Average Salary in Slovenia

Slovenia is one of the EU countries. The official language is Slovenian and the Euro is the recognised form of currency. The country has a dynamic and rich economy, making it a well-developed, progressive, and stable European country. Following the economic crisis in 2008, Slovenia has taken up restorative and preventive measures to improve the country’s economy. Besides an impressive GDP, Slovenia also boasts well-developed modern infrastructures, as well as a highly competitive and educated workforce. Before deciding to move to this high-income economy, it’s advisable to gather as much information as possible about life and work in Slovenia. Lucky for you, I’ve covered just about everything you need to know about this topic.

How much can you expect to get paid in Slovenia ? While this varies depending on location, employer, profession, and an employee’s qualification among other factors, the average salary in Slovenia is 2,883 EUR per month or 34,595 EUR per year, while the average hourly rate is 17 EUR. After taxes and other compulsory deductions, this figure comes down to an average of €1,069.51/month.

For foreigners hoping to find employment in Slovenia, the job market can be quite competitive, partly due to competition from the locals and other EU nationals who relocate here for work. That being said, combining the right set of skills with good academic credits will open doors for you. Fluency in both English and Slovenian languages will also better your chances of success. Are you an expatriate looking for job opportunities in Slovenia? Continue reading for more information on the economy, job market, work permits, cost of living, and much more. Once you’re done, you’ll be able to make informed decisions about relocating to work in Slovenia.

If you’re looking to join the Slovenian job market, it might be a good idea to check out salaries of specific professions that you’re interested in. Here are a few to get you started, along with their average annual salaries:

Psychologist – €81,372
CEO – €75,426
Internal auditor – €33,893
Nurse – €26,092
Teacher – €24,866
Waiter/waitress – €19,802
General Manager – €57,302
Credit Manager – €41,952
Lecturer – €39,810
Accountant – €20,918
Receptionist – €17,725
Chief financial officer – €69,543
Developer/programmer – €27,967
Engineer – €30,054
Graphic designer – €23,269
Sales representative – €21,113
Lawyer – €47,814

Economic overview

Slovenia has a rapidly growing economy –the richest of all the Slavic countries. Slovenia’s economy has recovered far better than several other EU nations after the great recession and remained strong in the years after. Slovenia’s strong economy is mainly due to its heavy reliance on foreign trade with other EU members, including Austria, Italy, Germany, and France. This is despite having the lowest level of direct foreign investments in the region.

The job market

The services sector employs two-thirds of the working population while the industry sector employs 35%. The remaining percentage can be found in agriculture. Many foreign workers can be found working in trade and industry sectors, particularly construction, business services, manufacturing, commerce, and car production. Understanding the economy will help you determine where you have better chances of getting employment.

How to find work in Slovenia

There are several sources for finding work in this country, including online job sites, local newspapers, and most importantly, networking. Popular job sites include Career Jet, Moja Zaposlitev, the Employment Service of Slovenia, Mojedelo, and ESL Employment for English teachers. Recruitment agencies can also help with job placement, as well guide you if you’re still unfamiliar with the local labour market. One of the things that always place foreign candidates behind natives for job consideration is the Slovenian language. Without such language skills, your potential work opportunities become limited; therefore, it’s beneficial to take language classes before your arrival to Slovenia.

Requirements for working in Slovenia

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals don’t need a work permit to enter the Slovenian job market. They have free access to Slovenia’s labour market and can apply for any job vacancies under equal conditions as the natives. On the other hand, those relocating from other countries must obtain a work permit before they can be allowed to work or even get a residence permit in Slovenia.

Social security in Slovenia

This country has a comprehensive social security system, which is based upon contributions from both employees and employers. Contributions are generally for pensions, health insurance, and disability benefits.

Income Tax in Slovenia

This is levied on all workers in Slovenia at a progressive rate of 16, 27, 34, 39, and 50 percent, depending on an individual’s income. Foreigners have to pay personal income tax if they reside in the country for over 183 days in 12 months. Note that Slovenia has double tax agreements with some countries, so check if your home country has such a treaty to avoid double taxation on your income.

Slovenia Average Household Income

In Slovenia, the average income per household is updated yearly. It was last recorded in December 2018 at €23,039, which was an increase from the previous value of €22,256 in 2017. This country has one of the lowest income inequalities in the European Union. It has strong income redistribution thanks to significant social transfer and taxation. To measure whether these financial resources are sufficient to cover expenses, Slovenia average household expenditure is also updated yearly and it was recorded at €19,560 in December 2018. As you can see, the household income is higher than household expenditure, allowing residents to enjoy a decent standard of living.

