Aspiring psychologist disappointed by Latvian salaries sparks online debate on pay after graduation
A Latvian student training to become a psychologist has triggered a social media debate by complaining about job offers paying under 2,000 euros. Central Statistical Bureau data put the median gross wage in Latvia at 1,527 euros.
A debate about pay after university has unfolded on social media in Latvia. It began with a post by a young woman studying to become a psychologist, who looked at vacancies in her future profession and found salaries below 2,000 euros. She wrote that spending so many years studying only to earn so little was a crime, and added that she now understood why people leave Latvia.
The discussion coincides with the latest data from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP). In the second quarter of this year, the average gross monthly wage in Latvia was 1,886 euros, or 1,401 euros after taxes. The median describes a typical worker's earnings better: 1,527 euros gross and 1,168 euros net, meaning half of full-time employees earn less and half earn more. The minimum wage this year is 780 euros before taxes, and average pay in the Riga and Latgale regions differed by 34%.
Views in the discussion
The author clarified that psychology requires a master's degree and that learning continues throughout a professional career. Some commenters agreed that long studies should be reflected in pay. Others noted that a diploma alone does not guarantee a high salary, that newcomers must prove themselves, and that the figure in a job ad may only be a starting wage. One commenter advised checking vacancies before starting studies, while others raised the possible impact of artificial intelligence on clients' choices and ability to pay.
Survey on pay fairness
A survey by the research company Norstat found that 28% of Latvian residents consider the pay system at their workplace unfair; among working people the figure is 34%. In total, 44% of respondents see it as fair or rather fair. Perceived unfairness is more common among lower earners: 35% of those with net income of 751 to 1,000 euros, compared with 11% of those earning over 2,000 euros. By occupation, 43% of skilled workers, 34% of office employees and 25% of managers share this view.
Juris Zālāns, head of the benefits management platform Beneflo, said people are divided more by income and position than by gender. He linked the survey to the upcoming European Union Pay Transparency Directive, which aims to reduce pay gaps between women and men. If the gap in an employee category reaches 5% and cannot be justified by objective reasons, the company will have to eliminate it. Large employers must submit their first reports in 2027.
