Major Salary Hikes Planned for Ukrainian Rescuers: Here’s What They Could Earn.

Financial Compensation for Ukraine’s Emergency Workers

According to Слово і Діло — Інфографіка: Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian rescuers have been operating under constant threat, highlighting the critical nature of their profession in today’s environment. A key aspect of their work is financial compensation, which has undergone significant changes in recent years. According to available data, the minimum pay for rescuers from 2023 through 2026 ranges from 17,000 hryvnias.

Salary Trends from 2016 to 2026

Between 2016 and 2026, wages for employees of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) increased by a factor of 5.6. In 2016, rescuers earned the following:

• 2016 – 3,000 hryvnias;
• 2017 – 5,000;
• 2018 – 7,000;
• 2019 – 9,000;
• 2020 and 2021 – 10,000;
• 2022 – 11,000 hryvnias.

In June 2023, the Verkhovna Rada backed draft law No. 6506-1, which proposes a minimum salary of 10 subsistence minimums—roughly 33,280 hryvnias—starting in 2027. This bill had been pending in parliament since 2022 and was approved in its first reading on March 12, 2025.

As a result, the issue of boosting rescuer pay remains pressing, and new initiatives could substantially improve their working conditions in the years ahead.

The rise in rescuer salaries reflects a broader trend toward enhancing social protection for emergency workers, especially amid wartime. This could play a key role in attracting new recruits to the SESU and motivating current staff, ultimately strengthening their ability to respond to emergencies. In crisis situations like war, the role of rescuers becomes even more vital, underscoring the need for fair recognition of their efforts.