Salary Guide 2026

Welcome to the 7th edition of the Enloyd Salary Guide. This publication presents current salary ranges and key labour market trends across Hungary, combining market data with practical insights.

Hungary has recently strengthened its position as an attractive investment destination, largely due to its competitive labor costs. Relatively high inflation compared to other EU countries has limited real wage growth, keeping salaries comparatively low. This is particularly visible in comparison to Poland. While wage levels were similar five years ago, salaries in Poland are now around 20% higher, increasing Hungary’s cost advantage. At the same time, Hungary offers a strong supply of well-educated workers, especially in technical fields. This combination of lower costs and skilled labor strengthens its position as a competitive investment location in the region.

Hungary has the potential to further strengthen its investment attractiveness. Poland’s experience shows that transitioning from expatriate leadership to trusted local professionals supports long-term growth. While international companies often enter the market with their own senior management, shifting toward local or hybrid leadership structures over time allows for better alignment with the domestic business environment. In Hungary, a similar shift could improve alignment with the domestic market, leveraging stronger understanding of local cultural, regulatory, and business dynamics.

A key difference between Hungary and Poland lies in labour market dynamics. Poland benefits from both cyclical strength and structural expansion, enabling greater flexibility in meeting labour demand. In contrast, Hungary currently faces a cyclical slowdown combined with structural workforce shortages, which continue to drive pressure despite weaker economic growth.

In the near term, the release of EU funds is expected to stimulate economic activity across multiple sectors, driving investment, infrastructure development, and business growth. As a result, economic momentum is projected to strengthen, with GDP growth potentially reaching around 4% in the coming year. 

In this context, clear visibility into salary levels and labour market dynamics becomes a critical input for effective workforce planning. We hope this guide provides a clear and practical reference for navigating the Hungarian labour market.

We wish you an insightful read.

Artur Skiba

PRESIDENT OF ENLOYD & ANTAL

• Page 7 - Foreword
• Page 9 - Labour market trends
• Page 10 - General overview and labour market trends
• Page 12 - Non-salary benefits
• Page 14 - Overview of average salaries by industry
• Page 17 - Executive trends
• Page 19 - Salaries by selected industry
• Page 20 - How to read the report? 
• Page 24 - HR, Marketing and Sales
• Page 31 - Engineering, Logistics and Procurement
• Page 38 - Information Technology
• Page 45 - Service Centers
• Page 48 - Finance
• Page 54 - Methodology
• Page 55 - Enloyd Market Research
• Page 56 - Get familiar with Enloyd reports
• Page 57 - About Enloyd