In 2019, the average monthly gross income increased for the ninth year in a row

The average monthly gross income per employee was highest in Harju county (1,469 euros) and lowest in Ida-Viru county (1,054 euros). In most counties, it was in the range 1,100–1,200 euros. Income grew on average faster in Tartu (7.3%), Viljandi (6.9%) and Harju (6.8%) counties.

According to Greta Tischler, analyst at Statistics Estonia, the average monthly gross income was largest in the municipalities near Tallinn. “Income was highest in Viimsi and Rae rural municipalities: over 1,800 euros. The top ten also included two Harju county cities: Keila and Tallinn. In Tallinn, the average monthly gross income was 1,444 euros last year,” said Tischler. Last year, the monthly gross income was below thousand euros only in Narva, at 989 euros.

In 2019, the number of employees receiving gross income was 537,760. Compared to the previous year, the number increased by 2,355 persons. For the second year in a row, there was an increase in the number of income recipients aged under 25. The number of income recipients aged 63 and older continued to increase.  

Employees aged 25–49 earned the highest average monthly gross income (1,476 euros), followed by 50–62-year-old employees (1,219 euros). The gross income of employees younger or older than them was below thousand euros, respectively, 887 and 972 euros.

The analysis is based on the 2019 data of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board. The average monthly gross income per employee is calculated by dividing the average monthly sum of payments with the average monthly number of persons receiving payments. For the place of residence of the income recipient, the person’s place of residence is used. The main representative of public interest is the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications,  commissioned by whom Statistics Estonia analyses the data necessary for conducting the statistical activity.