Poland to Raise Doctor Salaries Starting July 1, 2026

Updated Minimum Salary Standards for Healthcare Workers in Poland

According to ХВИЛЯ: Beginning July 1, 2026, Poland will implement revised minimum base pay regulations for medical professionals. The reference point for calculations will be the national average wage from 2025, which has been set at 8,903.56 zloty. This reform covers not only physicians but also a broad range of specialists essential to the healthcare system.

Guaranteed Minimums Across Medical Roles

From the second half of 2026, specialists with advanced medical training will see a guaranteed minimum of 12,910.16 zloty gross. This represents a net increase of over 1,046 zloty for this group. Doctors and dentists without a narrow specialization will have a salary floor of 10,595.24 zloty, while medical interns will earn at least 8,458.38 zloty gross.

Pharmacists, physiotherapists, clinical psychologists, and laboratory diagnosticians will now be entitled to the same minimum pay as nurses and midwives who hold a university degree and a specialization. For this group, the guaranteed income starting July 1 will be 11,485.59 zloty. Staff with secondary education or no specialization will earn between 5,787 and over 9,000 zloty gross.

As before, specialized doctors remain the highest-paid category. The reform extends beyond physicians, covering a wide array of professionals whose work is critical to clinic operations. Even for personnel with secondary education or lacking specialization, the pay scale shows a positive shift. Although the figures appear encouraging, Poland’s medical community has greeted these changes with cautious restraint.

This introduction of new minimum salary standards for healthcare workers in Poland reflects growing attention to working conditions in a sector facing challenges such as staff shortages and high qualification demands. While this could improve service quality and elevate the profession’s prestige, the measured response from medical professionals suggests concerns about the actual impact on the broader healthcare system.

As Poland prepares for the upcoming changes in medical salaries, it’s important to consider the broader implications of these reforms. The adjustments not only aim to improve the financial conditions for healthcare workers but also address ongoing challenges within the sector. For further insights into how these salary increases compare to previous standards and their potential impact on healthcare professionals, read more about the upcoming salary adjustments for specialists.