Prague Salaries Break Records: Regional Gap Reaches a Third

Workers in the same professions earn noticeably more in Prague than their counterparts in the Czech regions — in some fields, the gap reaches a third of total pay. That's according to a new salary survey covering more than 350 job positions, conducted by recruitment agencies Grafton Recruitment and Gi Group.

The analysis is based on starting salaries of candidates placed through the agencies, as well as employer requirements as of the second quarter of this year. The figures represent typical gross monthly pay, including variable components.

Prague vs. the Regions

The highest salaries remain, as always, in the capital, while the lowest are found in the Karlovy Vary Region, where average income runs 14% below the national figure. That said, Praguers also face higher living costs.

The gap is especially striking in IT: an IT manager in Prague earns 110,000–160,000 crowns, compared to just 90,000–100,000 crowns for a counterpart in the Zlín Region. A manual testing specialist in the capital makes 60,000–90,000 crowns, while in the South Bohemian Region and Vysočina it's only 40,000–50,000 crowns.

Differences are also visible in traditional trades. A toolmaker in Prague can expect 48,000–56,000 crowns, versus just 40,000–45,000 crowns in the South Moravian, Moravian-Silesian, and South Bohemian regions and Vysočina. A similar pattern applies to warehouse workers: 38,000–45,000 crowns in Prague against 30,000–35,000 crowns in the Ústí nad Labem, Liberec, and South Bohemian regions. Shop assistants in the capital earn 34,000–40,000 crowns, compared to 30,000–35,000 crowns in seven other regions.

According to the Czech Statistical Office, the median salary for men in Prague in 2025 stood at 58,440 crowns, and for women at 48,740 crowns. By comparison, in the Karlovy Vary Region these figures were 43,529 and 39,122 crowns respectively, while the national average was 47,648 and 41,068 crowns.

It's Not Just About Money

Salary remains the top factor when choosing a job, but candidates are increasingly weighing other conditions too. "People consider schedule flexibility, commute time — ideally no more than half an hour — the work atmosphere, and growth opportunities. Employers now have to think much harder about the overall attractiveness of their offer," said Martin Malo, director of Grafton Recruitment and Gi Group.

According to him, employees will need to keep upgrading their skills to stay competitive. And it's not just about IT: automation is gaining ground in manufacturing, finance, and marketing, where working with artificial intelligence is becoming the norm.

Graduates Face a Tougher Job Market

The labor market is also raising the bar for young professionals, who often enter it with inflated salary expectations — largely driven by soaring housing costs. Those with an edge are candidates who gained practical experience during their studies, speak foreign languages, and are comfortable with digital tools, including AI.

Yaroslava Rezlerová, CEO of recruitment agency ManpowerGroup, notes that employers are currently offering over a hundred thousand vacancies, yet many companies still can't find candidates with the right qualifications. "The best prospects will go to those willing to master new technologies and retrain — that's where job supply is growing fastest today," she explained.

A gender pay gap also persists. According to the portal rovnaodmena.cz, a male IT tester in Prague earns an average of 110,292 crowns, while a woman in the same role earns 85,964 crowns — a 22% gap. In the Moravian-Silesian Region, male financial accountants earn 26% more than their female colleagues.

Technology Is Reshaping Professions

According to a job-listings analysis by the portal JenPráce.cz, the number of AI-related job postings grew by nearly a fifth between January and July this year compared to the whole of last year. Technology is spreading into the work of sales staff, marketers, financial analysts, and customer support specialists.

Experts predict growing pressure on routine office and junior roles, while the value of specialists able to combine technology with professional expertise and accountability will rise.

Martin Malo, director of Grafton Recruitment and Gi Group, added that after a period of rapid wage growth, a slowdown is expected in 2027 due to inflation, although overall wage growth in Czechia still outpaces the EU average. He noted that unemployment among school and university graduates already stands at around 12%, driven by automation of routine and administrative positions and a mismatch between market demands and what educational institutions teach. At the same time, he urged employers to hire more people over 50 — experienced, stable workers who are often less demanding when it comes to salary.

Read also: Free Czech Courses for Foreigners: Where to Learn

Source: denik.cz