Polish teachers will see increased salaries in April, including retroactive payments for January-March, potentially adding up to 700 zł more.
Teacher Pay Increases Take Effect
Pay raises for teachers are already in effect, but the full impact will be felt in April when they receive not only higher salaries but also backpay for January. Many will also receive recalculated allowances, resulting in larger payments—potentially several hundred złoty more.
Implementation Details and Timeline
The regulation regarding teacher pay raises, issued by the Minister of Education, came into effect on March 21, 2026, but is retroactive to January 1, 2026. This means salaries were initially paid at the old rates, necessitating the current backpay adjustments.
Teachers should receive their April salaries based on the new, higher rates. Backpay for January, February, and March is to be paid out by April 19, 2026, at the latest.
New Baseline Salaries
The new minimum base salaries for teachers with a master’s degree and pedagogical preparation are as follows:
Pay Increase Amounts
The pay increase amounts to approximately 150–186 zł gross per month.
Calculating the April Payments
The April payment mechanism is straightforward: teachers will receive their April salary at the new rate, plus backpay for January, February, and March. This equates to four times the monthly increase. For example, a monthly increase of approximately 160 zł gross translates to roughly 480 zł gross in backpay for three months, totaling approximately 640 zł gross more than usual.
Estimated Pay Increases with Backpay
The following are approximate pay increase amounts, including backpay (full-time employment, without allowances):
Beginner: Old gross salary: approx. 5153 zł, New gross salary: 5308 zł, Estimated net: approx. 3900–4000 zł, Monthly gross difference: +155 zł
Tenured: Old gross salary: approx. 5310 zł, New gross salary: 5469 zł, Estimated net: approx. 4000–4100 zł, Monthly gross difference: +159 zł
Highly Qualified: Old gross salary: approx. 6211 zł, New gross salary: 6397 zł, Estimated net: approx. 4600–4800 zł, Monthly gross difference: +186 zł
Net estimates depend on individual tax reliefs and tax situations.
Impact on Allowances
The increase extends beyond base salary, impacting certain allowances that are calculated as a percentage of base pay. This will further increase the April payments.
However, not all allowances will increase. If an allowance, such as a motivational bonus, is specified as a fixed amount in the regulations, it will not be automatically adjusted.
Backpay Includes Related Benefits
The backpay also includes benefits linked to base salary, such as those calculated based on the initial lower salary; these will also be recalculated.
Union Concerns Over Insufficient Increase
Despite the formal pay raise, teacher unions argue it is merely an indexation, failing to keep pace with economic growth. The Polish Teachers’ Union (ZNP) points to minimal differences between advancement levels, leaving teacher wages near the minimum wage.
Future Outlook: Temporary Boost
April will bring a one-time “wow” effect with higher payments. However, starting in May, the situation will return to normal: base salaries will only be higher by approximately 150–180 zł gross per month, without backpay, making the increase less noticeable. This is why debate surrounding teacher salaries continues.
