Russia's wage gap widens as oil workers and bankers outearn civil servants by 5x
Russia's wage landscape in 2024 and 2025 has shown stark differences across regions and industries. Financial services led the national pay rankings, while oil and gas workers in specific areas earned the most. Meanwhile, civil servants in some republics received the lowest salaries in the country.
Nationwide, financial specialists topped the wage charts in 2024, earning an average of 194,000 rubles ($2,100) per month. In Moscow, their earnings climbed even higher, reaching 310,000 rubles ($3,400) monthly. The IT sector dominated in 16 regions, while financial services ranked first in 14 others.
The highest-paid professionals overall were oil workers in Sakhalin, with average monthly wages of 328,000 rubles ($3,600). In Komi Republic, which placed 22nd in the 2025 regional wage ranking, oil and gas extraction workers earned around 165,000 rubles ($1,800) per month. However, their pay remained largely unchanged from the previous year. At the lower end, civil servants in Ingushetia earned just 61,000 rubles ($670) per monthâthe lowest in Russia. Neighbouring Kabardino-Balkaria followed closely, with civil servants taking home 67,000 rubles ($730) monthly. Meanwhile, mineral extraction industries led wage rankings in 18 out of 85 regions.
The data highlights a clear divide in earnings across Russia's industries and regions. High-paying sectors like oil, gas, and finance contrast sharply with lower wages in civil service roles, particularly in certain republics. These figures reflect ongoing disparities in regional economic conditions and industry demand.
