Automatic 12% Pay Hike for Bulgaria’s Interior and Defense Staff
In 2026, salaries in Bulgaria’s Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense will see an automatic increase of 12%, reflecting a legal mechanism that ties pay in these sectors to the country’s average salary.
According to the National Statistical Institute, the average salary for the second quarter of 2025 rose by 12% compared to the same period in 2024, from 2,296 leva (about 1,172 euros) to 2,572 leva (approximately 1,313 euros).
This adjustment is expected to push personnel costs in these two ministries to a combined total of 7 billion leva (around 3.57 billion euros). The Ministry of Interior’s personnel budget will rise by 435.5 million leva (about 222 million euros), reaching 4.2 billion leva (around 2.14 billion euros), while the army will receive 2.8 billion leva for personnel.
This increase surpasses the projected 5% salary growth planned for most other public sector employees.
Author's summary: Bulgaria's interior and defense staff to get 12% pay hike.