Salaries in Ukraine have risen by 96%: a list of the most popular and highest-paying professions

A labor shortage is forcing Ukrainian businesses to radically rethink their pay scales. In 2026, earnings in the retail, advertising, and construction sectors soared by 96%, leaving many office jobs in the dust. Find out which professions have become the most popular in Ukraine and who is paid the most

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The labor market in Ukraine is undergoing a period of rapid financial transformation. According to a new study by the “OLX Robota” platform, cited by “UNIAN,” median wages in 2025–2026 showed impressive growth—ranging from 31% to 96%. Employers are showing the greatest growth in the retail, advertising, and construction sectors, where competition for talent is forcing businesses to actively review their payroll budgets.

How Much Did Salaries Grow in Ukraine in 2026

The advertising, design, and PR sectors set an absolute record last year. In particular, copywriters’ earnings nearly doubled—by 96%. While the median rate was previously 12,500 UAH, it has now reached 24,500 UAH.

The retail sector is not far behind: the position of supervisor saw a 64% increase, providing specialists with an income of 45,000 UAH. Rounding out the top three in terms of salary growth are finance professionals—auditors in the accounting category began earning 45% more, with their median salary settling at 27,500 UAH. Significant growth is also observed in retail, where customer service managers increased their earnings by nearly a third, to 27,500 UAH.

The highest-paying professions in Ukraine

Technical and construction professions are not just in demand today—they generate income that often exceeds the earnings of office workers. For example, the median salary for a body repair technician at an auto service center is now 60,000 UAH, showing an annual increase of 33%.

The boom in the real estate market and infrastructure reconstruction has naturally driven up the price of construction services. The median salary for a bricklayer has risen by 31% to 58,750 UAH, while plumbers’ earnings have increased to 40,500 UAH. In the manufacturing sector, unskilled workers can now expect to earn 30,000 UAH (+41%), while product specialists can expect 25,000 UAH.

The beauty and health sector is recovering just as actively. For instance, cosmetologists’ services are now valued higher: over the past year, their earnings have risen by 31%, reaching 26,250 UAH.

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How salaries have changed since the start of the war: a comparison of 2022 and 2026

When assessing the situation globally and comparing figures from March 2022 with those from March 2026, the picture looks even more striking. During the full-scale invasion, Ukrainians’ incomes in some sectors doubled, or even quadrupled.

The culture and entertainment industry has shown an unexpected surge. The salary for animators has nearly quadrupled: from 5,000 to 19,500 UAH. Photographers have tripled their earnings, reaching 27,250 UAH, while the incomes of cosmetologists have soared 3.7 times over this period. In the medical sector, dentists’ incomes are steadily rising—their median salary has increased 2.4-fold and stands at 40,000 UAH.

The construction sector deserves special attention, as it has been the main driver of wage growth over the past four years. Plasterers increased their income by 2.8 times (to 70,000 UAH), and tile setters by 2.9 times (to 50,000 UAH). Painters and general laborers have also tripled their rates, reaching a median of 45,000 UAH and 25,375 UAH, respectively. The traditional construction worker profession has increased in value by 2.5 times, settling at 45,000 UAH.

Who Is Seeing the Slowest Wage Growth

Despite the overall optimistic trend, analysis over the past four years has also identified market laggards. Wage growth is slowest in professions related to caregiving and basic services.

Nannies’ wages have risen by only 1.2 times since spring 2022. The situation is slightly better for housekeepers, whose incomes have increased by 1.4 times, and for security guards, with a growth rate of 1.5 times. This indicates that the private service sector, which is not tied to corporate profits or large-scale construction, is not yet ready for a radical increase in wages.

Reminder! The war has radically changed the financial situation of Ukrainians, depriving millions of citizens of stable income. Demographers are recording a dangerous jump in the poverty rate to 30% and warning of long-term unemployment. Find out who will come to rebuild the economy and why we will have to work until age 70.

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