4,255 leva - the average annual wage in Bulgaria in 2006

The average annual wage in Bulgaria in 2006 was 4,255 leva (2,175.55 euro), the National Statistical Institute said on Tuesday. In the public-financed sector, the average annual wage was 5,265 leva (2,691.95 euro), and in the private sector, 3,804 leva (1,944.95 euro).

Wages in 2006 were highest in the financial brokering sector, where they averaged 9,951 leva (5,087.87 euro) annually, followed by electricity, gas and water production and distribution, at 7,537 leva (3,853.61 euro), the extracting industry, at 7,256 leva (3,709.93 euro) and the public administration and compulsory social insurance, at 6,400 leva (3,272.27 euro). The lowest value, 2,757 leva (1,409.63 euro), is reported in the hotel and restaurant business.

The figures are based on employment and service contracts. A total of 2,207,733 people were working under such contracts in 2006, including 673,364 in the public-financed sector and 1,534,369 in the private sector.

The largest number of wage earners, 611,468, were employed in the processing industry, and the smallest, 27,810, in the extracting industry.

BTA