The next payroll settlement, which will be based on the new minimum wage in the private sector, will bring a financial boost of 40 euros per month – and retroactively from April 1 – to the salaries of public and local government employees.
The Circular on “Adjustment of the basic salaries of public sector personnel for the year 2026” signed by the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Thanos Petralias, gives the instruction to the payroll clearing agents to activate the increases.
According to this, from April 1, 2026, the basic starting salary of a newly appointed employee of Compulsory Education in the public sector will be set at 920 euros gross, from 880 euros until March 31. This is an increase of 4.5 per cent compared to last year – significantly higher than the 2025 inflation rate of 2.9 per cent.
The increase covers the entire public sector.
Specifically:
– Administrative employees of the central administration, first and second grade local authorities, NPAs
– Employees of public utilities and general government bodies (with the exception of General Managers of certain bodies, EL.TA. and HELEXPO)
– Judicial Officers and staff of the NCC
– Members of the Security Forces, Armed Forces and students of Production Schools
– Healthcare staff (NHS doctors, nurses, paramedics)
– Faculty members of universities and researchers
– Teachers of all levels (teachers, kindergarten teachers, secondary school teachers) and teachers in the private sector, as these private employees whose salaries follow those of the public sector , nor do they receive “gifts” like other private sector workers, but 12 instead of 14 salaries.
– Permanent, probationary and FTE/IDG employees in all the above categories
Stone Guidance: how the increase is applied
Based on the circular (no. prot. YPEΘO 54692 ΕΞ 2026 – AΔA: ΨΕ7ΨΗ-KΧΧ, 3/4/2026):
1. A horizontal increase of 40 euros is granted: the basic salaries of all pay scales, as in force until 31.3.2026, are increased by 40 euros as of 1.4.2026. The increment is fixed – it is not taken into account when carrying out any foreseen multiplication for basic salary formation, an important element for special pay scales with coefficients, e.g. in the Armed Forces and Security Forces.
2. The increment shall not be offset against any personal difference paid, subject to special arrangements for Security Corps (Law 5246/2025) and Armed Forces (Law 5265/2026).
Explanations with examples
The fiscal cost of the increases is estimated at €358 million for 2026. However, total increases and tax relief for civil servants approach €1 billion for this year.
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For example:
A. Editors
1. at least a member of the Hellenic Police, with the rank of Police Officer B΄, category A΄, with 15 years of total service. On 31.03.2026 he received a basic salary of 1,860 euros [1,824 (M.K. 8) times 1.02 = 1,860.48]. From 01.04.2026 he receives a basic salary of EUR 1,900.
2. Cadet Lieutenants and their equivalents who are attending the first year at the Officers’ School of the Hellenic Police and their equivalents were receiving on 31.03.2026 a basic salary of 713 euros [54% of the basic salary of M.K. 1 of Category A (1,320 x 54%)]. From 01.04.2026 they receive a basic salary of 734 euros [(1320+40) x 54%].
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3. Cadet Police Officers and equivalent of the Security Corps who are studying in the second year at the Police School of the Hellenic Police and equivalent were receiving on 31.03.2026 a basic salary of 401 euros [35% of the basic salary of M.K. 1 of Category B (1,145 x 35%)]. From 01.04.2026 they receive a basic salary of 415 euros [(1145+40) x 35%].
4. Let’s say Colonel with 30 years of service. On 31.03.2026 he received a basic salary of 2,808 euros [2,600 x 1.08 = 2,808]. From 01.04.2026 he receives a basic salary of 2,848 euros.
5. Cadet Reserve Officers (D.E.A.) were receiving on 31.03.2026, a basic salary of 924 euros [70% of the basic salary of M.K. 1 of Category A (1,320 x 70%)]. From 01.04.2026 they receive a basic salary of 952 euros [(1320+40) x 70%].
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6. Students of Higher Schools of Permanent Non-Commissioned Officers (ASMY) were receiving on 31.03.2026 a basic salary of 275 euros [24% of the basic salary of the introductory M.C. of Category B (1,145 x 24%)]. From 01.04.2026 they receive a basic salary of 284 euros [(1,145 + 40) x 24%].
B. Civil servants
From the combination of tax increases and tax cuts already in effect as of Jan. 1, 2026, new salaries are expected to change as follows, according to data and examples from the Treasury:
Example 1:
– December 2023 he received 1,752 euros gross or 1,232 euros net
– December 2025 he received EUR 1,902 gross or EUR 1,346 net
– from January 2026 (with tax reduction) he receives 1,385 euros net
– from April 2026 he now receives 1,942 euros gross or 1,410 euros net
– the 40 euro increase yields 25 euro net per month
– combined with the tax relief from 1/1/2026, the monthly benefit reaches 64 euros and annually 771 euros (and against 2023 178 euros/month net or 2.135 euros/year).
