This is how much a teacher will actually earn. New rates from January 1, 2026

The minimum basic salary for teachers increases from PLN 151 to PLN 186 gross. The regulation on this matter was signed by the Minister of Education, Barbara Nowacka, and the Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy, Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk – Ewelina Gorczyca, spokeswoman for the Ministry of National Education, told PAP on Thursday.

A table is attached to the amendment to the regulation on the minimum rates of basic remuneration for teachers, general conditions for granting allowances to basic remuneration and remuneration for work on days off. It contains six rates of minimum basic salary for teachers. All three stages of professional development are included, i.e. beginner, appointed and certified teachers, as well as two levels of education.

According to it the minimum basic salary of teachers increases from PLN 151 to PLN 186 gross, depending on the level of professional promotion and grade, i.e. by 3%.

The amendment will enter into force on the day following its announcement in the Journal of Laws, with effect from January 1, 2026.

Minimum basic salary of a teacher with a master's degree and pedagogical preparation in the case of:

• beginner teacher from January 1 this year. is to be PLN 5,308 gross (an increase of PLN 155 gross),
• appointed teacher – PLN 5,469 gross (an increase of PLN 159 gross),
• certified teacher – PLN 6,397 gross (an increase of PLN 186 gross).

Teachers with a master's degree and pedagogical preparation constitute the largest group – over 95%. all teachers.

The remaining teachers are people with a master's degree but without teaching preparation, a bachelor's degree (engineer) with teaching preparation, a bachelor's degree (engineer) without teaching preparation, a diploma from a teachers' college or a foreign language teachers' college, and other education. The minimum basic salary for a beginner teacher with this level of education (second grade group) from January 1 this year. is to be: PLN 5,178 gross (increase by PLN 151 gross), appointed teacher – PLN 5,311 gross (increase by PLN 155 gross), certified teacher – PLN 5,567 gross (increase by PLN 162 gross).

Basic salary is one of the components of the so-called average salary of teachers. Its amount at individual levels of professional promotion results from the base amount for teachers specified in the Budget Act.

In the budget act for 2026 the base amount for teachers was set at PLN 5,597.86, increasing it by PLN 163.04 compared to the one applicable in 2025 – an increase of 3%.

The average remuneration of teachers, in addition to the basic salary, also includes allowances. These are set out in the Teacher's Charter. There are several of them, including: for long service, functional (resulting from performing a managerial position, for a mentor, for a class teacher, methodological advisor teacher, consultant teacher), motivational, for working conditions, jubilee award, award from a special reward fund, additional remuneration for night work, additional annual remuneration (the so-called thirteen), retirement and disability severance pay and severance pay for termination of employment, remuneration for overtime hours and ad hoc replacements.

The amount of some allowances depends on the amount of the basic salary (e.g. internship allowance and remuneration for overtime hours) – an increase in the basic salary automatically increases the components dependent on it. The amount of other allowances is decided by local governments in their remuneration regulations. Local governments may also award teachers a higher basic salary than specified in the regulation of the Minister of Education on minimum wages.

Teachers' unions assess this year's teacher pay increase as insufficient.

“The 3% increase in teachers' salaries is only an indexation of the salary, not an increase,” the Polish Teachers' Union notes in its opinion on the draft salary regulation. He points out that it does not reflect the real increase in the cost of living and inflation experienced in households, does not ensure the competitiveness of the teaching profession compared to other professional groups with similar qualifications, and does not meet the expectations of the teaching community regarding a real improvement in the financial situation.

The Polish Teachers' Union calls for an increase in the basic salary of teachers by 15%. The Free Trade Union “Forum-Oświata” demands the same salary increase.

“The submitted regulation does not meet any real salary demands, does not compensate for many years of neglect or the dramatic decline in the real value of teachers' remuneration,” wrote the National Council of the Education Section of NSZZ “Solidarność” in its opinion. He calls the increase in teachers' pay a “cosmetic correction.” “Such actions should be considered apparent and cynical, and not a responsible state policy towards education,” he says. (PAP)

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