Just 8.2% report being fully content with their earnings. As a result, nearly 70% say they frequently or very frequently feel financial pressure in their daily lives. Fewer than 6% of respondents do not feel burdened by their monthly expenses.
“The main sources of this financial pressure are high utility costs, outstanding debts such as loans or credit cards, and the inability to keep up with rising prices—despite maintaining the same level of consumption. 18% of respondents expressed frustration that they can’t afford anything beyond basic needs.”,” said Ana Calugaru, Head of Communications at eJobs, Romania’s largest online recruitment platform.
Despite widespread dissatisfaction, nearly 63% of those surveyed said they had received a salary increase in the past year and a half—29.1% in 2025 and 33.7% in 2024. For 15.1%, the last raise came in 2023, while 6% have been on the same salary since 2022. Another 3% haven’t received a raise since 2020 or 2021. Some 7.7% couldn’t recall their last pay rise, and 5.5% still earn the same salary they had when they were first hired.
When asked what net monthly income they would need to feel financially secure and maintain a decent standard of living, 24.6% pointed to a range between RON6,001 and RON8,000. Another 22% said they would need between RON8,001 and RON10,000, 15.5% would need between RON10,001 and RON12,000, and 13.3% said they would need more than RON15,000. A quarter of respondents said they could manage with less than RON6,000 per month.
“Even though a significant share of respondents recently received salary increases, there’s still a clear gap between their current income and the level they feel would bring financial comfort. In most cases, they would need at least 20% more than what they currently earn,” added Calugaru.
Given the chance to switch to a job offering the income they feel is necessary to meet their needs without major compromises, 84% said they would make the move without hesitation.
Aside from salary, several factors were seen as important to improving financial well-being and overall job satisfaction. Top of the list was flexible working hours, mentioned by one in three respondents. This was followed by non-financial benefits, opportunities for professional growth and career advancement, as well as a positive work environment and healthy organizational culture.
The survey was conducted in June among 2,452 full-time, part-time, and freelance respondents. Their current income levels were distributed as follows: 17.2% earned between RON2,500 and RON3,500, 29.3% between RON3,501 and RON5,000, 31.2% between RON5,001 and RON8,000, 13.5% between RON8,001 and RON12,000, and 5.4% earned more than RON12,001. Another 3.5% chose not to disclose their earnings.