Polish teachers will receive increased salaries in April, including retroactive payments for January-March, potentially boosting paychecks by up to 700 zł.
Teacher Pay Raises Take Effect
Pay raises for teachers are already in effect, but the full impact will be felt in April. Teachers will receive higher salaries and back pay for January, along with recalculated allowances in many cases.
This will result in payments increased by several hundred złoty. The amount of the increase depends on the teacher’s experience and qualifications.
Regulations and Implementation
The Minister of Education’s regulation regarding teacher pay raises came into effect on March 21, 2026, but is applicable retroactively from January 1, 2026. This means salaries were paid at the old rates for the first three months of the year, necessitating the current back payment.
Payment Schedule
Teachers should receive their April salaries based on the new, higher rates starting in early April. The back pay for January, February, and March will be paid out no later than April 19, 2026.
New Baseline Salaries
The new minimum baseline 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 rates, plus back pay for January, February, and March. This equates to four times the monthly pay increase.
For example, if the monthly pay increase is around 160 zł gross, the back pay for three months will be approximately 480 zł gross, totaling around 640 zł gross more than usual.
Net Pay Considerations
Net pay will be lower, typically by around 25–30 percent, due to deductions for contributions and income tax.
Salary Comparison: Old vs. New
The following table shows the old and new gross and net salaries based on the teacher’s advancement level:
Degree of Teacher Advancement
Beginning
Tenured
Qualified
Net estimates depend on individual tax reliefs and tax situations.
Additional Allowances
The pay increase also affects certain allowances, but only those calculated as a percentage of the baseline salary. This means some allowances will also increase.
This is why April payments may be even higher than expected based solely on the baseline salary increase.
Important Note on Allowances
Not all allowances will increase. If an incentive allowance is specified in the regulations as a fixed amount (e.g., 400–700 zł), it will not be automatically recalculated.
Back Pay Includes Related Benefits
The back pay also includes benefits linked to the baseline salary, such as those calculated based on the lower salary in the first months of the year. These will also be recalculated.
Union Concerns Over Pay Increase
Despite the formal pay increase, the teaching community expresses that it is merely an indexation. The Polish Teachers’ Union (ZNP) points out that wages are growing slower than the economy, and the differences between advancement levels are minimal.
The ZNP is demanding a 15 percent pay increase, citing inflation and the decline in the real value of wages.
Temporary Impact of Pay Increase
April will bring a one-time “wow” effect, with higher payments being noticeable. However, starting in May, the situation will return to normal: baseline salaries will only be higher by approximately 150–180 zł gross per month, without the back pay. The effect of the pay increase will become much less noticeable.
This is why emotions surrounding teacher salaries remain high.