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Average net earnings amounted to HUF 546,000, representing an 11.3% increase compared to March 2025. The stronger rise in net earnings was partly driven by tax changes, including the expansion of the family tax allowance and new or extended tax allowances for mothers.
According to KSH, the increase in net wages was significantly affected by the higher family tax allowance introduced in two steps from July 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026. Other factors included the personal income tax exemption introduced from October 1, 2025 for mothers raising three children, the exemption introduced from January 1, 2026 for mothers under 40 raising two children, and the expansion of the tax allowance for mothers under 30.
Regular average gross earnings, excluding premiums and one-month bonuses, stood at HUF 706,900 in March, 9% higher than in the same month of the previous year.
In the business sector, regular gross earnings reached HUF 703,100, up 8.9% year-on-year. In the budgetary sector, they amounted to HUF 708,300, rising by 9.5%, while in the nonprofit sector they reached HUF 738,200, an 8.3% increase. KSH said the above-average increase in the public sector was explained by pre-scheduled wage rises.
Real earnings rose by 9.3% year-on-year, supported by the wage increase and a 1.8% rise in consumer prices over the same period.
Median earnings also showed strong growth. Median gross earnings reached HUF 609,000, 10.7% higher than a year earlier, while median net earnings amounted to HUF 432,100, up 13.2% compared to March 2025.
The data points to continued strong wage growth in Hungary, with net earnings outpacing gross wage increases as tax allowances play a growing role in household income developments.
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