Prospects and salaries of professionals in the Czech Republic

Average salaries in the Czech Republic: what foreign graduates can expect from Czech universities

Today, salaries and living standards in the Czech Republic are higher than in most European countries. The country has a stable economy with a developed industrial sector, favorable climate and good infrastructure. Many foreign entrepreneurs successfully do business in the Czech Republic, and multinational companies open branches and representative offices.

Of all the "young" EU member states, the Czech Republic is one of the most promising for young professionals to find a job. Over the last decade, the level of income of its citizens has increased by 2.5 times (according to analytics of international sociological institutes). In fact, salaries are not too evenly spread - the capital salaries even in simple positions more than 1 500 euros, while in the north of the country income in the same specialties starts from 550 euros. The average salary in the Czech Republic in 2022 is 1,317 euros. Highly paid jobs are also open to foreigners, especially those who have graduated from Czech universities.

Jobs in the Czech Republic for Czech university graduates

According to the Czech Republic Act No. 382/2008, foreign nationals with a diploma of graduation from an accredited Czech university do not need to obtain a work permit in the country.

The best graduates are appointed to prestigious positions even before the final exams.

Another advantage for foreign students in the Czech Republic is an easy change of student visa to a work visa, which is necessary for further stay in the country. Special preference is given to young specialists who have graduated from state universities and who speak additional foreign languages. Many international companies work with the former CIS countries directly from the Czech Republic (due to comfortable business conditions), so knowledge of Russian, Ukrainian and other languages often becomes an "additional bonus" for the applicant and the employer.

Czech employers send requests for qualified specialists to labor agencies, but, unfortunately, their own labor market does not offer so many, so very often they hire those who fit the vacancy, but are not citizens of the country.

The largest employers in the Czech Republic in 2022 are large corporations - Czech Post employs a large number of citizens, energy company ČEZ also has a large staff in all regions. Less popular, but also large-scale employers such as Skoda and Czech Railways.

The main staff shortage in the Czech Republic is among medical professionals. The average age in this country is 52 years, which means that when doctors retire due to age and length of service, there is simply no one to replace them. This is due to the fact that young doctors move to other EU countries - they choose to work in Germany and Switzerland, a little less often - Ireland and the UK.

Statistics for the next decade

Statistics for 2021 allow us to draw conclusions about how the labor market in the Czech Republic will develop in the foreseeable future. There is an increasing trend in the requirements for highly qualified specialists. Studies and forecasts for the development of the Czech Republic's economy until 2030 are as follows:

In the next 10 years, with the expansion of enterprises, about 400-450 thousand jobs will be vacant, mainly technical jobs due to the specifics of the state economy. Managers, forestry specialists and engineering professionals will also be in demand.

If today the unemployment rate is about 2.9% (lower than the European average by 1.8 times), then in the near future experts predict an even more favorable economic level. The Czech government intends to provide jobs not only for its own citizens, but also for foreigners (provided they have sufficient knowledge of the Czech language and qualifications).

In addition to state-owned companies, international corporations have dynamically "taken a liking" to the Czech Republic. Such companies are interested in attracting specialists with European education from a number of graduates of local educational institutions. The secret is simple: with high qualifications, such specialists "cost" less than in other Western countries.

How the average salary in the Czech Republic is related to HEIs

According to the expert portal "Business Insider", the Czech Republic provides the highest salaries of all countries - natives of the Eastern bloc. Not every European state guarantees such an income. Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Finland and France are ahead of the Czech Republic in terms of salaries. But the prices in these countries are much higher, so the Czech Republic is one of the leaders in Europe in terms of the ratio between salary and living standards.

Salaries in the Czech Republic for holders of a bachelor's or master's degree are on average 30% higher than for graduates of specialized secondary schools. Most universities cooperate with well-known organizations, so their graduates are more likely to occupy "money" jobs.

For example, Škoda automobile concern, Philips, Hyundai, well-known banks and telecommunication companies prefer to hire young specialists who have already proved their professionalism in student practice. There are also known cases when graduates of design and architecture faculties started to work remotely and receive a high salary in Czech crowns (about 30,000) during their graduation courses, and after graduating from university they occupied managerial positions.

