The new salary law, which is expected to come into effect on July 1, 2027, changes the pay scales in the public system, from healthcare and education to justice and defense structures, according to the project prepared by the Government.
The project is still in progress at the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Finance and may undergo modifications before adoption, as shown by Profit.ro.
Health
Proposed basic salaries for doctors and nurses
According to the project of the new Salary Law, the basic salaries for the healthcare system are expected to be:
- senior physician – 17,300 lei gross (10,120 lei net)
- first-year resident physician – 8,304 lei gross (4,858 lei net)
- senior nurse – 8,218 lei gross (4,807 lei net)
- novice nurse – 7,396 lei gross (4,326 lei net)
The net values are estimates, calculated for an employee without dependents and without other deductions or bonuses.
Complete change in salary grid
The document sets a reference value of 4,325 lei, based on which salaries will be calculated by applying specific coefficients for each position.
For the healthcare sector, the project proposes the unification of the four existing salary grids into a single one. The coefficients will be determined by order of the Minister of Health, depending on the type of medical unit and its departments.
Differentiated salaries based on work and performance
The new formula introduces clearer criteria for differentiating salaries, including within the same specialty.
The Ministry of Health will need to establish indicators such as activity volume, based on which basic salaries can vary within a range of +/- 10% from the standard coefficient.
Significantly reduced bonuses
One of the most important changes concerns bonuses, which will be limited to a maximum of 50% of the base salary, compared to up to 85% currently.
For shifts and ensuring activity continuity, bonuses of 75-100% are expected to be replaced with an hourly rate only 10% higher than the base rate.
Other important changes:
- bonus for neonatology and laboratories reduced to a maximum of 15% (from 25%);
- bonuses for hazardous conditions reach a maximum of 40%-50%, depending on the degree;
- bonus for difficult conditions reduced to a maximum of 5% (from 15%);
- bonus for radiation reduced to a maximum of 10% (from 30%);
- some bonuses for exceptional conditions, such as stress or risk, are eliminated.
The same logic for social assistance
Similarly, for social assistance personnel, bonuses are capped lower: a maximum of 40% of the base salary, compared to up to 75% currently.
The government aims to align the bonus system between the healthcare and social assistance fields.
Education
How much will teachers and staff in the system earn
For the education system, the same cited project of the law by Profit.ro provides the following basic salaries:
- pre-university teacher (teaching degree I, 25 years seniority) – 10,164 lei gross (5,946 lei net)
- rector – 23,788 lei gross (13,916 lei net)
- scientific researcher degree I – 11,807 lei gross (6,907 lei net)
- librarian – 8,045 lei gross (4,706 lei net)
The net values are estimates, calculated under the same standard conditions.
In education, the project also introduces changes to bonuses: the merit grade and academic performance bonus are replaced with a performance incentive award, and some bonuses are included in the base salary, such as the one for neuro-psychological stress.
Introducing the "performance award"
In education, the project also changes the logic of bonuses:
- the merit grade and academic performance bonus are eliminated;
- these are replaced with a performance incentive award;
- the bonus for neuro-psychological stress is included in the base salary.
Some specific bonuses remain, for example:
- up to 15% for teaching in isolated areas;
- up to 15% for special education;
- bonuses for simultaneous teaching or pedagogical practice.
In universities, institutions can grant increases of up to 20% from own revenues, depending on performance.
Judiciary
How much will magistrates earn
For the Justice system, examples from the project indicate the following basic salaries:
- High Court judge / prosecutor – 25,950 lei gross (15,171 lei net)
- Court of Appeal judge / prosecutor – 25,301 lei gross (14,809 lei net)
- Tribunal judge / prosecutor – 24,047 lei gross (14,116 lei net)
- Superior Court judge – 20,760 lei gross (12,217 lei net)
Military
How much will military personnel and police officers earn
For the military and public order structures, the basic values are:
- General / Chief – 20,198 lei gross (11,893 lei net)
- General / Chief (lower level) – 18,987 lei gross (11,210 lei net)
- Colonel / Chief Commissioner (higher level) – 15,527 lei gross (9,137 lei net)
- Colonel / Chief Commissioner (lower level) – 11,764 lei gross (6,979 lei net)
- Captain / Senior Inspector (higher level) – 10,380 lei gross (6,190 lei net)
- Captain / Senior Inspector (lower level) – 8,434 lei gross (5,081 lei net)
The values are examples from the grid provided in the project of the new salary law cited by Știrile ProTV.
As in the case of Health and Education, the final income may vary depending on bonuses and other components.
What the total income will consist of
The project maintains the current structure of remuneration in the public sector:
- the base salary, the fixed component;
- the variable component, which includes bonuses, allowances, and other benefits.
In practice, the final income will still depend on working conditions, actual activity, and any bonuses granted.
The project can be modified until adoption
The law is still being worked on at the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Finance and may undergo changes before adoption.
The implementation is scheduled for July 1, 2027, and represents one of the milestones assumed by Romania through the PNRR.
