Ukrainian Salaries Near 31,000 Hryvnia: Who Earns the Most?.

Average Pay in Ukraine Sees a Rise in May 2026

According to Novyny.live: According to Ukraine’s State Statistics Service, the country’s average salary climbed to 30,961 hryvnia in May 2026. This marks an increase from the 30,515 hryvnia recorded in April 2026, reflecting a positive trend in household earnings. For context, these figures are nominal and do not account for inflation, which has been a persistent challenge in the Ukrainian economy.

Breaking down the data by sector, IT professionals earned an average of 76,990 hryvnia in May 2026—far exceeding the national average. In contrast, the healthcare sector reported the lowest average wage at 21,550 hryvnia. Kyiv, the capital, boasted the highest regional earnings with an average of 47,120 hryvnia, while the surrounding Kyiv region averaged a more modest 32,370 hryvnia.

Labor Market Disparities in Mid-2026

The labor market in the second half of 2026 continues to show significant income gaps. The lowest average salaries were recorded in Chernivtsi Oblast (22,350 hryvnia) and Kirovohrad Oblast (22,340 hryvnia). As of early summer 2026, total wage arrears across Ukraine stood at 3.8 billion hryvnia. The average salary used for Pension Fund contributions was 23,220 hryvnia, while wages advertised on job search websites averaged 27,336 hryvnia.

Several sectors are driving growth, including:

• Industrial manufacturing
• Logistics and supply chain
• Financial services
• Information technology and telecommunications
• Selected service industry segments

In Kyiv, the median income reached 35,120 hryvnia, with some workers earning over 70,000 hryvnia. For example, plasterers can command salaries as high as 80,000 hryvnia, underscoring strong demand for skilled tradespeople in that field.

The rise in average wages may signal economic improvement, but stark income disparities across regions and sectors highlight an uneven labor market recovery.

High earnings in IT and other booming fields stand in sharp contrast to low pay in healthcare and certain regions, potentially fueling social tensions and calling for policy interventions to balance economic conditions nationwide. The persistent wage arrears also remain a concern, as they could undermine household welfare and dampen consumer spending.