What salary do Ukrainians consider acceptable, and what else influences their choice of job?
11 February 21:25
The most desirable salary level for Ukrainians remains in the range of 20,000–30,000 hryvnia —this amount was named by 34% of respondents. This is evidenced by the results of a study by the OLX Robota platform, reports "Komersant Ukrainian".
The data reflects not only income expectations, but also the changing priorities of Ukrainians in the labor market amid war and economic instability.
What income do Ukrainians consider acceptable?
According to the survey:
- 20–30 thousand hryvnia — 34% of respondents;
- 10–20 thousand UAH — 29%;
- 30–50 thousand UAH — 20%;
- 50,000 UAH and above — 11%;
- up to 10,000 UAH — only 6%.
Thus, almost two-thirds of respondents are guided by a salary of up to 30,000 UAH, which roughly corresponds to the average salary in Ukraine at the end of 2025.
Salary is not the only criterion
OLX Job experts note that non-financial conditions are becoming increasingly important for Ukrainians when choosing a place of work.
Key factors include
- good relationships within the team and support from management — 55%;
- work-life balance — 48%;
- hybrid or flexible schedule — 44%;
- company reliability and stability — 41%;
- competitive salary — 35%;
- social guarantees — 29%;
- official employment — 28%.
These results indicate a growing demand for predictability and psychological security, rather than just the size of payments.
Development, training, and remote work
Career and educational opportunities also remain important, but are not dominant:
- career growth — 22%;
- company-funded training — 21%;
- fully remote work — 21%.
Analysts note that full remote work is no longer a determining factor for most people, unlike in 2020–2022.
Company values — on the periphery
The least influence on job choice is exerted by value-based and symbolic factors:
- social responsibility (in particular, support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine) — 12%;
- corporate culture and mission — 11%;
- official exemption from mobilization — 7%.
Experts explain this by the pragmatism of decisions: in difficult conditions, Ukrainians primarily evaluate stability and working conditions.
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Willingness to change profession
The survey also revealed high uncertainty in the labor market:
- 26% plan to change their profession or field of activity in 2026;
- 60% admit this possibility;
- only 14% are not considering a change.
The main motivation for changing professions remains the desire to earn a higher salary, as indicated by 72% of respondents.
Which fields are considered promising
According to respondents, the greatest employment opportunities are in:
- trade and sales — 55%;
- marketing, advertising, PR — 22%;
- cleaning and domestic staff — 20%;
- transport and logistics — 13%;
- manufacturing and engineering — 13%;
- education and science — 12%;
- healthcare — 11%.
According to the State Statistics Service, in December 2025, the average salary in Ukraine rose to UAH 30,926, which is 13.8% more than in November. This brings actual incomes closer to the expectations declared by Ukrainians in surveys.
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