What awaits Russians from January 1, 2026: an increase in the minimum wage and salary indexation

Starting from January 1, it is planned to increase the minimum wage by more than 20%. The increase in the minimum wage will be one of the most significant in recent years and will have a direct impact on the standard of living of Russians. At the same time, salaries of state employees will increase and the cost of living will change. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

What will be the minimum wage in Russia from January 1

Starting from the new year, Russia will see a significant increase in the minimum wage. According to the bill, which the State Duma will consider in the second reading, from January 1, 2026, the federal minimum wage will be 27,093 rubles per month. This is 20.7% higher than the current year's figure.

This increase is outpacing: its rates exceed both the projected inflation and the increase in the cost of living. It is important to note that no employee who has worked full hours can receive a salary below this amount.

For regions where district coefficients are applied, the minimum wage will be calculated based on the established federal value, taking into account these allowances.

Wages for labor: what will be the minimum wage in 2026

The increase will affect salaries of up to 5 million Russians

Who will get a salary increase in 2026

The increase in the minimum wage will directly affect the incomes of 4.6 million Russians, whose salaries were pegged to its previous value. As Sergey Chernogaev, head of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FNPR), noted at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, this large-scale event continues its course towards improving the welfare of citizens.

A single wage indexation for public sector employees is planned separately. Starting from January 1, 2026, their salaries will be increased by 7.6%. Wide categories of employees fall under this promotion.:

• employees of educational institutions (teachers, educators, teachers);
• healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, paramedics);
• employees of cultural institutions (libraries, museums, theaters);
• social workers;
• scientific staff;
• Government civil servants;
• military personnel and employees of law enforcement agencies.

In the commercial sector, wage growth will be uneven. According to analysts, the most significant increase is expected in the IT industry - at the level of 10-15%. The incomes of engineers and project managers in construction and logistics will also grow at a faster pace.

In the manufacturing industry, the increase for technical specialists may amount to 8-10%. More modest growth is forecast in the retail trade, catering and mass services sectors.

Stop management: real wage growth will almost stop in 2026

Who will continue to actively raise their salaries anyway, and what will happen to inflation?

Payments for mentoring

In addition, starting from March 1, 2025, employers are required to pay employees additional remuneration for mentoring. Similar changes have been made to the Labor Code. They establish additional guarantees for employees who perform the functions of mentors.

The new norm contributes both to the growth of organizations' income and to the accumulation of valuable experience, knowledge transfer and skills within teams. Such activities involve a mandatory salary supplement.

According to the law, mentoring is carried out only with the written consent of the employee. The conditions of such work must be legally fixed. However, an employee has the right to refuse to train a less experienced colleague if he considers the payment for the additional workload to be low.

How will the living wage change

Starting from the new year, the living wage, which is a key social parameter, will also be revised. Starting from January 1, 2026, its value will amount to 18,939 rubles, which is 6.8% higher than in 2025.

Differentiation by major socio-demographic groups will be as follows:

• for the able—bodied population - 20,644 rubles;
• for children — 18 371 rubles;
• for pensioners — 16 288 rubles.

It is fundamentally important that starting from the new year, the minimum wage will exceed the living wage for able-bodied citizens by 31.2%.

In addition to the federal level, the subjects of the Russian Federation have regional subsistence levels, which may vary depending on local economic conditions.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on an increase in pensions from 2026.

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