University professor minimum salary to rise to 9,940 zloty from January 2027, draft regulation says

In brief

• Poland's science ministry has proposed raising the minimum professor salary at public universities from 9,650 to 9,940 zloty gross from 1 January 2027.
• The increase is tied to the national minimum wage, which is rising to 4,950 zloty.
• Minimum assistant pay would rise to 4,970 zloty, and other academic pay and doctoral stipends would also increase.
• The draft is open for public consultation and is not yet in force.

Minimum professor pay to rise by 290 zloty

According to the draft regulation of the Ministry of Science, the minimum basic monthly salary of a professor at a public university would climb from 9,650 zloty to 9,940 zloty gross from 1 January 2027 (Podwyżki na uczelniach od nowego roku. Rząd opublikował projekt rozporządzenia – Dziennik.pl) (Nowa siatka wynagrodzeń na uczelniach. Wydano rozporządzenie | pulshr.pl – pulshr.pl) (Pensje na uczelniach wzrosną od 2027 roku? Jest projekt rozporządzenia – GazetaPrawna.pl). That is an increase of 290 zloty, or about 3 percent.

Why the change is needed

The ministry says the adjustment is necessary so that the lowest academic salaries do not fall below the national minimum wage. The national minimum wage is set to rise to 4,950 zloty gross on 1 January 2027 (Od stycznia pensje będą wyższe. Rząd zatwierdził podwyżkę płacy minimalnej – PulsHR.pl).

Assistant pay and other academic salaries

The Law on Higher Education and Science requires an assistant's salary to be at least 50 percent of a professor's pay. At the current level, the minimum assistant salary of 4,825 zloty would sit below the national minimum wage. Under the draft, it would rise to 4,970 zloty gross, an increase of 145 zloty. Pay and benefits for other staff in higher education and research will also increase, according to the draft (Uczelnie publiczne: Wyższe minimalne miesięczne wynagrodzenie zasadnicze profesora. Wzrosną też inne wynagrodzenia – edukacja.infor.pl). Doctoral stipends are included in the planned changes.

Status of the draft

The draft has been published on the Government Legislation Centre website and sent for public consultation. It is not yet in force. Final wording and the exact start date depend on the consultation outcome and the signing of the regulation.