Salary growth has slowed. Finance and Legal see the largest increases, while IT remains stable

According to the 14th edition of Antal's salary report, the average monthly gross salary of professionals and managers amounted to PLN 15,691, representing a 4% increase compared to last year's edition, which was PLN 15,127. Although the increases are still visible, their pace has slowed significantly compared to the previous year. Companies are managing their budgets more cautiously, taking into account rising operational costs and the need to invest in technological development, which results in a more conservative approach to compensation.

The findings of the 14th edition of Antal's Salary Report highlight the maturity of the Polish labour market, which, after years of dynamic fluctuations, has reached relative stability. Companies are focusing on strengthening competitive advantage through investments in automation and digital technologies. 

Salary increases are concentrated in roles requiring a high degree of specialization and competencies that effectively combine technical expertise with business understanding. 

The labour market in Poland is stabilizing - we no longer observe such rapid fluctuations as in previous years, and companies are focusing on investments in areas crucial to their growth. This fosters steady and diversified salary growth," says Artur Skiba, CEO of Antal.

Digitalization and automation are changing the desired competency profile of employees

In many industries, such as finance, banking and pharmacy, more and more companies expect employees not only to have expertise in their fields, but also the ability to work with data, automate processes and know the rules in cybersecurity. Moreover, this year's report confirms that digital competencies and skills in artificial intelligence have become one of the main determining factors of salary levels. 

We can clearly see that digital competencies are becoming not just an additional skill, but an essential part of an employee's profile in many industries. Specialists who are able to combine technological expertise with an understanding of business processes can today expect much faster career growth and more attractive salaries," adds Artur Skiba, CEO of Antal.

Who benefited the most from pay rises?

The highest salary increases were recorded in finance and accounting, where average salaries rose by 9%, reaching PLN 16,509 gross (compared to PLN 15,143 in the 13th edition of the report). This is the result of the evolving role of these departments, which are increasingly acting as strategic business partners.

Today, companies in the financial sector are seeking specialists who can not only report correctly, but above all to be able to analyze data and implement solutions that automate processes. Positions with direct business exposure that combine analytical, technological and strategic competencies are becoming increasingly valued. In accounting, the more common rotation of duties is expanding employees’ responsibilities, which translates into higher salary expectations. In addition, numerous implementations of new tax and reporting regulations reinforce the importance of specialised roles, particularly in areas related to compliance and tax," says Michal Borkowski, Business Unit Manager, Antal Finance & HR & Legal.

In the legal industry, salaries rose by 6%, reaching an average of PLN 16,340 gross, with the fastest growth in areas related to labour and tax law. Sales and marketing also saw a 6% increase, with average salaries now at PLN 15,797 gross, driven by the development of e-commerce channels, the growing importance of modern CRM systems, and ESG activities. Pharma saw a modest increase of 3%, averaging PLN 16,194 gross, mainly resulting from market consolidation and the rising importance of key account managers and modern marketing specialists.

In the IT sector, a trend visible for several years continues - following a period of very dynamic salary increases, the market has entered a phase of long-term stabilization. In 2025, salaries in this industry increased by only 1%, reaching an average level of PLN 19,419 gross. 

Companies are focusing on retaining key experts in areas such as cybersecurity, DevOps, and cloud technologies, while simultaneously reducing recruitment for junior positions, which to a large extent are subjected to automation or relocation to lower-cost locations,'' notes Fabian Pietras, Business Unit Director at Antal IT Services. 

In engineering and logistics, salary increases by an average of 5%, reaching PLN 12,533 gross and PLN 13,374 gross, respectively. In the former sector, the number of investments is decreasing, yet demand for specialists in the area of automation and advanced technologies remains high. Logistics, on the other hand, is benefiting from the rapid growth of e-commerce and investments in fast supply chains, which conduce to salary growth in selected regions of the country, particularly near the western border.

The industrial engineering market in Poland is currently experiencing a slowdown, with a marked decline in the number of new investments and less demand for workers. Some companies are moving production to other regions, and those that remain in the country are increasingly investing in automation and robotization of processes, which is changing the profile of specialists in demand. Despite the lower number of projects, companies operating in Poland still have to compete for highly qualified personnel. As a result, they offer salaries on average about 5% higher than in previous years, especially in areas related to modern technologies and automation, says Roman Zablocki, Business Unit Director, Antal Engineering & Operations. 

Bonuses, LTI and high board salaries in Poland drive financial performance

The salaries of board members in Poland have increased on average from PLN 50,181 to PLN 59,202 gross per month in 2025, a nearly 18% increase. 

At the highest levels of management, we see a significant spread of salaries, depending on the scale and business profile of the company. The base salary alone, although high, is often only part of the package; annual bonuses and long-term incentive (LTI) plans typically outrank it, as they can significantly increase the total compensation of executives. The trend points to the growing role of variable parts in the salary structure, which allows for better linking remuneration to business results and strengthens the loyalty of key leaders," says Artur Migoń, Vice President, Antal

Average gross salary in PLN for specialists and managers per industry

Source: Salary Report Antal

The growing importance of roles combining diverse competencies

Across many industries, there is a clear rise in roles that integrate multiple skill sets, directly contributing to higher salary levels. In finance and accounting, for instance, chief accountants and tax managers combine data analysis with the use of process automation tools. In banking, risk managers support decision-making through advanced analytics and automation. HR business partners and office managers implement digital solutions that streamline HR and operational processes. In IT, specialists such as DevOps engineers, big data engineers and prompt engineering experts merge software development skills with infrastructure management and cybersecurity. In logistics and manufacturing, production managers and supply chain managers leverage data and automation to optimize processes. Meanwhile, in compliance and legal, heads of compliance combine legal expertise with data analysis and digital security assurance.