Salary expectations in Poland

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Aug 22, 11, 13:58 #271

I’m open to almost anything :)

To be honest, this is the problem - if you were skilled in a specific area where there's a shortage (for instance, an IT graduate with a degree from a very good university) - you'd have no problem getting a job for 4000/net. But as an unskilled foreigner, not speaking Polish - you're competing against untold amounts of Polish people - who do speak Polish.

If you really want the adventure here - you need to set your sights accordingly. Entry positions in Poland will range from 1500zl-2500zl net in a big city - okay, let's assume the company wants a Danish speaker, so you can go up to 2000zl-3000zl net - maximum.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Aug 22, 11, 14:11 #272
It also depends on the corporation. If you work in a corporation where the top dogs speak English then you are off to a good start as you will be understood by them.

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Aug 22, 11, 14:14 #273

They're not looking for a Danish person though - they're looking for a Danish speaker.

Indeed, a crucial difference. And one that determines if you get about 3,500zl/month or >6,500zl/month.

I know several Polish people having studied Danish philology in Gdansk or Poznan, and they get only half of what a native speaker pulls. Danish is a very difficult language to learn (let alone pronounce), and maybe the employers know this. What is more, unfortunately many Danish people do not appreciate the effort foreigners make while trying to speak Danish, if it is not flawless sometimes they even hang up or ask for a native. If you are employed in a call center/outsourcing center then you are on the phone many hours every day. I guess this is why a native speaker takes home double that of a non-native speaker...

Anyway, it is a fact that the nordic speakers are paid the most. That is a fact. We are a scarce resource :)

milkyThreads: 10 Posts: 1,229 Joined: Oct 26, 09 ♀	Aug 22, 11, 16:36 #274
Don't let other users scare you from coming to Poland, it is in many ways a fantastic country but has, like Denmark, also its flaws. ahahahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhahahahahahahahahahah mass emigration,2 euro hr minimum wage, third world road system...yea just like Denmark...

convexThreads: 46 Posts: 7,185 Joined: Nov 25, 09 ♂	Aug 22, 11, 18:10 #275
ahahahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhahahahahahahahahahah mass emigration,2 euro hr minimum wage, third world road system...yea just like Denmark... it's not for everyone. some people handle it quite well, and some people fail miserably.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Aug 22, 11, 18:54 #276
You just have to cut out some of that nonsense that Brits often engage in, i.e expensive nights out all too often. If you have kids and have to pay off a mortgage, it becomes a necessity to be disciplined on all levels. The biggest problem is that inflation is killing many here. PO saw a rise in wealth and just assumed that everyone would enrich themselves accordingly.

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Aug 23, 11, 02:17 #277

[quote=delphiandomine]Entry positions in Poland will range from 1500zl-2500zl net in a big city - okay, let's assume the company wants a Danish speaker, so you can go up to 2000zl-3000zl net - maximum.

Whilst I agree with what you are saying in this instance Mr D, You need to point out that in smaller cities it is much less, if you deduct cost of living then you be left with little change. The problem with having a small business in a small town say less than 40,000 people is that you have little turnover and if you are doing well somebody else will open shop and compete against you, just look at the amount of pizza shops that are around in these small towns, most struggle during the winter months. This leads to the fact that having a wage of say 3000zl a month will not be enough to invest in a house.

professional x

Mar 3, 12, 04:44 #278

I had offered 1200 Euro net salary per month in krakow in international company. how much i need salary for two people that allow me and my wife to pay rent nice 1 bedroom house, have holidays, run a decent car, eat well, dress well ??? also I have 7 years experience as a senior accountant all in multinational companies, should i ask for more?? also as i read the tax will increase after two years employment, so how much should i ask salary from now to protect myself from that increase?? please give me number in Euro as a net salary.''they need me basically for my language but i will use it in accounting work''

Thanks in advance for your help guys

cmsThreads: 6 Posts: 201 Joined: Sep 4, 09 ♂	Mar 3, 12, 07:07 #279
Are you qualified ? If so then you are being offered about half the going rate. If you are not qualified then I would say what they have offered is a fair salary for krakow. You will live ok but not luxury?

pipThreads: 11 Posts: 1,293 Joined: Jul 4, 11 ♀	Mar 3, 12, 09:18 #280
so that is just less than 5000 pln per month. don't take it.

