How much a student can earn in Romania: Student salary in Romania 2026

For international students planning to study in Romania in 2026, one of the most practical questions is simple: How much a student can earn in Romania while studying? The answer depends on the job type, city, language skills, work hours, contract type, and whether the student works in hospitality, retail, customer support, delivery, tutoring, office work, or a skilled field such as IT. In 2026, international students in Romania can legally work if they meet the residence and employment conditions. This guide explains realistic 2026 earning ranges, student salary in Romania, part-time work rules, monthly income examples, job types, and what affects Romania student income.

How Much a Student Can Earn in Romania 2026

The short answer is that a student working part-time in Romania can often earn around RON 1,500–3,000 net per month, depending on hours, city, job type, contract, and language skills. Some students may earn less if they work limited hours, while students in customer support, IT support, tutoring, sales, or multilingual roles may earn more.

From 1 July 2026, Romania’s gross minimum wage is set at RON 4,325 per month for a normal full-time schedule. The official hourly minimum is around RON 25.95 gross/hour. A student working fewer hours earns a proportional salary based on the contract.

These are realistic ranges, not guaranteed salaries. Romania students salary can vary widely by city and employer.

Can International Students Work in Romania?

Yes. International students can work in Romania if they hold the correct study residence status. Non-EU students are generally allowed to work up to 4 hours per day without applying for a separate work permit.

This is important because a student visa alone is not always enough for long-term legal work. Students must follow residence permit rules and employment contract rules. Students should also understand that legal work usually requires:

• A valid residence permit for studies
• A legal employment contract
• Respect for allowed working hours
• Tax and social contribution deductions
• A Romanian bank account in many cases
• A Romanian tax identification or registration process, depending on the employer

Working informally can create problems with immigration, university attendance, salary payment, and worker protection.

Can Student Income Cover Living Costs?

Having a Part-Time Job in Romania for International Students can help reduce living expenses, but it may not be enough to cover all monthly costs. Estimated student expenses in Romania may include:

A student earning RON 2,000–3,000 net per month may cover part of living costs, especially in a shared apartment or dormitory. However, tuition, visa renewal, health insurance, travel, and emergency costs usually require extra savings or family support.

Can Students Pay Tuition From Part-Time Work?

In most cases, students should not rely on part-time work to pay full tuition in Romania. Medical, dental, pharmacy, and other international programs may have annual tuition fees far above what a student can comfortably earn from part-time work. Even for lower-tuition programs, part-time income may be unstable. A student job is better used for:

• Food and groceries
• Transport
• Phone and internet
• Small personal expenses
• Some rent support
• Study materials
• Emergency savings
• Work experience

Students should plan their tuition and main expenses before traveling, especially non-EU applicants who may need financial proof for visa or residence requirements. This is an important part of understanding the Cost of studying in Romania for international students.

Student Salary in Romania in 2026

Student salary in Romania is usually based on the same labour market as other part-time jobs. Students are not paid one fixed national “student salary.” Instead, the salary depends on the job, employer, city, and contract.

For 2026, the minimum wage gives a useful baseline. From July 2026, the gross minimum salary is RON 4,325 per month for a normal full-time schedule. Since students normally work part-time, their monthly pay is often calculated according to working hours.

A student working around 20 hours per week may earn roughly half of a full-time minimum salary before tax. A student working close to the allowed 4 hours per day may earn closer to 75% of a full-time salary.

How Much Can a Student Earn in Romania by Job Type?

The keyword many students search is how much can a student earn in Romania, but the answer is different for each job category.

The average student salary in Romania is usually higher when the student has strong English, Romanian, French, German, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, or other useful language skills.

How Much a Student Can Earn in Romania Per Month

If the student works regularly, how much a student can earn in Romania per month usually falls into three practical levels.

Low Range: RON 800–1,500 Net/Month

This range applies to students who work only a few hours per week, do occasional shifts, or take low-hour campus or service jobs. It can help with food, transport, phone bills, or small personal expenses, but it is usually not enough for rent and full living costs.

