Key takeaway
In the second quarter of 2026, Georgia’s average monthly nominal wage for employees increased by 8.0% year on year, or GEL 177.3, to GEL 2,389.3. The increase was uneven across sectors, regions and sex, so the national average does not describe a typical wage for every employee.
The data show a strong concentration of higher pay in information and communication, finance and insurance, construction, and professional, scientific and technical activities. They also show a persistent gap between men’s and women’s average wages and a wide difference between Tbilisi and the lowest-paid region.
| Indicator | Q2 2026 | Year-on-year change | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average wage in Georgia | GEL 2,389.3 | +GEL 177.3 / +8.0% | National average |
| Women | GEL 1,927.0 | +GEL 157.5 / +8.9% | Below national average |
| Men | GEL 2,856.4 | +GEL 200.5 / +7.6% | Above national average |
| Business sector | GEL 2,471.5 | +GEL 153.8 / +6.6% | Above national average |
| Non-business and financial sector | GEL 2,239.0 | +GEL 215.0 / +10.6% | Faster annual growth |
Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia, Average Monthly Nominal Wage, Q2 2026.
Wage growth differs sharply across sectors
The highest average wage was recorded in information and communication, followed by finance and insurance, construction, and professional, scientific and technical activities.
| Economic activity | Average wage | Annual change | Compared with national average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information and communication | GEL 4,400.4 | +5.4% | About 1.8 times higher |
| Finance and insurance | GEL 4,074.1 | +9.2% | About 1.7 times higher |
| Construction | GEL 3,496.6 | +0.8% | About 1.5 times higher |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | GEL 3,304.8 | +10.3% | About 1.4 times higher |
Comparisons with the national average use GEL 2,389.3 and are rounded.
The average wage in information and communication was about GEL 2,011 above the national average. This difference matters because the national figure is influenced by the share and composition of high-paying activities in total employment.
High-paying activities pull the average upward
In the business sector, the average monthly wage reached GEL 2,471.5, up 6.6% year on year. The highest business-sector wages were recorded in information and communication at GEL 4,463.9 and in professional, scientific and technical activities at GEL 3,693.0.
The average wage in the non-business and financial sector was GEL 2,239.0, up 10.6%. Finance and insurance remained the highest-paying activity within that group. The different growth rates across sectors show that the national wage change is not determined by private companies alone.
The gender wage difference remains large
In the second quarter of 2026, women’s average wage was GEL 1,927.0, while men’s average wage was GEL 2,856.4. The difference was GEL 929.4, meaning that men’s average wage was about 48.2% higher than women’s average wage.
Women’s average wage increased by GEL 157.5, or 8.9%, over the year. Men’s average wage increased by GEL 200.5, or 7.6%. Although the percentage increase was higher for women, the absolute increase was larger for men. Geostat reports that men’s average wage exceeded women’s average wage in every economic activity.
Regional differences are even wider
Tbilisi recorded the highest average wage at GEL 2,758.5, followed by Mtskheta-Mtianeti at GEL 2,279.8. Tbilisi was GEL 369.2, or about 15.5%, above the national average.
The lowest average wage was recorded in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti at GEL 1,235.4. This was GEL 1,153.9 below the national average. The regional spread indicates that the location of economic activity and the concentration of employment affect the national wage figure.
| Region | Average wage | Difference from national average |
|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi | GEL 2,758.5 | +GEL 369.2 |
| Mtskheta-Mtianeti | GEL 2,279.8 | −GEL 109.5 |
| Adjara | GEL 2,082.8 | −GEL 306.5 |
| Kvemo Kartli | GEL 2,067.0 | −GEL 322.3 |
| Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti | GEL 1,653.5 | −GEL 735.8 |
| Guria | GEL 1,616.7 | −GEL 772.6 |
| Imereti | GEL 1,592.3 | −GEL 797.0 |
| Shida Kartli | GEL 1,592.1 | −GEL 797.2 |
| Kakheti | GEL 1,506.3 | −GEL 883.0 |
| Samtskhe-Javakheti | GEL 1,473.6 | −GEL 915.7 |
| Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti | GEL 1,235.4 | −GEL 1,153.9 |
Note: Some enterprises and organizations are assigned to regions according to the location of their head office.
What this means for Georgian business
For Georgian businesses, the 8.0% increase points in two directions. Employers face higher wage costs, especially in activities where demand for qualified workers is strong. At the same time, higher nominal employee income may support household demand for goods and services.
Nominal wage growth does not automatically mean that real purchasing power improved at the same rate. That question requires a comparison with inflation. The average wage also does not show the median wage, the distribution between low and high earners, or changes in the number of employees.
Business planning should therefore examine the national average together with sector, regional and workforce composition. A higher national average can reflect expansion in high-paying activities even when wage growth in other sectors is limited.
Why the average wage is not the income of every employee
- The average can increase while the wages of a large share of employees change more slowly.
- The share of high-paying activities in total employment affects the national average.
- Regional figures are linked to head-office location and may not always represent the physical location of the job.
- Nominal growth does not show the change in wages after accounting for price levels.
What the next data should clarify
A fuller assessment should combine real wages, median pay, employment levels and labour productivity. These measures would help show how broadly wage growth is spreading and how much of it is associated with the expansion of high-paying activities.
It will also be important to see whether growth continues in sectors where the average wage remains below the national figure. A broader sectoral and regional increase would make the effect on household income and domestic demand more evenly distributed.
Conclusion
In the second quarter of 2026, Georgia’s average monthly nominal wage reached GEL 2,389.3, up 8.0% year on year. The highest pay was recorded in information and communication, finance and insurance, construction, and professional activities.
The main message is therefore a combination of growth and inequality. Men’s average wage was GEL 929.4 above women’s average wage, and Tbilisi remained the leading region. GEL 2,389 is an important national indicator, but it is incomplete without sectoral, regional, sex-based and inflation-adjusted context.