From 1 January 2027, the Polish minimum wage is PLN 4,950 gross per month for full-time work, and the minimum hourly rate for certain civil law contracts is PLN 32.30 gross, set by a regulation published in the Journal of Laws as 2026, item 1213. That is up from PLN 4,806 per month in 2026. These amounts apply to foreign workers in the same way as to Polish workers. For foreign workers, the minimum wage also matters for permits: the pay stated in a work permit or residence and work permit must respect it and must not be lower than the pay of comparable colleagues. This guide explains the figures, how they apply to different contracts and what workers and employers should check before January 2027. All information was checked on 11 November 2026 against official Polish sources.

The 2027 figures

The 2027 amounts come from the regulation published as Journal of Laws 2026, item 1213 (Journal of Laws). The Social Insurance Institution lists the 2026 monthly minimum of PLN 4,806 (Social Insurance Institution).

Who the minimum wage covers

Employment contracts

Workers on an employment contract (umowa o pracę) are entitled to at least the monthly minimum wage for full-time work. For part-time work, pay is normally set in proportion to working time, but it must not fall below the proportional minimum.

Civil law contracts

The minimum hourly rate applies to certain civil law contracts, such as contracts of mandate (umowa zlecenie) and contracts for the provision of services, where work is paid per hour. Each hour of work must be paid at least PLN 32.30 from 1 January 2027. Our guide on employment or civil law contracts in Poland for foreigners explains the differences between contract types.

Foreign workers

Foreign workers have the same entitlement as Polish workers. Zielona Linia's guide for employers states that an employer hiring a foreigner on a declaration must ensure at least the statutory minimum pay, whether the work is done under an employment contract or a civil law contract (Zielona Linia guide).

How the minimum wage affects permits

The floor and the comparable pay rule

For work permits, the pay of a foreign worker must not be lower than the pay of workers doing comparable work for the same employer (Warmia-Masuria Voivodeship Office). The minimum wage is the absolute floor, but it is not always enough. If Polish colleagues doing the same job earn more, the foreign worker's pay in the permit must reflect that.

Permits applied for in 2026 but decided in 2027

If an application is filed in late 2026 and decided in 2027, the pay must meet the rules in force when the work is done. An offer at the 2026 minimum will fall below the legal floor from January. Employers should set pay at or above PLN 4,950 for any job that will run into 2027.

Residence and work permit extensions

When you apply for a new temporary residence and work permit in 2027, the pay in your application must reflect the 2027 minimum. See extending your residence and work permit in Poland.

Permits with higher thresholds

Some permits have their own, much higher thresholds. The EU Blue Card requires at least 150% of the average salary in the previous year (Zielona Linia). See EU Blue Card in Poland: requirements for 2027.

Worked examples

These examples show how the 2027 figures apply. They are illustrations, not assessments of any real contract.

Full-time employment contract

A warehouse worker on a full-time employment contract earned PLN 4,806 gross in December 2026. From January 2027, the gross monthly pay must be at least PLN 4,950, an increase of PLN 144.

Contract of mandate paid by the hour

A worker on a contract of mandate works 168 hours in a month at the minimum hourly rate. The gross pay for the month must be at least 168 × PLN 32.30 = PLN 5,426.40.

Part-time employment contract

A worker on a half-time employment contract should normally receive at least half of the full-time minimum, PLN 2,475 gross per month from January 2027.

Comparable pay

A factory pays its Polish machine operators PLN 5,600 gross per month. A foreign machine operator doing the same work should not be offered PLN 4,950 in a permit application just because that is the legal minimum, because the comparable pay rule points to the higher figure.

Gross and net pay

The minimum wage is a gross figure. Income tax and social insurance contributions are deducted before the money reaches your account, so your net pay is lower. When you compare an offer with the minimum wage, compare gross with gross. If an offer only states a net amount, ask the employer to confirm the gross figure in writing.

What employers should do before January 2027

1. List every worker whose gross pay is below PLN 4,950 per month or PLN 32.30 per hour.
2. Update contracts and payroll so that January 2027 pay meets the new minimum.
3. Check permit pay against the new minimum and against comparable workers.
4. Review job offers for foreign workers whose permits will be decided in 2027.
5. Keep records of the changes, in case of an inspection.

A pay increase to meet the legal minimum does not reduce the conditions of a permit, so it does not create a permit problem. Our guide on changing job terms in Poland without losing your permit explains which changes do.

What workers should check

• Your January 2027 payslip: is the gross pay at least PLN 4,950 for full-time work, or PLN 32.30 per hour on a civil law contract?
• Your hours: are all hours worked recorded and paid?
• Deductions: are any deductions for housing or transport agreed in writing?
• Your permit: does your pay still match what the permit states?