Middle Range: RON 1,500–3,000 Net/Month

This is a more realistic range for many part-time students who work around 15–30 hours per week in hospitality, retail, delivery, customer service, or administrative roles. This income can support monthly expenses, but students should not assume it will cover tuition.

Higher Range: RON 3,000–5,000+ Net/Month

This is possible for students with stronger skills, especially in IT support, multilingual customer service, sales, tutoring, marketing, design, or freelance-style work. However, students must still respect immigration, tax, contract, and working-hour rules.

Romania Student Income by City

Romania student income can differ from one city to another. Larger cities may offer more job opportunities, and Student Life in Bucharest can be more active, but living costs are usually higher as well. Here you can find information about Romania student income by city:

A student in Bucharest may earn a higher income, but rent and daily expenses can also be higher. In cities like Iași or Galați, income may be lower, but in general the Cost of Living in Romania is usually more affordable.

Student Salary Romania Per Month: Gross vs Net

When comparing Student salary Romania per month, students must understand the difference between gross and net salary. Gross salary is the salary before deductions. Net salary is the amount received in hand after taxes and social contributions.

Romania usually deducts employee contributions and income tax from gross salary. The final net amount can vary depending on personal deductions, contract structure, benefits, and employment situation.

When negotiating a job, students should ask whether the employer is offering gross or net pay.

Average Student Salary in Romania

The average student salary in Romania is difficult to define officially because students work different hours and job types. A student working 10 hours per week cannot be compared with a student working 30 hours per week. A practical 2026 estimate is:

For most international students, a realistic average student salary in Romania is likely to sit around RON 1,500–3,000 net per month if they work regularly and legally.

Practical Monthly Budget Example

Here is a simple example for a student earning RON 2,500 net per month.

In this example, the student’s monthly income is not enough to cover all expenses comfortably. This shows why part-time work can help, but should not be the only financial plan.

Best Part-Time Jobs for Students in Romania

Some jobs are easier for international students to access than others. The best option depends on language skills, class schedule, and experience. Common student jobs include:

• Waiter or barista
• Retail assistant
• Delivery rider or courier
• Hotel or tourism staff
• Call centre agent
• Customer support assistant
• Data entry assistant
• Tutor
• Social media assistant
• Junior IT support
• Campus assistant
• Translation or interpretation support

Students who speak Romanian have more options. Students who speak English plus another language may find better customer support or office jobs.

What Affects How Much a Student Can Earn?

Several factors affect How much a student can earn in Romania in 2026.

Students should choose work that does not damage academic performance. A higher monthly income is not useful if it causes failed exams or attendance problems.

Legal and Practical Work Tips

Students should take legal work seriously. A legal job protects the student and helps avoid immigration problems. Before accepting a job, check:

• Is there a written contract?
• How many hours are listed?
• Is the salary gross or net?
• How and when is salary paid?
• Are taxes handled by the employer?
• Does the work schedule fit your classes?
• Does the employer understand student status?
• Are trial shifts paid?
• Is overtime allowed and paid?
• Does the job affect your residence permit rules?

If a job offer seems unclear, informal, or too easy to trust, students should be cautious and use reliable job platforms such as eJobs.ro to search for more legitimate part-time opportunities in Romania.

Need help planning your study budget in Romania? Stinwo can guide you through realistic living costs, student work rules, income expectations, university fees, visa financial planning, and your full 2026 study budget. Contact Stinwo today to plan your Romania study journey with confidence.

Conclusion

How much a student can earn in Romania depends on hours, city, language skills, job type, and legal work status. In 2026, many students can realistically earn around RON 1,500–3,000 net per month from regular part-time work, while skilled roles may pay more. However, part-time work should be treated as support income, not a full financial solution. Students should prepare tuition, visa funds, accommodation costs, and emergency savings before arrival. With realistic planning, legal employment, and strong time management, student work in Romania can help reduce monthly pressure and provide valuable international experience.