Almost half of non-Cypriot workers earn less than €1,500

The average monthly earnings of employees in Cyprus rose to €2,605 in 2025, according to a report based on provisional data published by the state statistical service (Cystat).

However, the median salary stood significantly lower at €1,968, highlighting disparities in income distribution.

The distinction is important because average earnings can be skewed by high earners, while the median reflects the midpoint, showing what a typical employee actually earns.

Data for the fourth quarter of 2025 indicated that average gross monthly earnings reached €2,932, compared with €2,810 in the same quarter of 2024, marking a 4.4 per cent increase.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, earnings rose by 1.1 per cent quarter-on-quarter compared with the third quarter of 2025.

The report also showed that male employees recorded average earnings of €3,102, while female employees earned €2,718, reflecting ongoing differences in pay levels.

When compared with the fourth quarter of 2024, earnings increased by 4.2 per cent for men and 4.5 per cent for women, indicating slightly faster growth among female employees.

However, this faster growth partly reflects efforts to narrow the gender pay gap, as women’s earnings start from a lower average base.

As a result, the upward movement in women’s wages signals gradual convergence rather than an immediate equalisation in overall pay levels.

For the full year, average earnings rose by 4.9 per cent in 2025, following a 5.1 per cent increase recorded in 2024.

What is more, the report also revealed clear patterns in earnings distribution across different groups.

Among Cypriot employees, the largest share, 42.8 per cent, fell within the €1,500 to €2,999 range.

In contrast, 47.7 per cent of non-Cypriot employees were concentrated in the lowest earnings bracket below €1,500.

Differences were also evident by gender, with 38.8 per cent of women in the lowest earnings category, while 40.5 per cent of men were concentrated in the €1,500 to €2,999 bracket.

Furthermore, the statistical service reported that non-Cypriot employees were more heavily represented in lower income brackets, particularly below €1,500.

At the same time, they also recorded a higher share in the top earnings bracket above €6,000, with 7.8 per cent of non-Cypriots falling in this category, compared with 5.2 per cent of Cypriots.

Cypriot employees, by contrast, showed greater concentration in middle and higher income levels, indicating a more balanced distribution across earnings groups.

It should be noted that the figures include basic salaries, the cost of living allowance (CoLA), overtime pay, holiday fund contributions and bonuses, covering both regular and irregular payments such as 13th and 14th salaries.

The statistical service’s latest report underscores how headline average salary figures can mask underlying inequalities, with the median offering a clearer picture of typical earnings across the workforce.