In early 2008, when no one had ever imagined a global economic crisis, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev mentioned that since the beginning of the new millennium, Russian salaries have been steadily increasing. GDP growth over the same period was much more modest. Not only Dmitry Anatolyevich drew attention to the fact that it is necessary to increase labor productivity, but with the next increase in wages, you can also wait. Recall that the average salary in 2004 was $ 242 (6,740 rubles at the time), in 2008 - $ 588 (17,290 rubles).
However, the question of why in Russia such small salaries were asked then and continue to be asked now. In a direct line with the president - in a unique format of interaction between the head of state and ordinary citizens - issues of the domestic economy (level of salaries, jobs, youth employment) became one of the main topics in 2002, 2005, 2008, and in 2014-2017 the discussion was held annually. After the crisis and during the period of sanctions, the authorities recognized that salaries in Russia are small.
Heavy nineties
Why are there small salaries in Russia, and in general, are they small, if we speak objectively? In the nineties, the standard of living of most Russians was determined solely by wages and social benefits, no additional income was discussed. Yes, and the schedules of average salaries (especially in rubles) were distinguished by either rapid ups or crushing falls - a deep economic crisis was in the face.
In April 1991, the average wage of Russians was 495 rubles ($ 341 at the average annual rate corresponding to the time), in December of that year - 548 rubles ($ 101.6). For this amount, at the beginning of the year it was possible to buy 219 kg of potatoes (at those prices), at the end - 182.6 kg. Further worse. In 1992, the average salary was 5995 rubles, or almost $ 24, in 1993 - 58.6 thousand rubles or 140 dollars, in 1994 - 220 thousand rubles, or about 67 dollars.
If we talk about the percentage of wages to the level of 1991 (before the reforms), then in 1992 incomes amounted to about 68%, in 1995 - about 45%. The largest drawdown of the schedule was observed in 1999, when the level of population wages stopped at approximately 32-35% of 1991 income. Experts say that in the nineties, the standard of living of the population decreased by 1.5-2 times - to the indicators of the sixties.
Non-payment of wages
At the same time, there were non-payment of wages. This negative process has covered the majority of the population (60% of workers) in all regions of Russia and most sectors of the economy. The highest level of debt (69%) was observed in the north-west of the country, debts in the Far East (67.9%), in the Urals and the North Caucasus (65.7-65.6%), in the Volga region (66%) were slightly less. . In Moscow and St. Petersburg, debt amounted to almost 32%.
Improvement trend
The fact that improvements are nearing could already be said at the end of 1998 - the beginning of 1999. Demand for domestic goods increased, production increased, and exports in physical volumes increased. By the beginning of the new millennium, there was an increase in real incomes of the population. According to official statistics, the number of Russian citizens who live below the poverty line has also decreased. If in 2000 such a layer of the population was almost 30%, then by 2009, 13% were poor.
According to official data, starting in 1992, an increase in salaries in Russia in rubles was constantly observed (the chart is presented below). But the domestic currency did not differ in the stability of the exchange rate. Another decrease in wages in dollars occurred during the global economic crisis of 2008 , then - in 2012-2014. The last time the decline was due to the global drop in oil prices, the Ukrainian crisis and sanctions against Russia.
A brief overview of average salaries
Today, the average salary in Russia (2017) after deducting income tax is 30.8 thousand rubles. The minimum wage since June this year is 7800 rubles, the cost of living for able-bodied citizens is 10 187 rubles. But Russia is too big a country to speak only about general figures - salaries, the cost of goods, and living standards in general differ significantly in the regions.
The highest salaries in Russia by industry
In 2015, the highest salaries were in the oil and gas industry, among financial analysts, in the field of mining and in the transportation sector.
In 2016, the highest average salaries remained in the mining industry - 71 thousand rubles, in the energy sector - 80.9 thousand rubles, mining - 51.2 thousand rubles. This, by the way, is the usual salary of a janitor in Germany.
In the transport sector, the average monthly remuneration is 42.5 thousand. A driver of special equipment earns about 60 thousand, a loader - 46 thousand, a forwarder - 43 thousand, a mechanic - 40 thousand rubles. The driver’s salary is 29 thousand rubles.
Civil servants earn an average of 40 thousand per month - this applies to department heads and middle managers. Senior management can be content with much higher salaries - about 68 thousand - almost like specialists working in the mining industry. The salary of state employees in Russia is much less.
