Average monthly income continues to grow
According to Statistics Estonia, the average monthly gross income per employee was 954 euros in 2014. Compared to 2013, the income increased 6 percent.
In a positive news to Estonian employees, the growth rate has been at this level for the last few years.
However, there is a gap in salaries between those living in the urban vicinity of the capital Tallinn and in southern Estonia. The average income was higher in Harju county (1,061 euros), whereas in Valga county, the relatively poor area bordering Latvia, had the lowest average gross income at 799 euros.
Among local government units, the average gross income was the highest in Viimsi municipality, an affluent Tallinn suburb, at 1,362 euros, and the lowest in Piirissaare rural municipality at 632 euros. Piirisaar is a small island in Lake Peipus, with a tiny population of 73.
25–49 year-olds bag the largest wages, earning on average 1,068 euros per month, followed by the 50-62 age group at 884 euros. People aged 63 and older and employees aged under 25 make on average less than 700 euros.
As pointed out frequently, in Estonia men have a higher average monthly gross income than women in all age groups. Last year, the difference was 24 percent, which is a slight decrease compared to the previous years.
For the first time in the last ten years, the number of earners aged 63 and older exceeded the number of income recipients aged under 25.
Editor: S. Tambur