In Germany, truck drivers are one of the occupational groups with the lower salaries. However, the situation is completely different in Poland, where the days of lower-than-average wages for truckers have long been a thing of the past. Indeed, truck drivers’ salaries in Poland have been increasing on an annual basis.
The state of play in Poland
The average basic wage of professional lorry drivers in Poland in 2023 was PLN 5,139 (equivalent to about 1,189 euros), an increase of almost 17% compared to 2022.
This information comes from the report “Income of Professional Drivers in Poland 2023,” published by the Polish Institute of Road Transport (PITD).
This means that in 2023, drivers earned almost twice as much as the net minimum wage, which was PLN 2,783 (the equivalent of around €644).
If you add various allowances such as bonuses or expenses, the monthly amounts are even higher.
Accordingly, 69% of the drivers surveyed earn more than PLN 7,000 net (the equivalent of around €1,620) per month. 23% of survey participants stated that they even achieved a net income of over 9,000 PLN (the equivalent of around €2,083).
The number of low-earning drivers has also reduced significantly. While in 2021 28% of drivers earned less than PLN 5,000 net (the equivalent of around €1,157), this proportion has fallen to just 14% in the current survey.
Younger drivers in Poland earn more
The income structure among Polish truck drivers reveals some surprising patterns. For instance, older drivers generally earn less, while young drivers under 25, and those aged 31 to 40 in particular, earn the highest salaries.
According to the survey, 38% of respondents have more than ten years of experience, but paradoxically their incomes are not at the top.
The median net salary of this experienced group is PLN 7,600 (around €1,758). In comparison, drivers with 6 to 10 years of experience and those who have only been working for 1 to 2 years earn an average of PLN 8,000 net (the equivalent of around €1,85).
Despite general satisfaction with rising salaries – nearly 45% of drivers report an increase in 2023 – the PITD survey shows that the decline in demand for transportation has slowed the upward trend in wages, as 43.5% of drivers salaries remained unchanged.
How do salaries in Germany compare?
A direct salary comparison between Polish and German truck drivers is difficult because there is no detailed analysis of the salaries of truck drivers in Germany for 2023.
In addition, the PITD report discloses net income and the salary model in Poland differs from that in Germany.
However, an evaluation published in 2023 by the Lohnspiegel.de website, which is managed by the non-profit Hans Böckler Foundation, provides indications of the salary level of professional drivers in 2022.
Accordingly, the average starting salary for a professional lorry driver is €2,310. Similar to Poland, experience plays a minor role: those with ten years of professional experience earn an average of €2,400 per month. Anyone with twenty years of professional experience earns around €2,440 full-time.
Salaries vary significantly depending on the region or state in which the truck driver works.
In East Germany, the average monthly gross salary is €2,140, which is lower than in West Germany, where it is €2,460 gross.
As in many other industries, a gender pay gap can also be observed in the transport industry: according to the analysis, the average salary for women was €2,220 per month, while for men it was €2,410.
A current report from Jobmatch about the salary demands of truck drivers also provides interesting insights. These average €3,283 gross per month and are relatively moderate compared to other professional groups.
Text written in collaboration with Michał Pakulniewicz