---
title: "One profession, two wallets: in which regions of Ukraine the wage gap reaches 106%"
description: "According to OLX Work data, the gap in median salaries for the same profession across different regions of Ukraine reaches 106% — record disparities have been recorded in the construction sector, where a painter in Lviv Oblast earns almost twice as much as in Chernivtsi Oblast."
date: 2026-09-10T06:22:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/regional-wage-gaps-in-ukraine-construction-sector
tags: [ukraine, salaries, construction, labor-market, regional-economy, olx-work]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# One profession, two wallets: in which regions of Ukraine the wage gap reaches 106%

![Construction workers on scaffolding finishing a facade: wage gap for laborers across Ukraine regions reaches 106%](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/10/regionalnye-razryvy-zarplat-v-ukraine-stroitelnaya-sfera/regionalnye-razryvy-zarplat-v-ukraine-stroitelnaya-sfera-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The largest regional wage gaps in Ukraine have been recorded in the construction and finishing sectors — up to 106% for painters
- Tile setters in Kyiv Oblast earn 107,500 UAH, while in Poltava Oblast it is 52,500 UAH; stonemasons in Lviv Oblast earn 115,000 UAH, while in Zhytomyr Oblast it is 57,500 UAH
- Salary differences for chat operators, long-haul truck drivers, dentists, and sales managers also reach 60–90%
- An internal inconsistency was found in the original RBC-Ukraine data: the generalising phrase about 40% is not confirmed by the specific figures for the three listed professions
- Experts attribute the gaps to the safety factor, local demand for staff, and the overall consequences of mobilisation and migration

The Ukrainian labour market presents a paradox: the same job in different regions of the country can be paid with a difference of more than two times. According to data from the OLX Work analytics service, published by RBC-Ukraine, the sharpest regional disparities have been recorded in the construction and finishing sectors. Experts attribute this to a combination of the safety factor, local demand for specialists, and overall tension in the labour market, exacerbated by mobilisation and internal migration.

### Construction sector: record wage gaps

The leader in the difference in median salaries among all analysed professions was the "Construction/finishing work" group. For a painter on a construction site, the median salary in Lviv Oblast is 94,250 hryvnias, while in Chernivtsi Oblast it is only 45,750 hryvnias. The gap reaches 48,500 hryvnias, or 106%. For tile setters, the highest median pay was recorded in Kyiv Oblast — 107,500 hryvnias, and the lowest in Poltava Oblast — 52,500 hryvnias (a difference of 55,000 hryvnias, or 104.8%). Stonemasons in Lviv Oblast earn a median of 115,000 hryvnias, while in Zhytomyr Oblast it is 57,500 hryvnias (a 100% gap). Plasterers in Kyiv earn 100,000 hryvnias, while in Zaporizhzhia Oblast it is 50,000 hryvnias (also a 100% difference).

### Beyond construction: where else pay differs

Significant regional differences are also observed outside the construction sector. Chat operators in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast earn a median of 95,000 hryvnias, while in Zaporizhzhia Oblast it is 50,000 hryvnias (a 90% gap). Long-haul truck drivers in Khmelnytskyi Oblast earn 87,500 hryvnias, while in Sumy Oblast it is 50,000 hryvnias (75%). Dentists in Kirovohrad Oblast receive 95,000 hryvnias, while in Zhytomyr Oblast it is 57,500 hryvnias (65.2%). Sales department managers in Vinnytsia Oblast earn 110,000 hryvnias, while in Zhytomyr Oblast it is 68,750 hryvnias (60%). Auto body repair technicians at service stations in Kyiv earn 90,000 hryvnias, while in Kharkiv Oblast it is 57,500 hryvnias (56.5%). Production electricians in Kirovohrad Oblast receive 79,702 hryvnias, while in Mykolaiv Oblast it is 52,500 hryvnias (51.8%).

### Minimal gaps and production specialties

The smallest regional disparities have been recorded for a number of production and technical specialties. A production mechanic in Volyn Oblast earns 80,000 hryvnias, while in Zakarpattia Oblast it is 72,500 hryvnias (a 10.3% difference). A construction welder in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast earns 65,000 hryvnias, while in Kyiv it is 60,000 hryvnias (8.3%). According to OLX Work data, such professions are less subject to regional differentiation, as their demand is more evenly distributed across the country.

