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Verified: main employer charges cited
Mandatory employer contributions in Bulgaria
| Contribution | Employer rate | Monthly cap |
|---|---|---|
| Social security (incl. 0.4% minimum accident fund) | 14.1% | 2,300 EUR/month |
| Health insurance | 4.8% | 2,300 EUR/month |
Employer cost at three salary levels
| Annual salary | Employer contributions | On-cost % | Total cost | Total in USD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9,220 EUR | 1,744 EUR | 18.9% | 10,964 EUR | $12,359 |
| 18,400 EUR | 3,481 EUR | 18.9% | 21,881 EUR | $24,664 |
| 36,900 EUR | 5,222 EUR | 14.2% | 42,122 EUR | $47,478 |
The examples use 1×, 2× and 4× Bulgaria’s 2025 GDP per person in local currency (9,221 EUR, World Bank) as reference salaries. GDP per person is not a wage; it is a neutral, cited yardstick for low, middle and senior pay.
Worked example
For a salary of 18,400 EUR a year, the employer adds about 3,481 EUR (18.9%) in mandatory contributions, for a total of 21,881 EUR, about $24,664 at the 2025 average exchange rate. Because some contributions stop at a ceiling, the effective rate falls from 18.9% at the lowest example salary to 14.2% at the highest, so senior hires cost proportionally less in on-costs.
What is not included
- Accident at Work fund ranges 0.4%–1.1% by activity (minimum used). Maximum monthly insurance base EUR 2,300 from 1 August 2026 (EUR 2,111.64 before).
How to budget a hire in Bulgaria
- Start from the gross salary you plan to offer in EUR.
- Add the mandatory contributions above. The calculator applies caps and salary bands automatically.
- Add benefits customary in Bulgaria (health cover, bonuses, extra month salaries) as a percentage in the calculator.
- If you have no local entity, add an employer-of-record fee. Deel and Remote both list EOR from $599 per employee per month on their public pricing pages (checked 23 October 2026).
- Convert to your budgeting currency with a current rate. The USD figures here use the World Bank 2025 average.
Compare Bulgaria with other countries in the any-country comparison, or see whether an EOR, contractor or own entity is cheaper.
Source: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Bulgaria, other taxes, last reviewed 02 August 2026 (checked 23 October 2026). Exchange rate and GDP per capita: World Bank (2025, indicators PA.NUS.FCRF and NY.GDP.PCAP.CN). HireCost transcribes the rates; it does not invent or estimate missing ones.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to employ someone in Bulgaria?
On a salary of 18,400 EUR, mandatory employer contributions add about 18.9%, for a total of roughly 21,881 EUR a year before benefits (PwC, reviewed 02 August 2026).
What are employer social security contributions in Bulgaria?
Social security (incl. 0.4% minimum accident fund) 14.1%, Health insurance 4.8%.
Is the Bulgaria data verified?
Yes: every rate is transcribed from PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries and dated.