The average annual income of full-time employees in Bulgaria stood at 4,323 leva (2,210 euros) last year. The average annual income in the public sector amounted to 5,292 leva and in the private sector to 3,916 leva, shows data released by the National Statistics Institute today.

A total of 2.3 mln people were engaged in full-time labor contracts. The number of employees in the private sector was around 1.7 mln people and in the public sector - 668,660.

Workers in the sector of financial intermediation were the highest paid, according to the research. Their average income totaled 11,420 leva in state institutions and 9,742 in private companies. The second highest paid employees in the public sector were those in the mining and extraction industry – 9,213 leva. Number two in the private sector are the employees in the filed of energy, gas and water production and distribution – 7,801 leva.

Third in the public sector are employees in the filed of energy, gas and water production and distribution with an annual salary of 7,761 leva. Third in the private sector are the workers in the mining and extraction industry – 6,180 leva.

On the other hand, worst paid in the public sector are workers in the hotel and restaurant business – 3,768 leva and 3,182 leva.

The agricultural sector is at the bottom of the private sector chart with 2,888 leva.

In 2006 employers' costs were highest in the following: payroll – 74.7%, social and health insurance – 19.4%, compensations – 1.8%, related taxes – 0.53%.

The average cost of labor per hour for employers was 3.31 leva – 4.37 leva in the public sector and 2.88 leva in the private sector.