The net monthly income of a Romanian middle manager working for a major multinational or in an expanding field (retail, banking, IT, financial services) exceeds, on average, 2,800 euros, which is almost 40% and 15.6% higher than Bulgarian and Hungarian managers, respectively.
However, Romanian managers' wages are surpassed by Canadian (95%) and Swiss managers' (174.2%), who report average net monthly incomes of almost 7,700 euros, according to a Salary Survey conducted by Mercer HR consultancy.
The report confirms an increasingly visible tendency on the domestic labour force, namely that in terms of the level of the average wage for management positions, Romania beats other Central and East-European countries, but still lags behind Western economies. On the domestic market, the survey took into account the salaries of 100 companies, which were mostly multinationals.
"At high training levels, at middle and top management positions, wages are much closer and even exceed the level of neighbouring countries, which confirms the wide wage gaps between categories of employees in Romania," says Oana Botolan, country manager with Consulteam, which represents Mercer domestically.
At the same time, Czech wages are superior to domestic market ones by percentages that range between 3.5% and 44%.
It is only middle managers at multinationals, in Romania, that earn 4% more than the Czechs, who receive 2,350 euros. At the same time, a senior expert (with over 2 years experience) has a monthly salary worth 1,100 euros in Romania, compared to almost 5,100 euros in Switzerland.
Data refers to all net cash incomes received in one month, namely the basic wage, plus bonuses and other guaranteed salary items (luncheon vouchers, transport expenses, holiday bonus, etc.).
A skilled worker has a monthly net income of 450 euros in Romania, 613% below a Swiss worker, who has a net monthly income of 3,200 euros, indicates the survey.
Wage gaps are widening to Romania's detriment when it comes to entry-level jobs.
As a result, whereas a Romanian unskilled worker receives 285 euros per month, a Canadian worker earns 1,700 euros (490% more), whilst a Swiss worker earns 2,500 euros, almost 9 times more.
The good news is that Romanian employees' incomes top those of Bulgarians and Indians at all levels; the closer to the top the position is, the more obvious this becomes.
Mercer representatives consider comparative wage surveys are irrelevant unless they take into account at least 2 major factors: living costs and standards.
The highest-paid fields domestically are IT&C and retail. This year, wages along different management levels increased 10% on average against last year. The highest increases were posted in insurance (17%), retail (13.5%) and IT (11%), whilst the FMCG sector saw increases of just 7.6%.
Wage gaps
In terms of the level of the average wage for management positions, Romania beats other Central and East-European states, but still lags behind Western economies
Wage gaps are widening to Romania's detriment when it comes to entry-level jobs
Romanian employees' incomes top those of Bulgarians and Indians at all levels; the closer to the top the position is, the more obvious this becomes.
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