Pay rose in every Estonian ministry, two by over 10%
Tuesday 29th September 2026 on 14:45 in
Estonia
Average salaries rose in every Estonian ministry over the year, with increases topping 10% at the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, ERR reported.
Figures in the draft state budget for next year cover the period from June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026. Average pay at the Ministry of Culture rose 13% to 3,713 euros, while the ministry’s staff fell by one to 91. The budget commentary said salaries had barely changed in the previous two years, weakening the ministry’s pay position and increasing turnover among experienced experts.
At the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, average pay climbed 14% to 3,635 euros. Its workforce fell by 36 to 250.
The highest average salary was at the Ministry of Defence, where pay rose 9% to 3,922 euros and staff numbers increased by eight to 149. Salaries rose 7% at both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where average pay reached 3,675 euros, and the Ministry of the Interior, where it was 3,639 euros. The Interior Ministry’s workforce fell by three to 166.
Average pay increased 6% at the Ministry of Climate and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. It reached 3,706 euros among 266 employees at the Climate Ministry and 3,703 euros among 160 employees at the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
The Finance Ministry recorded a 5% increase, taking average pay to 3,472 euros. Its workforce fell by three to 243. Pay at the Social Affairs Ministry rose 4%, while its staff numbers grew by four to 173.
The smallest increases, 3% each, were at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs. Average pay at the Education Ministry reached 3,320 euros, and its workforce fell by 10 to 260. The Justice and Digital Affairs Ministry reported average pay of 3,660 euros; its staff numbers fell by 40 to 224.
For comparison, Statistics Estonia put the national average salary at 2,243 euros in the second quarter of this year, up 5.5% from the same period a year earlier. Average pay for cultural workers was 2,090 euros last year and is forecast to reach 2,263 euros this year. The minimum salary for cultural workers with higher education is 1,720 euros and is set to remain unchanged next year.