cmsThreads: 6 Posts: 201 Joined: Sep 4, 09 ♂	Mar 3, 12, 09:34 #281
Disagree pip, this looks like bog standard shared service centre work, bookkeeping and accounts preparation. 5000 net is about 7500 gross and that is not a bad salary for such work by polish standards. If the salaries get any higher than that then these companies will probably be moving their shared service centres to romania, turkey or the next place.

professional x	Mar 3, 12, 12:27 #282
no , I am not qualified accountant( i do not have CPA<CA OR CMA), i need a good life, i mean excellent, but not to save, a salary that enable me to travel to near other European countries. can i reach with them 1500 EURO salary net, or they will refuse me. the language I have is a bit rare to find in poland.

pipThreads: 11 Posts: 1,293 Joined: Jul 4, 11 ♀	Mar 3, 12, 12:42 #283
I think 1500 euro is pretty good. Krakow is a beautiful city and you will have opportunities to travel- you will enjoy life in Poland with that salary.

professional x	Mar 3, 12, 13:25 #284
do u think with my experience, and my language-arabic and they need it, i can ask for 1500 EURO net salary or it will be to much to ask in poland??

professional x

Mar 3, 12, 18:47 #285

Dear all,i need your honest advise, as surfing internet make me confused and everyone say a number of salary so far from the number of the other. i offered a job in krakow, and i have 2 questions for you.
1- its an international company in krakow need arabic senior accountant,I think that there maximum offer will be 1200 Euro net salary after tax wich is 4939 PLN. when i asked people on internet how much i need salary to have clean nice 1 bedroom in the city center,also have money to travel to the neighbour countries in europ if i take vacation, eat well(i do not cook),dress well,and to have excellent life, with no need to save any money, also the salary that enable me if i think to get married,even if my woman do not work, to be comfortable and happy. The answer was 1500 Euro net, which is 6173 PLN net.
Is that salary(1500 Euro) enough? for what i needed as i mentioned before. and if not how much you think i should ask for?
2- I am a senior accountant with 7 years experience all in multinational companies,if you were an international expat with my experience whats the fair salary you will ask for? do you think with my experience i deserve to get 6173 PLN net in poland, should i ask more or less. because what they offer me tell now is max 4939 PLN net.

please answer me because that issue make me tired

pipThreads: 11 Posts: 1,293 Joined: Jul 4, 11 ♀	Mar 3, 12, 18:50 #286
Honestly- I don't think it is enough but perhaps I have different expectations than you might.

professional x	Mar 3, 12, 18:53 #287
does arabic languge difficult to find in poland, what the salary do u think is fair for my experience in poland as international expact working in international company?

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Mar 3, 12, 19:58 #288

If you want some honest advice

- you speak Arabic but your English is quite weak compared to local graduates which will be an issue for your employer
- you are not qualified and after 7 years of accounting you should know that is what is required to earn good money
- if you turned up to get a job from me I would compare your demands with the combined cost of a polish bookkeeper and an Arabic school new graduate who could translate for them , and I reckon that would come in less than 7000 zloty.

But show some gumption, ask your employers for what you think will support your lifestyle and wait for them to say yes or no.

professional x

Mar 3, 12, 20:16 #289

Cms, thanks for your comment. I just want you to know that I am native arabic and fluent english, and have university degree in finance,also 90% of my work will be dealing with arab people in middle east, because of that they want me, also not forget that all my 7 years exp. were in multi company.
answering to your question, i did and i negotiate in my first interview and i reached as max 1200 Euro net. but i feel i deserve more, at least 1500 Euro, even if people say that poland have law wages, actually they are wrong, poland achieved(sixth growth in economy in Europe.) may be competition is high, yes its true. but i think if the range of salaries 750 Euro, i should ask double as expat,another meaning i should ask 1500 EURO,as in middle east we pay 3 times more salary for expat that come from Europe. As I gain now 3000 Euro in middle east , even if i have a great desire to relocate to poland, it will be shame on me to accept less than 50% of my salary. i believe if this company need me, and its international as it says , it should pay me 1500 net. Thanks

MEMBER ♀

Mar 4, 12, 08:48 #290

Yes 6000 zl per monrth does no seem shockingly huge given your qualifications but avoid thinking in Euros just stick to Zlotys .

