Salaries in Ukraine have been falling for the second month: how much they pay now
The average salary of full-time employees in Ukraine in August 2026 was 31,892 UAH. This is 1.1% less than in July, thus the decline has continued for the second month in a row. At the same time, in annual terms, salaries remain significantly higher than last year's level — the growth was 23.1%.
This is evidenced by data from the State Statistics Service, cited by Forbes Ukraine.
In July, the average salary was 32,243 UAH and had already decreased by 1.6% compared to June, when it reached 32,783 UAH. Thus, over two months, the average indicator decreased by 891 UAH, or approximately 2.7%. At the same time, the July salary was 21.7% higher than a year earlier.
In August, the highest average salary among regions was recorded in Kyiv — 48,705 UAH. Next were Luhansk Oblast with 33,981 UAH and Kyiv Oblast with 32,404 UAH. The lowest indicators were in Chernivtsi Oblast — 22,807 UAH and Kirovohrad Oblast — 22,869 UAH.
The gap between individual industries remains even more significant. The highest paid in August were workers in the information and telecommunications sector — on average 79,170 UAH. The lowest average salary was in education — 19,109 UAH. Thus, the difference between these two spheres exceeds four times.
Compared to July, salaries decreased in most types of economic activity. The most noticeable drop was recorded by the State Statistics Service in healthcare and social assistance — by 6.2%. At the same time, in construction, trade, information and telecommunications, professional and scientific-technical activities, public administration and defense, real estate operations, as well as in arts and sports, salaries increased by 0.1–4.7%.
The previous, July decline was particularly noticeable in education — by 20.3% over the month, trade and repair of vehicles — by 8.9%, as well as in the arts, sports and entertainment sector — by 7.5%. The State Statistics Service then explained the decline in education and culture by seasonality: a significant part of vacation payments is accrued in June, after which the average monthly indicator decreases in the summer. Trade is additionally affected by the worsening financial position of enterprises and military risks.
At the same time, the longer-term dynamics remain positive. The average monthly salary in Ukraine in the second quarter of 2026 was 31,421 UAH, which is 8.8% more than in the first quarter. In January–March, the average salary was 28,885 UAH.
Nominal wage growth compared to last year also significantly exceeds current inflation. In August, consumer prices increased by 8.1% in annual terms, while the average salary rose by 23.1%. At the same time, directly for August, inflation was only 0.1%.
At the same time, enterprises' debt to employees persists. As of September 1, 2026, wage arrears amounted to about 3.8 billion UAH.
Earlier, Kurs wrote that the July reduction in average salary became the first in six months. August data show that this trend continued for the second month in a row.
Based on materials from: State Statistics Service of Ukraine, Forbes Ukraine
