Pashinyan's Government Plans Major Salary Increases for Top Officials Amid Rising Prices and Economic Pressures

Pashinyan’s government has approved a salary package that would raise monthly pay at Armenia’s highest offices to as much as AMD 2.6 million ($7,202) from January 1, 2027. The package, now headed to parliament, is expected to cost more than AMD 25 billion ($69.3 million) next year. The higher salaries would remain alongside performance-based bonuses.

At the top end, salaries would be nearly 12 times Armenia’s estimated median monthly wage of AMD 219,736 ($609) and more than eight times the nationwide average of AMD 310,787 ($861).

The president’s salary would rise by about AMD 1.1 million ($3,047) to AMD 2.6 million, while Pashinyan’s would also reach AMD 2.6 million. Ministers would get roughly AMD 1 million ($2,770) more per month, bringing salaries to nearly AMD 2 million ($5,540), while deputy prime ministers would receive more than AMD 2.1 million ($5,817).

Parliamentarians would get around AMD 668,000 ($1,850) more per month, bringing salaries to about AMD 1.5 million ($4,155). Senior parliamentary, security and judicial officials would also receive increases.

The last broad increase came in January 2023, when ministers and parliamentarians received more than an AMD 200,000 monthly increase.

Since late 2025, Pashinyan’s government has allocated about AMD 13.1 billion ($36.3 million) across three bonus rounds. Data showed Pashinyan received around AMD 11.95 million ($33,100) in bonuses for the first half of 2025.

Pashinyan has described the changes as public-sector reform, while Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan has said comparable private-sector positions would still pay more.

The raises come against a mixed economic backdrop. Economic activity grew 7.9% in the first half of 2026, but agricultural output fell 11.9%. Tourist arrivals declined 2.5% in January-August, including a 32.1% drop in August.

Annual inflation stood at 4.4% in August, with food and non-alcoholic beverages up 6.4%. Gasoline rose 11.7%, diesel 25%, and liquefied hydrocarbon fuels 23.6%.

If approved by parliament, Armenia would enter 2027 with top state salaries nearing 12 times the estimated median wage, while households continue to face higher food and fuel costs.