What Serbia pays
Official data from the Republic Statistical Office: in July 2026 the average salary in Serbia was 167,402 dinars gross and 121,346 dinars net, roughly 1,033 euros. The median salary is below the average, meaning half of all employees earn less than that figure. The minimum wage is 371 dinars net per hour, which is 59,360 to 68,264 dinars a month depending on hours worked. The tax-free minimum is 34,221 dinars a month.
What is deducted from a salary
A salary carries 10 per cent tax and 19.9 per cent contributions: 14 per cent pension, 5.15 per cent health and 0.75 per cent unemployment. The employer pays a further 15.15 per cent in contributions. In practice, from a salary of 1,000 euros about 730 euros is left in hand. Tax is calculated not on the whole amount but after the tax-free minimum, so for lower salaries the relative burden is smaller.
Who earns more
The highest salaries in Serbia are in information technology and energy, well above the national average. Below average are trade, hospitality, textiles and agriculture. Salaries in Belgrade and Novi Sad are higher than in the southern and eastern regions, by as much as a third. For Russian-speaking workers the most common openings are in development, testing, construction, logistics, equipment servicing and services that use Russian.
You cannot work without residence
Working before obtaining residence is prohibited, and this is not a formality: both the worker and the employer pay for it in money. Formal employment requires residence on work grounds, and the work permit is arranged by the employer. If you work remotely for a foreign company, another route fits: residence through your own business or through property you own. Many end up choosing this, because it does not tie them to a local employer.
Where to look for work
The main platforms are poslovi.infostud.com and Hello posao, where large companies also post vacancies. For IT, LinkedIn and professional communities work well; for quick jobs, local messenger groups and listings. Russian-language vacancies are most often posted in topical chats and Serbian groups for newcomers. It is worth getting a local phone number and a bank account straight away: employers ask for both, and without the white card an account cannot be opened.
What to prepare in advance
For regulated professions — medicine, education, engineering, law — the diploma must be nostrified, that is recognised in Serbia. Without it an employer cannot register you for the relevant position. Client-facing work needs Serbian; work inside a Russian-speaking team often only needs English. You will also need a JMBG and a tax number — they are assigned when documents are issued and are requested almost everywhere: on hiring, for insurance and when opening an account.
The order of steps
First the address registration and the white card, then a bank account and a local number, then residence on work grounds, and only after that employment with a work permit. If you have already found an employer, they help with the permit, but residence remains your own task. Changing employer does not cost you your residence as long as the ground remains, so switching jobs inside Serbia is easier than getting the first permit.