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Example 2:
– TE employee, no position of responsibility, 3 children, 20 years of service:
– December 2023 he received 1,707 euros gross or 1,224 euros net
– In December 2025 he received EUR 1,857 gross or EUR 1,338 net
– from January 2026 (with tax reduction) he receives 1,417 euros net
– from April 2026 receives 1,897 euros gross or 1,445 euros net
– the 40 euro increase yields 28 euro net per month.
– combined with the tax relief, the monthly benefit amounts to 107 euros or annually 1,286 euros. Compared to 2023, the increase amounts to 221 euros/month net, or 2,647 euros/year.
The new salaries from 1.4.2026 – Detailed Tables
Table 1 – Category PE
(University Education – including PE teachers, engineers, economists, economists, lawyers, doctors of NPDs, etc.)
0-2 years (MK 1): 1,232 euros
2-4 years (MK 2): EUR 1,291
4-6 years (MK 3): EUR 1,350
6-8 years (MK 4): 1,409 euros
8-10 years (MK 5): EUR 1,468
10-12 years (MK 6): EUR 1,527
12-14 years (MK 7): EUR 1,586
14-16 years (MK 8): EUR 1,645
16-18 years (MK 9): EUR 1,704
18-20 years (MK 10): EUR 1,763
20-22 years (MK 11): EUR 1 822
22-24 years (MK 12): EUR 1 881
24-26 years (MK 13): EUR 1 940
26-28 years (MK 14): EUR 1,999
28-30 years (MK 15): EUR 2,058
30-32 years (MK 16): EUR 2 117
32-34 years (MK 17): EUR 2 176
34-36 years (MK 18): EUR 2 235
36-38 years (MK 19): EUR 2 294
Secretaries and Secretaries-General: EUR 3 371
Specialist Grade 1 posts: EUR 2 940
Special posts Grade 2/Special Secretaries/Heads of General Service. 2,725 euros
Inspectors/Auditors of Public Administration: 2,100 euros
General Manager: EUR 1 960
Table 2 – Category TE
(Technological Education – technologists, nurses TE, accountants etc.)
0-2 years (MK 1): 1,177 euros
2-4 years (MK 2): EUR 1,232
4-6 years (MK 3): EUR 1 287
6-8 years (MK 4): EUR 1,342
8-10 years (MK 5): EUR 1,397
10-12 years (MK 6): EUR 1,452
12-14 years (MK 7): EUR 1,507
14-16 years (MK 8): EUR 1,562
16-18 years (MK 9): EUR 1,617
18-20 years (MK 10): EUR 1,672
20-22 years (MK 11): EUR 1,727
22-24 years (MK 12): EUR 1 782
24-26 years (MK 13): EUR 1 837
26-28 years (MK 14): EUR 1 892
28-30 years (MK 15): EUR 1 947
30-32 years (MK 16): EUR 2,002
32-34 years (MK 17): EUR 2 057
34-36 years (MK 18): EUR 2 112
36-38 years (MK 19): EUR 2 167
Table 3 – Category TE
(Secondary Education – administrators, technicians, drivers, nursing assistants, etc.)
0-3 years (MK 1): 998 euros
3-6 years (MK 2): EUR 1,058
6-9 years (MK 3): EUR 1,118
9-12 years (MK 4): EUR 1,178
12-15 years (MK 5): EUR 1,238
15-18 years (MK 6): EUR 1,298
18-21 years (MK 7): EUR 1 358
21-24 years (MK 8): EUR 1,418
24-27 years (MK 9): EUR 1 478
27-30 years (MK 10): EUR 1 538
30-33 years (MK 11): EUR 1,598
33-36 years (MK 12): EUR 1 658
36-39 years (MK 13): EUR 1 718
Table 4 – Category HR
(Compulsory education – newly appointed without a high school diploma, workers, guards, cleaners, etc.)
0-3 years (MK 1): 920 euros (= new minimum wage)
3-6 years (MK 2): €963
6-9 years (MK 3): EUR 1,006
9-12 years (MK 4): EUR 1,049
12-15 years (MK 5): EUR 1,092
15-18 years (MK 6): EUR 1,135
18-21 years (MK 7): EUR 1,178
21-24 years (MK 8): EUR 1 221
24-27 years (MK 9): EUR 1,264
27-30 years (MK 10): EUR 1 307
30-33 years (MK 11): EUR 1 350
33-36 years (MK 12): EUR 1 393
36-39 years (MK 13): EUR 1 436
New salary ceilings
The amounts of the salary caps and additional remuneration mentioned in the Stone Circular are set as follows from 1 April 2026:
– Judicial Officers/NCC: EUR 8,846.40
– Members of the Armed Forces: EUR 7 390
– NHS doctors: €6,928
– Security officers: EUR 6 530
– Faculty members of universities: EUR 5 383.63
– Secretary General of the Ministry: EUR 5 191
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