Interesting fact! The highest income in the narrow professional field is received by graduates of the Faculty of Mathematics of Charles University. According to the data of the Czech Employment Department, specialists in applied mathematics and analytics can expect a salary of almost 50 thousand crowns (1900 euros) in the Czech Republic immediately after graduation, surpassing financiers and lawyers.

Employment among graduates of institutes and universities in the Czech Republic

According to statistics, 96% of applicants with a diploma are employed in the first year after graduation. The studies conducted show the following unemployment figures by specialty:

Doctors and pharmacists - unemployment 1.1%;
Lawyers - 2%;
Agrarian professions - 9%.

The number of students employed by specialty in different universities is as follows:

The income of young professionals varies from 850 to 1500 euros per month.

In 2021, due to the pandemic, 29% of Czech companies announced reductions in the number of employees. Employees in administrative positions and production workers were the most affected. The former occupy 26% among all layoffs and the latter 19%.

Naturally, future students are concerned with the question "What are the salaries in the Czech Republic, and what income can I claim?". Let's look at the rating of popular (in-demand) professions with salaries. In the Czech Republic, all monetary transactions are performed in the national currency - crowns.

Comparative analysis of average salaries in the Czech Republic

The highest salaries are in Prague. The capital of the republic offers salaries 20-50% higher than the regions. This is not surprising, because it is in the center that famous companies and brands with a worldwide reputation prefer to open offices. According to the Ministry of Social Policy, the average salary in Prague amounted to almost 36 thousand crowns (without tax deductions).

Compared to 2021, the minimum wage in the Czech Republic increased by 1,000 crowns (40 euros), i.e. the increase amounted to 6.2%. Taking into account the very low inflation rate (3.8%), the real income of Czech citizens has increased. If we consider other EU countries, the Czech Republic is ahead of Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Latvia in terms of minimum wage. Among its nearest neighbors, Poland and Slovakia have slightly higher minimum wages.

Highest salaries in the Czech Republic by profession

The highest salaries are for company directors, lawyers and programmers. The Czech labor market has a great deficit of specialists in aircraft construction and management professionals in this field. Perhaps that is why air traffic controllers are offered a salary in the Czech Republic of more than 110 thousand crowns (4300 euros). Other highly paid professions look like this (monthly amount in crowns):

Head of a large company - from 100,000;
Chief doctor of a clinic - from 89,000, department - from 60,000. Salary of an ordinary doctor in the Czech
Republic about 30-40 thousand;
Leading bank employee (financial specialization) - from 77 000;
PR-manager - from 40 000 crowns.

Workers without qualifications are paid in euros:

Nurse, nurse - 900;
Equipment adjuster - 1,580;
Waiter - 690;
Hairdresser - 750;
Cook - 600-700;
Handyman - 526;
Welder - 1,042.

The "middle class" includes specialists in the fields of pedagogy, natural resources extraction, public administration, and social security. The income of specialists with an average salary in the Czech Republic in crowns is:

Veterinarian - 30,000;
Journalist - 29 000;
Social worker - 30 000;
Driver of special equipment - 28,500;
Level 1 teacher - 25,000;
Plumber - 23,000.

The Czech government plans to increase salaries by 2.6%. The inflation rate at the same time amounted to the same 2.6%. Under such conditions, income remains stable.

According to Eurostat, the average EU citizen receives about 3,000 euros per month. For example, the salary in Germany is 4,035 euros, and in Finland 3,548. At the same time, Poles earn an average of 1,255 euros, and Bulgarians even 825. After income tax (rate of 15-23%) and mandatory social contributions, the average salary in the Czech Republic in 2022 is 32,700 CZK (about 1,315 euros).

Conclusions

Recall that the average salary in the Czech Republic "lags behind" the salaries of major European countries, but there are states with developed economies, whose residents receive significantly lower incomes. So, translated into crowns, in Poland the average salary is 21 000, in Estonia - 22 000, in Hungary - 18 500, in Latvia and Lithuania - about 16 000-17 000. Of all the EU members, citizens of Bulgaria receive the least - their average salary does not reach 9,000 crowns (350 euros).

It is up to the applicant to decide whether or not to enroll in a Czech university, but according to experts, the prospects offered by the Czech Republic - a strong argument in favor of European education. Moreover, if you have a good knowledge of the state language, you can study for free. Foreign citizenship is not an obstacle for admission to the budgetary form of education.