A gross monthly pension of PLN 4,000 is not a realistic goal for every Polish worker. Calculations cited by Fakt show that the required earnings depend strongly on when someone starts building pension capital and how long they stay on the labour market.
According to data from ZUS, the average pension in Poland after indexation in 2026 amounts to roughly PLN 4,300 gross. That level is already received by at least 49.8 percent of retirees, so a PLN 4,000 benefit sits very close to the average.
The amounts needed to reach such a pension vary sharply. Fakt calculated that a woman aged 25 needs monthly earnings of PLN 5,798 to get PLN 4,000 of gross retirement benefit. For a 35-year-old woman the required salary rises to PLN 8,838, and for a 45-year-old it reaches PLN 16,771.
Age raises the financial bar
Men can achieve the same benefit with lower salaries. A 25-year-old man needs PLN 3,670 a month, a 35-year-old PLN 4,982, and a 45-year-old PLN 8,062. The gender gap reflects the fact that women are allowed to retire earlier and therefore have less time to build up enough capital.
Starting late is particularly costly. A 45-year-old has much less time to accumulate savings than someone entering the labour market at 20, which explains why the required salary grows with each passing year.
Delaying retirement can increase the pension significantly
ZUS records from 2025 show that one in four Poles chooses to postpone the moment they start collecting their pension. According to Fakt’s calculations, deferring the benefit by one year can raise it by 14 percent, while working five years longer can boost it by as much as 80 percent.
Under current rules, women reach retirement age at 60 and men at 65. The decision to keep working after that age is one of the most effective ways to increase the monthly benefit.
Source: WNP.PL, Photo: PawelKacperek / Shutterstock