Minimum Wage in Slovenia

Several countries across the globe have a statutory minimum wage, which is described as the lowest possible remuneration given to an employee for work done. This is to protect low-income earners and guarantee them a maximum level of pay for their work. Some of the jobs in this group include housekeeping, security guard, garbage collector, caregiver, doorman, janitor, cleaner, shoemaker, and postman just to name a few.

Slovenia is one of the countries with NMW. It’s usually determined by the ministry of labour based on inflation and other economic trends. Since Slovenia enjoys one of the highest economic growth rates in the EU, it’s only fair that workers feel that too. The NMW in Slovenia is currently at €886.6/month, which translates to around €10,639 a year given 12 payments per year.

Slovenia is one of the few EU members with NMW in gross. In that case, the net minimum wage in 2019 is about €667/month and set to increase to €700/month by 2020.

Understanding minimum wage isn’t only for employees, but for employers as well. Employers must abide by this regulation and pay salaries for a period no longer than one month.

Working conditions

In addition to the minimum wage, Slovenian workers are entitled to at least 20 days of paid annual leave and 12 paid public holidays per year. Maternity leave lasts 105 days while paternity leave lasts 90 days. One of the parents can also take up child care leave for 260 days upon expiry of maternity/paternity leave. The average work-week is 40 hours/week or 8 hours/day.

Average Salary in Ljubljana

Ljubljana is the capital city of Slovenia. It offers a high quality of life to every resident thanks to its clean, green, safe, and friendly nature. The city has experienced extraordinary development in the past decade with every generation in mind, including an effective public transportation system, one of the best education systems in Europe, and much more.

Many expats in Slovenia choose to live in this multicultural city as it has all the elements necessary to create the perfect job hunting ground. Before relocating to this amazing destination, let’s check out the salaries offered here.

Salaries in this city range between €387/month (minimum) to €12,662/month (maximum). The median salary is €2,945/month, meaning half of the working population earns more this amount while the other half earns less than this amount.

The average gross salary in Ljubljana is 2,860 EUR per month or 34,314 EUR per year. Since jobs are often categorised as salaried or hourly jobs, the average hourly rate is at 16 EUR per hour. As mentioned earlier, income tax applies to all working residents in this city and the country at large at a progressive rate. This brings the average net salary in Ljubljana to around €1,138.67/month.

If you’re wondering what a good salary is, it all depends on your financial needs and the lifestyle you want to adopt. Ultimately, if your salary is above the median and average salaries, you should be able to afford a decent lifestyle.

Local economy

Ljubljana is the economic, industrial, and the financial centre of the country. The local economy is mainly driven by the industry, tourism, and services sectors. The Ljubljana Stock Exchange is also very important to the economy. The industrial sector is the biggest employer of foreign workers with pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and food processing being the main industries.

Cost Of Living in Slovenia (In US Dollars)

Despite being part of the EU and having a strong economy, the cost of living in Slovenia is surprisingly quite reasonable. Housing and food are the biggest expenses in Slovenian households, followed by transport, clothing and footwear, entertainment, and education. Here are some average prices to give you an idea of the cost of living. These prices are to be used as a rough guide for your budget planning as the exact cost of living will depend on an individual’s lifestyle and where they choose to live.

Housing

From shared accommodation to a fully furnished house, expats looking for housing will find an array of options. Renting prices average at $510/month in the city centre and $389/month in the outskirts for a one-bedroom apartment. Shared accommodation is available at around $150/month while a bigger house (3 bedrooms) average at $950/month. Foreigners can only buy real estate if their home countries have a reciprocity agreement with Slovenia. Current property prices range from $1,100-4,440/square metre. And, you can find a 20-year mortgage at an average fixed rate of 3.32% annually.

Food

Food prices in this country are comparable to those in neighbouring countries. The monthly cost of food will vary depending on your lifestyle and how often you cook at home. When it comes to eating out, prices start at $8.87 for a basic meal in a cheap restaurant.

Transport

Public transport is the cheapest way to get around. A single ticket for local transport costs about $1.44 while a monthly ticket average at $41.01. Taxis, on the other hand, start at $1.11 with an additional $1.00 for every km ride. If you’re looking to own a car, you can find a brand new Toyota corolla (or equivalent car) for about $20,360. You’ll need to budget for gasoline at $1.45/litre, as well as repairs, maintenance, and insurance costs. Alternatively, you can buy a bike for just $30-60 and a bike lock to prevent bike theft.

Other costs you’ll need to budget for include utilities, clothing and footwear, leisure, education, telecommunication, and much more depending on your needs. In summary, a single expat will spend about $640/month on monthly expenses while a family of four will spend $2,100/month on the same. However, these figures don’t include rent/mortgage payments.