 4.5% were recorded in financial intermediation, except insurance and pension funding; web portal activities; data processing, web administration and related activities; the manufacture of rubber and plastic products; printing and reproduction of recorded media; other extractive activities; the manufacture of chemicals and chemical products; motion picture, video and television programme production; and sound recording and music publishing activities.
Meanwhile, in the public sector, average net earnings rose slightly from one month to the next in human health and social work activities (+1.5%) and public administration (+0.6%), but fell in education (-1.1%).