Apart from the accommodation which will be a maximum of 2500 zl per month for something really really nice in Krakow , your purchasing power will be high and you ll have enough to spend on nice clothes, good food, restaurants ,litle trips etc
If this company is offering you 4939 zl per month you can also accept for a few months just to try and then negociate with them if they are very satisfied with your work.
4939 zl is also ok since you are not married ,you can find a nice furnished studio in Krakow for 1600 zl all included.
Try to negociate so they provice you a budget for Polish lessons or organise corporate Polish lessons for you at the company, your life will be easier knowing Polihs( you ll be less ripped off as a foreigner).
in anycase you will adore Krakow ( exept in Winter maybe).

pawianThreads: 90 Posts: 5,415 Joined: May 30, 08 ♂	Edited by: pawian Mar 4, 12, 10:03 #291
professional x: i believe if this company need me, and its international as it says , it should pay me 1500 net. Thanks Believe and should are wishful thinking.

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Mar 19, 12, 18:34 #292

Hi Guys ...

I will be relocating to Wroclaw soon. I have been offered 11K PLN gross per month. My wife and a 2 year old kid will be joining with me. How good is this salary for the 3 of us ? Will I be able to spend, save and have an above average life style with this salary in Wroclaw ?

I can see there are several questions like mine in this thread. As I am unable to relate my family size and salary to those, I am posting mine here. It will be great if one of you can reply to this and help me !

Thanks in advance for you time ! Have a great day !

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Mar 19, 12, 18:49 #293

That converts to 3543.1330 USD as of this moment.

Personally, I could live quite well on that in Wroclaw or anywhere and have plenty of extra money. With 2 kids. But I don't know your lifestyle.

relocateWroclaw:

an above average life style

What is your definition of above average? Given that unless you make $300,000USD/year in the US, you are considered to be making average or below average. Average versus above average are vague terms.

pipThreads: 11 Posts: 1,293 Joined: Jul 4, 11 ♀	Mar 19, 12, 19:10 #294
That is a good salary. USD is floating around 3.1 today so that is about 42 K before taxes. Preschool will be about 1000 pln, rent? car? groceries will probably be close to 1500 per month. see if you can figure out your spending.

PeterWeg03	Mar 20, 12, 08:38 #295
professional x: i believe if this company need me, and its international as it says , it should pay me 1500 net. Thanks I think 1500 euro is cheap for the skills and experience you have.. After all, your employer will be billing in Dollars most probably.

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Mar 20, 12, 09:23 #296

delphiandomine:

To be honest, this is the problem - if you were skilled in a specific area where there's a shortage (for instance, an IT graduate with a degree from a very good university) - you'd have no problem getting a job for 4000/net. But as an unskilled foreigner, not speaking Polish - you're competing against untold amounts of Polish people - who do speak Polish.If you really want the adventure here - you need to set your sights accordingly. Entry positions in Poland will range from 1500zl-2500zl net in a big city - okay, let's assume the company wants a Danish speaker, so you can go up to 2000zl-3000zl net - maximum.

I get the impresion that you are only trying to spread the idea that everyone in Poland should work for extremely low salaries. Because of people like you, who spread this BS, some people get their expectations lower. This shouldn't be, I am sure if the people in Poland with a degree (let's say an engineer) wouldn't accept a salary in the range of 1500zl-2500zl, soon the companies will be forced to rise the salaries.

milkyThreads: 10 Posts: 1,229 Joined: Oct 26, 09 ♀	Mar 20, 12, 10:40 #297
roca: Because of people like you, who spread this BS, I agree totally, BS falls out of this man's mouth.

phtoaThreads: 10 Posts: 131 Joined: Jan 11, 12 ♂	Mar 20, 12, 12:48 #298
roca: okay, let's assume the company wants a Danish speaker, so you can go up to 2000zl-3000zl net - maximum. Thats also BS, im a danish speaker working for an outsourcing companies in Poland, also im 20 years old with no university degree and no polish language skills, and im making 4900ZL net. montly So if you are a language speaker you can easily get 4000 net.

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Mar 20, 12, 13:06 #299

milky:

I agree totally, BS falls out of this man's mouth.

I don't think that it is bs. I think some points are accurate, however, it is not reflective of the entire country. In Warsaw a starting salary in a white collar job is probably about 5 to 7,000 a month- before taxes. I am not talking about office managers or secretaries either. All of our friends are Polish and all of them make more than 10,000 per month. My husbands cousin just got a job for 10 k in the tricity area. The jobs are there but it is a matter of looking for them and knowing what the going rate for that job is.

cmsThreads: 6 Posts: 201 Joined: Sep 4, 09 ♂	Mar 20, 12, 13:54 #300
Pip of that were the case then why is the average salary for Warsaw 5500 gross ? There are probably less than 200.000 people in the whole of Poland earning more than 10k a month.

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