### Contradictory data

The original RBC-Ukraine material contains an internal inconsistency in the presentation of the data. The introductory sentence states that "for three professions, the difference between regions is 40%, or 20,000 hryvnias," however the subsequent specific figures do not confirm this generalisation. For an excavator operator, 65,000 hryvnias (Rivne Oblast) and 50,000 hryvnias (Ternopil Oblast) are indicated, which gives a difference of 15,000 hryvnias, or 30%, not 40%. For a production installer — 64,500 hryvnias (Zakarpattia) and 51,250 hryvnias (Rivne Oblast), a gap of 13,250 hryvnias, or 25.9%. For an auto electrician — 70,000 hryvnias (Zakarpattia) and 56,250 hryvnias (Cherkasy Oblast), a difference of 13,750 hryvnias, or 24.4%. Thus, none of the three listed professions meets the stated threshold of 40% or 20,000 hryvnias. Presumably, this is an error in the editorial summary, or the generalising phrase refers to a different set of data not provided in the text.

### Context: staff shortage and recovery

OLX Work analysts emphasise that the largest wage gaps are predominantly observed between the western and eastern regions of Ukraine. This is influenced by the safety factor and the local situation in the labour market, in particular the demand for specific specialists. At the same time, there are exceptions: for example, in Sumy Oblast a construction electrician is paid 61.1% more than in Chernivtsi Oblast. Previously, RBC-Ukraine reported that the Ukrainian labour market is experiencing an acute staff shortage due to mobilisation and migration, while the construction industry remains one of the most promising sectors given the country's future recovery tasks, which supports demand for specialists and contributes to wage growth.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Where in Ukraine are the highest salaries: the regions with maximum incomes are named](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/de-ukrayini-nayvishchi-zarplati-nazvano-oblasti-1789021196.html) - Основной источник данных OLX Работа по региональным разрывам зарплат. Конкретные цифры по профессиям и областям соответствуют тексту. Обнаружена внутренняя нестыковка в обобщающей фразе о 40%.
- [One profession, but different salaries: which jobs in Ukraine have the largest pay gap](https://www.unian.net/economics/other/zarplata-v-ukraine-otlichaetsya-dazhe-na-odnoy-i-toy-zhe-dolzhnosti-na-kakoy-vakansii-samyy-bolshoy-razryv-13494699.html) - Публикация УНИАН по той же теме подтверждает наличие значительных региональных диспропорций в оплате труда, особенно в строительной сфере.
- [Work in production. In which regions is business looking for employees and who is it ready to pay more ...](https://biz.nv.ua/sviy-biznes/rynok-vakansiy-v-sfere-proizvodstva-rost-zarplat-i-regionalnye-izmeneniya-v-ukraine-50636488.html) - Дополнительный контекст по региональным изменениям на рынке вакансий и росту зарплат в производственном секторе.
- [Production jobs in Ukraine: where and how much they pay](https://www.unian.net/economics/other/rabota-v-ukraine-na-proizvodstve-kakie-zarplaty-predlagayut-13483143.html) - Публикация УНИАН по той же теме подтверждает наличие значительных региональных диспропорций в оплате труда, особенно в строительной сфере.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Which profession in Ukraine has the largest regional wage gap?
**A:** According to OLX Work data, the maximum gap has been recorded for construction painters: 94,250 hryvnias in Lviv Oblast versus 45,750 hryvnias in Chernivtsi Oblast, which amounts to 106% (48,500 hryvnias).

### Q: Why do salaries in different regions of Ukraine differ so much?
**A:** OLX Work experts highlight two main factors: the safety of the region and local demand for specific specialists. The largest gaps are observed between western and eastern regions, although there are exceptions.

### Q: Which professions have the smallest regional pay differences?
**A:** The smallest gaps have been recorded for production mechanics (10.3%) and construction welders (8.3%). These specialties are less subject to regional differentiation.

### Q: Are there any contradictions in the salary data?
**A:** Yes, in the original RBC-Ukraine material the generalising phrase about "40% or 20,000 hryvnias" for three professions is not confirmed by the specific figures (the actual gaps are 30%, 25.9%, and 24.4%). The specific amounts for each profession and region, however, are consistent.