An agreement has been reached on the 2026 minimum wage and guaranteed minimum wage:
From 1 January 2026, the minimum wage will increase by 11%, and the guaranteed minimum wage will increase by 7%.
In practice, this means that from 1 January 2026:
- the gross minimum wage will be HUF 322,800,
- the gross guaranteed minimum wage will be HUF 373,200 from 2026, based on Government Decree No. 426/2025 (XII. 23.).
How much will the minimum wage be in 2026?
The mandatory minimum amount of the base wage (minimum wage) for employees working full time, provided full-time working hours are performed, will increase to HUF 322,800 gross per month as of 1 January 2026 (where a monthly wage is applied).
Where a weekly wage is applied, it will be HUF 74,210; where a daily wage is applied, HUF 14,850; and where an hourly wage is applied, HUF 1,856.
Guaranteed minimum wage 2026
For employees working full time in positions requiring at least a secondary-level school qualification and/or secondary vocational qualification, the guaranteed minimum wage will be HUF 373,200 gross per month as of 1 January 2026 (where a monthly wage is applied).
Where a weekly wage is applied, it will be HUF 85,800; where a daily wage is applied, HUF 17,160; and where an hourly wage is applied, HUF 2,145 as of 1 January 2026.
Changes in the minimum wage and guaranteed minimum wage in recent years
In the table below, we summarize the monthly minimum wage and the guaranteed minimum wage.
| Year | Minimum wage (HUF) | Guaranteed minimum wage (HUF) | Change in minimum wage (%) | Change in guaranteed minimum wage (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 322 800 | 373 200 | 11 | 7 |
| 2025 | 290 800 | 348 800 | 9 | 7 |
| 2024 | 266 800 | 326 000 | 15 | 10 |
| 2023 | 232 000 | 296 400 | 16 | 14 |
| 2022 | 200 000 | 260 000 | 19,47 | 18,72 |
| 2021 | 167 400 | 219 000 | 3,98 | 3,99 |
| 2020 | 161 000 | 210 600 | 8 | 8 |
| 2019 | 149 000 | 195 000 | 8 | 8 |
| 2018 | 138 000 | 180 500 | 8,2 | 12,1 |
| 2017 | 127 500 | 161 000 | 14,9 | 24,8 |
| 2016 | 111 000 | 129 000 | 5,7 | 5,7 |
Based on Government Decree No. 426/2025 (XII. 23.) as published in the 23 December 2025 issue of the Hungarian Gazette (Magyar Közlöny).
Part-time employment 2026
In the case of part-time employment, the minimum wage will be as follows from 1 January 2026:
- 8-hour employment: gross HUF 322,800 (net HUF 214,662) per month;
- 6-hour employment: gross HUF 242,100 (net HUF 160,997) per month;
- 4-hour employment: gross HUF 161,400 (net HUF 107,331) per month.
In connection with the 2026 skilled worker minimum wage benefit, it can also occur that someone is not employed full time, but under a part-time arrangement or on an hourly wage. In such cases, gross and net pay will be as follows:
- 8-hour employment: gross HUF 373,200 (net HUF 248,178) per month;
- 6-hour employment: gross HUF 279,900 (net HUF 186,134) per month;
- 4-hour employment: gross HUF 186,600 (net HUF 124,089) per month.
What should employers do in relation to the minimum wage increase?
The 2026 increase in the minimum wage and guaranteed minimum wage supports wage catch-up while also increasing employers’ wage costs.
Therefore, companies should consider taking the following steps:
- Review the wage structure to avoid wage compression.
- Recalculate total wage costs, including contributions, allowances and absence pay.
- Review pricing and business plans, as the cost increase may affect profit margins.
- Check employment contracts and job classifications, especially in the case of the guaranteed minimum wage.
- Communicate with employees and apply a differentiated wage increase strategy to retain key staff.
- Look for cost-optimization opportunities (benefits, working time organization, process efficiency).
Conscious planning helps employers ensure that the minimum wage increase becomes not a burden but an opportunity for development in 2026.