Executive staff in almost any industry earn more than the average. So, for example, head doctors, private doctors and pharmacy directors can count on 65 thousand, top managers in the hotel and restaurant business - 60-64 thousand rubles, foremen, foremen, construction and demolition masters - 50-58 thousand rubles.
Other high paying professions:
- Specialists. It is more difficult for workers with narrow specialization and practical experience to find a job, but their salaries are much higher than those of ordinary employees. For example, the salary of civil aviation pilots in Russia is almost 300 thousand rubles with a flight time of 85 hours per month.
- Programmers, system administrators and developers. In the nineties, there was a shortage of such specialists, an outflow of personnel abroad, now the market has not been saturated with highly qualified IT specialists. The professional is still not enough. The average salary of a programmer is from 60 thousand rubles.
- Internal Relations Managers. Such specialists are needed by large firms. Their responsibilities include ensuring contact between management and ordinary employees, ensuring loyal relations between employees, developing a corporate style, design work, and so on. Professionals with experience can receive 100-250 thousand monthly.
- Accountants are considered highly paid employees, but this requires specialized higher education, work experience of three years, and the ability to navigate the laws. Corporations are ready to pay 350 thousand rubles to highly qualified specialists.
- A young practicing lawyer can count on 35 thousand, more experienced colleagues earn 150 thousand a month.
- Sales and purchasing managers, logisticians, marketers, auditors. In the first case, you need to understand the psychology of the consumer, the features of the product, in the second, you need to know the customs system and logistics. Any specialist needs experience and professional education. The average salary is 25-50 thousand.
Lowest salaries by industry
The number of citizens with incomes below the subsistence level in 2016 amounted to almost 20 million people (13.5% of the country's population). The average salary of doctors in Russia (as well as social workers and teachers) for 2016 increased by only 5%, in agriculture, textiles, forestry and hunting - 10%.
In the manufacturing industry, seamstresses, craftsmen, technologists, and specialists receive from 16 (clothing, textiles) to 32 (pulp and paper industry) thousand rubles. In food products, specialists can count on 28.8 thousand, manufacturers of shoes and leather products - 20.5 thousand, furniture, wooden goods - 22 thousand.
To the same extent, auxiliary workers and some representatives of working professions earn money, although here everything depends on many factors. Turner salary in Russia is 15-20 thousand rubles. But a specialist who has tolerances and work experience can already count on 30-40 thousand or more. The highest paid employees are considered (about 60 thousand monthly) who are ready for the shift method of work.
Small salaries have to be content in the hotel and hotel business. Administrators, waiters, receptionists and maids receive from 20 to 25 thousand rubles a month. Chefs get a little more - 34 thousand.
Salaries of education, medicine, law enforcement officers
In the medical industry, the situation is not encouraging. Laboratory assistants have to be content with 14 thousand rubles a month, pharmacists and pharmacists - 24 thousand, nurses and nurses - 19-23 thousand. They get a little more in education. The average teacher salary in Russia is 26.7 thousand rubles, but this is really very averaged data.
The salary of a janitor in Russia is an average of 15 thousand rubles according to official figures, but in practice, such workers can receive only from 3 to 6 thousand. How much do technical workers and some ZhEK workers get? In this area, the highest paid is the work of the manager of the HOA or housing and communal services - 46-66 thousand rubles.
At the Ministry of Internal Affairs (like many teachers or doctors), most of the salaries are various individual allowances - for higher education, seniority, officer rank, dangerous working conditions, and so on. The average salary of a policeman is 30 thousand rubles. The premium for conscientious service may be from half the salary and higher, for the risk to life and health - up to 100% of the salary, for special conditions (for snipers or cryptographers, for example) - up to 30% of the employee’s salary without allowances.
So, the salary of a policeman who conscientiously serves, works in special conditions and has devoted more than 25 years to work, can be about 70 thousand. This is also without taking into account the military rank, higher education, advanced training and performance indicators. Salaries in the Ministry of Internal Affairs are difficult to statistical accounting, since the final amount is affected by many variables.
Why is "bad for everyone"
The statistics show that the average salary of an ordinary employee allows him to provide a normal standard of living. But why then does everyone say that salaries in Russia are small? And why are official statistics and other data so different: statistics from open sources, population surveys?
Most likely, the fact is that those who get enough will not particularly speak out, as they are happy with everything. But people who have to be content with low salaries speak, as a rule, on behalf of everyone. Therefore, it seems that "everyone is bad." But actually it is not.
