An increasing number of students in Poland are combining their studies with gaining professional experience and supporting themselves financially. The latest labor market analysis by Grupa Progres shows that the highest number of job offers for young people comes from the trade and sales sector as well as HoReCa (hotels, restaurants, catering).
The average annual salary offered in job postings targeted at students is currently about PLN 86,964 gross. This translates into roughly PLN 79,138 net annually under a flexible service contract (umowa zlecenia), or around PLN 61,900 net annually under a standard employment contract.
Why Students Work
A wide variety of positions, attractive salaries, and flexible schedules make it easier than ever for students to tailor work to their career goals and lifestyle. Many take jobs simply because the cost of living during studies is high and parents are not always able to cover all expenses.
According to the Portfel Studenta report, average monthly expenses for a student amount to PLN 3,980.
“Many students already worked during the summer holidays, just like high school graduates. In October, they will continue working during the academic year, looking for either full-time jobs or flexible arrangements to cover study costs. Fortunately, the market now offers plenty of opportunities to balance employment with education and secure funding for living expenses,”
said Joanna Dargiewicz, Regional Director at Grupa Progres.
Which Industries Hire the Most Students?
Grupa Progres’ analysis of job postings shows that:
- 17% of offers for students come from trade and sales.
- 16% from HoReCa.
- 15% from logistics, procurement, and forwarding.
- 10% from office administration.
- 6% from education.
Other sectors include: customer service and call centers (5%), production (4%), security (4%), finance and accounting (3%), leaflet distribution (3%), construction/repairs (3%), IT and telecom (2%), and healthcare (2%).
The least student-friendly sectors are marketing & PR, HR, insurance, energy, R&D, defense, and occupational health & safety.
Typical Jobs for Students
The most common positions include cashiers, sales assistants, customer advisors, warehouse workers, couriers, and delivery drivers.
In HoReCa, students often work as waiters, bartenders, cooks, receptionists, and hotel staff.
In administration and education, they take roles such as office assistants, secretaries, school interns, and extracurricular activity supervisors.
In logistics and production, jobs often include packers, warehouse assistants, and production line workers.
In IT and marketing, roles include junior developers, graphic designers, social media specialists, and data analysts.
In finance, students often work as accounting or finance team assistants.
What Students Expect
“Students have clear expectations. They usually seek part-time, seasonal, or flexible jobs and avoid night shifts. Many want to start immediately and value a friendly workplace atmosphere. However, pay remains the top priority—they expect net wages close to gross. The minimum wage doesn’t satisfy them, and they say so directly. In practice, students often earn more than initially offered, especially in industries short of workers,”
noted Dargiewicz.
Salary Breakdown
- Average annual salary: PLN 86,964 gross
- PLN 79,138 net (umowa zlecenia, under 26 years old, tax-exempt)
- PLN 61,900 net (standard employment contract)
- Monthly average: PLN 7,247 gross
- PLN 6,595 net (zlecenie)
- PLN 5,150 net (employment contract)
- Weekly earnings:
- PLN 1,650 net (zlecenie)
- PLN 1,285 net (employment contract)
- Hourly rate: PLN 45.29 gross
- PLN 41.21 net (zlecenie)
- PLN ~32 net (employment contract)
Lowest observed annual salaries: PLN 74,640 gross (~PLN 67,922 net under zlecenie, PLN 53,200 net under employment).
Highest observed annual salaries: PLN 95,832 gross (~PLN 87,208 net under zlecenie, PLN 68,000 net under employment).
Benefits Offered to Students
In addition to wages, employers often attract student workers with benefits such as:
- Training, courses, internships, and mentoring
- Performance bonuses and referral bonuses
- Employee discounts and free meals/drinks at work
- Subsidized transport or city cards
- Access to gyms, sports, or wellness programs
- Team-building trips and integration events
- Remote or hybrid work options
- Flexible breaks and extra days off
- Gift cards, vouchers, and in some cases, healthcare or insurance plans
Challenges for Employers
Hiring students also comes with challenges: limited availability, lack of experience, high turnover, and fluctuating productivity. Issues with motivation, punctuality, and responsibility sometimes require extra supervision.
“Still, investing time and attention in student workers pays off. They gain skills quickly, show commitment, and often become valuable long-term team members,”
summarized Dargiewicz.
Methodology
The analysis by Grupa Progres was carried out in the first three weeks of September 2025, covering more than 83,000 job ads published across Polish recruitment portals.
Source: CEO Magazyn