If your pay is below the minimum, raise it with your employer in writing. If the problem is not fixed, you can complain to the National Labour Inspectorate, which deals with pay and employment conditions (National Labour Inspectorate).

Deductions and housing

Many foreign workers live in accommodation arranged by the employer or an agency. Charges for housing or transport can reduce take-home pay considerably. Ask for every deduction in writing before you start, and check your payslip each month. If deductions are taken without your written agreement, or leave you with very little, ask the labour inspectorate for advice.

The minimum wage in context

The minimum wage is a legal floor, not a typical salary. Pay in many sectors is higher, and permit rules may require it to be. For a comparison of salary rules for work permits across Europe, including Sweden's median-based rule and Germany's Blue Card thresholds, see work permit salary rules in Europe for 2027.

The minimum wage and different permit routes

See how to apply for a Poland work permit online, the declaration of entrusting work, the EU Blue Card and the CUKR card for each route.

A January 2027 timeline for employers

1. November 2026: identify all workers paid below PLN 4,950 per month or PLN 32.30 per hour.
2. December 2026: prepare contract annexes and update payroll settings.
3. 1 January 2027: the new minimum applies to work from this date.
4. First 2027 payday: check that payslips reflect the new rates.
5. Throughout 2027: use the new figures in every permit application, declaration and residence application.

Hourly pay and recorded hours

For workers paid by the hour, the minimum only works if every hour is recorded. If a worker on a contract of mandate actually works 180 hours but only 160 are recorded and paid, the real hourly rate falls below the minimum. Workers should keep their own record of hours, such as a notebook or phone notes with start and finish times. Employers should keep accurate time records, because they are evidence in an inspection.

Payslips: what to look for

• The gross amount, before deductions.
• The number of hours paid, for hourly work.
• Deductions for tax and social insurance.
• Any other deductions, such as housing, with your written agreement.
• The net amount paid to your account.

If something is unclear, ask the employer to explain each line in writing. You have a right to understand how your pay is calculated.

What the minimum wage does not cover

The minimum wage sets a floor for basic pay. It does not by itself determine overtime pay, night work supplements or other allowances, which follow their own rules in the Labour Code or the contract. It also does not set the pay for contracts that are not covered by the hourly rule. If your contract includes overtime or night work, ask how these are paid.

Polish terms you will see

• Minimalne wynagrodzenie za pracę: minimum wage.
• Minimalna stawka godzinowa: minimum hourly rate.
• Brutto: gross.
• Netto: net.
• Pasek wynagrodzenia: payslip.
• Umowa zlecenie: contract of mandate.

Where to get official help

• Zielona Linia, the information centre of the public employment services, answers questions about employing foreigners on 19 524 and publishes guidance at zielonalinia.gov.pl.
• The voivodeship office handling your case can answer questions about residence procedures and deadlines.
• The MOS portal has a contact form for questions about residence procedures and the portal itself (MOS portal).
• The National Labour Inspectorate handles complaints about pay below the minimum (National Labour Inspectorate).
• The Social Insurance Institution publishes the minimum and average wage figures used in insurance at zus.pl.

How the 2027 rate was set

Each year the Council of Ministers sets the minimum wage and minimum hourly rate for the following year by regulation, after consulting the social partners. The 2027 figures were published in the Journal of Laws as 2026, item 1213. Proposals and negotiating positions reported in the news during 2026 are not the law. Only the published regulation sets the amounts, and those are the figures to use.

Your next steps

For workers

1. Find your gross monthly pay or hourly rate in your contract.
2. Compare it with PLN 4,950 per month or PLN 32.30 per hour from January 2027.
3. Check your first 2027 payslip.
4. Raise any shortfall with your employer in writing.

For employers

1. Update contracts and payroll before 1 January 2027.
2. Use the 2027 figures in every new permit application and declaration.
3. Check that foreign workers' pay matches comparable colleagues, not just the minimum.

Minimum wage and your residence history

Being paid at least the legal minimum is not only about this month's income. Your payslips form part of your work history in Poland. When you apply for a new permit or for longer-term residence, consistent lawful pay helps show that your employment met the rules. Keep every payslip and bank statement, and correct any underpayment as soon as you notice it rather than at the end of the year.

For foreign workers, it is also worth checking the pay rules that apply to your specific route before signing a contract for 2027. A contract that meets the minimum wage may still fail the comparable pay rule for a work permit, or the much higher threshold for an EU Blue Card. Checking early gives the employer time to adjust the offer before an application is filed, which is far easier than correcting it after a refusal or an inspection.

Common mistakes

• Signing a 2027 job offer at the 2026 minimum of PLN 4,806.
• Comparing a net offer with the gross minimum wage.
• Forgetting that civil law contracts have an hourly minimum.
• Assuming the minimum wage always satisfies the permit pay rule.
• Accepting unrecorded hours, which can bring hourly pay below the minimum.