Russian and European salaries
They especially like to mention low wages in Russia and European salaries. The lowest salaries by European standards are in Romania ($ 684), Bulgaria ($ 591), Latvia ($ 1039), Lithuania ($ 867), Hungary ($ 1129). Most receive in the Scandinavian countries ($ 4700-5800), France, Belgium, Austria, Germany. Slightly less - in Slovenia, Spain, Greece and Cyprus (an average of $ 2,500).
The salary of a policeman in Lithuania (salary only) is more than $ 800, in France an intern receives almost $ 2,000, and in Slovenia - $ 1,100. By the way, in the same Slovenia rallies are often held. Protesters are demanding higher salaries; the Ministry of Internal Affairs is also dissatisfied with insufficient salaries.
Truck drivers in the Scandinavian countries receive 25-30 dollars per hour, an ordinary driver in France receives from 600 dollars per month. The salary of a public bus driver in Germany is at least $ 1,500. The tram driver receives $ 3,500, the construction engineer - $ 3,200. The turner's salary in the same Germany is 2.5-3.5 thousand dollars.
The monthly pilot's reward in Germany is 5.8 thousand dollars. This is $ 800 more than the salary of civil aviation pilots in Russia.
Living Standards Comparison
When comparing Russian salaries with European ones, they often forget another question - the cost of living in Russia cannot be equated with the European one. According to statistics, Russians spend 27.7% of their salary on food, in practice, half. Here is how much the same indicator is in different countries of Europe:
- Lithuania, 33.7%.
- Bulgaria, 33.2%.
- Croatia, 31.7%.
- Montenegro, 31.6%
- Romania, 31.5%.
- Latvia, 28.2%.
- Estonia, 27%.
- Poland, 24.9%.
- Hungary, 23.5%.
- Slovakia, 20.7%.
- Greece, 20.4%.
- Czech Republic, 20.2%.
- Italy, 19.5%.
- France, 16.4%.
- Spain, 15.1%.
- Iceland, 14.9%.
- Slovenia, 14.3%.
- Sweden, 13.5%.
- Portugal, 13.3%.
- Belgium, 13.2%.
- Germany, 12.8%.
- Finland, 12.7%.
- Cyprus, 12.3%.
- Ireland, 12.2%.
- Austria, 12.1%.
- Norway, 11.8%.
- Switzerland, 11.5%.
- Great Britain, 11%.
- Denmark, 10.6%.
- Netherlands, 10%.
Luxembourg is the leader, whose citizens spend on food 8.6% of total income per month.
The cost of living in Europe is much higher than in Russia, and far from always high salaries “cover” all necessary expenses.
Nearest GDP neighbors
So why are there small salaries in Russia? In fact, Russian salaries are not at all low (there is a constant increase in remuneration for labor), but they correspond to reality. And it’s much more reasonable to compare Russia with its closest neighbors, but not at all geographically, but financially - with its neighbors in terms of gross domestic product.
According to the International Monetary Fund, GDP per capita in Russia is $ 26.5 thousand. The indicator provides the Russian Federation with 48th place in the ranking. The closest neighbors in GDP are:
- Latvia, 24.7 thousand dollars.
- Greece, 26.3 thousand
- Hungary, 26.5 thousand
- Poland, 26.6 thousand
- Kazakhstan, 24.9 thousand
Malaysia ($ 26.2 thousand), Antigua and Barbuda ($ 24.2 thousand), Saint Kitts and Nevis (25.1 thousand), Seychelles (26.3 thousand) and other countries are not taken into account, comparison with which for Russia is at least strange and incomprehensible.
So, in Hungary, for example, with the same level of GDP per capita, the average salary is $ 600 per month, in Russia the same indicator is $ 589. Hungarians working in the automotive industry earn on average $ 1,500, Russians - $ 750. Workers with low qualifications can count in Hungary for $ 600 per month (a little over 35 thousand rubles), highly skilled specialists - for $ 1,200 (72 thousand rubles).
It would seem that there is a higher wage, but then it's time to recall European prices. In the same Hungary, it is possible to rent a one-room apartment in the city center for at least 15 thousand rubles in terms of national currency, in a residential area - for 7 thousand. The cost of housing and communal services - from 2 thousand rubles in summer 10 thousand rubles in winter. With the rest of the costs the same situation.
It can be concluded that the question of why low salaries in Russia becomes simply incorrect, because if we compare the Russian economy with the economies of the European countries that are similar in basic indicators, the Russians do not live very poorly, but at a very decent level. Although, of course, the existence of problems in Russia cannot be denied.