Bulgaria’s average insured income reached €1,069.36 in September 2026. The National Social Security Institute published the figure on 12 November, together with the twelve-month average used in calculating newly awarded pensions.
For the period from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026, that average is €1,018.78. It is the latter figure that applies to pensions newly awarded in October 2026 under Article 70(3) of the Social Insurance Code.
Two figures with different roles
The September number describes one month. The twelve-month measure smooths changes over a longer period and is the national income component relevant to the specified pension calculation.
Neither number is the average pension or the amount that every worker takes home. Insured income is the contribution base recorded for social insurance purposes; it should not be confused with net pay or a general salary statistic.
Why there is no single pension amount
An individual pension also depends on the person’s insurance history and the other elements of the statutory formula. Publishing a new national average therefore does not mean that every pension is automatically reset to the same value.
The timing matters too. The announcement concerns the calculation of newly awarded pensions in October, rather than a separate across-the-board increase for all existing pensioners.
For people approaching retirement, the useful distinction is between the national reference figure and their own contribution record. The monthly release provides one input into the system; the individual decision establishes the entitlement and amount. Comparing the two published averages without their reference periods can otherwise give a misleading impression of what has changed and who is affected.
