Managers and executives of institutions and businesses continue to top the list of the highest-paid professions in Albania. Data published by INSTAT in its report “Wage Statistics, First Quarter 2026” show that income disparities remain significant between highly qualified professions and jobs requiring basic skills.
According to the data, managers earn an average gross monthly salary of 122,000 lek, placing them at the top of the ranking. They are followed by highly educated professionals such as economists, lawyers, doctors, and engineers, who receive an average gross monthly salary of 105,000 lek. Among the best-paid groups are also members of the armed forces, with an average gross monthly salary of 98,200 lek.
At the other end of the ranking are service workers, sales employees, agricultural workers, and elementary occupations, which continue to record the lowest wage levels in the labor market.
INSTAT’s data also show that the average gross monthly wage in the country has continued to increase in recent years. In the first quarter of 2026, the average gross monthly wage for an employee in Albania reached 90,100 lek. Compared to the first quarter of 2025, the average gross monthly wage increased by 9.6%.
This growth has been driven by labor shortages, emigration, and rising demand for skilled professionals. However, the data indicate that education level and job position remain the key factors determining income levels in Albania.
The largest increase in average wages was recorded in the category of “craftsmen, artisans, and related trades,” which saw a rise of 15.7%, followed by “elementary occupations” with an increase of 15.3%.
The post INSTAT: Managers Remain the Highest-Paid Professionals, Earning Over 122,000 Lek per Month appeared first on Euronews Albania.
