According to the latest comparative data, Slovenia leads the ex-SFRY states with the highest average net monthly salary, reaching €1,610. It is followed by Croatia with €1,444 and Montenegro with €1,014, while Serbia stands at around €900. At the bottom of the regional ranking are Bosnia and Herzegovina (€800) and North Macedonia (€727).
The broader European comparison shows even sharper contrasts. Northern and Western Europe dominate the top of the salary scale, with Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Iceland far ahead of the rest. Meanwhile, many Central and Southern European countries—along with the Western Balkans—remain at the lower end.
Analysts note that high-income countries tend to have more developed service sectors, stronger labor protections, and higher productivity, all of which significantly influence wage structures.
Despite modest wage growth in the region, countries of the former SFRY continue to lag behind the European Union average. Combined with longer working hours—Serbia, for example, records an average 41.3-hour workweek, one of the highest in Europe—the data highlights ongoing structural and economic challenges. For most of the region, improving wages will depend on sustained economic reforms, investment, and productivity growth.
