Average wage reaches 92,150 lek; 1 in 4 employees earn minimum wage

The average wage in Albania exceeded 92,000 lek in the second quarter of the year, rising 10% in a year. But gaps remain large, with finance and technology paying more than double the national average.

The average wage in Albania continued to rise in the second quarter of 2026, passing the level of 92,000 gross lek per month. However, data shows the labor market remains polarized, with more than a quarter of employees declared at minimum wage, while the group of workers earning over 120,000 lek per month is also expanding.

According to data published by INSTAT, the average gross monthly wage for a salaried employee reached 92,150 lek in the second quarter of 2026, up 9.8% compared to the same period last year.

The trend of recent years shows a marked rise in nominal wages. In the second quarter of 2024 the average wage was 75,114 lek, a year later it reached 83,906 lek. In the first quarter of this year the average wage was 90,120 lek, climbing to 92,150 lek in April–June. Within two years the average wage has risen by about 17,000 lek.

But gaps between sectors remain large. Finance and insurance continue to be the best-paid economic activity in the country, with an average monthly wage of 187,267 lek, more than double the national average. Second comes the information and communication sector, where the average wage reaches 143,528 lek. These are also the only two economic activities with average wages above the national level.