Average Equipment Operator Salary in Varna, Bulgaria for 2026
In this article, we will look at the average Equipment Operator salary for 2026 in Varna and how that compares to other countries and professions. We'll also look at interesting salary data points like median salary, 25th and 75th percentile salaries, salary amounts based on experience, bonus ranges and more!
The data in this article has been compiled using official government salary data, salary surveys, and other sources such as job postings which contain salary information.
All salary information is in the local currency, which is the Bulgarian lev. To keep things simple, we are using the BGN currency code instead of the currency symbol лв.
How Much Does an Equipment Operator Make in Varna?
An Equipment Operator working in Varna will typically earn around 10,220 BGN per year, and this can range from the lowest average salary of about 5,720 BGN to the highest average salary of 15,300 BGN.
These are average salaries for an Equipment Operator in Varna and include benefits such as housing and transport. It's also possible for an Equipment Operator to earn more or less than the average salaries shown above.
Equipment Operator salaries will vary a lot based on your experience, location, skills, and gender. Keep reading below to research more data on each of these areas.
Distribution of Equipment Operator Salaries in Varna
So we've looked at the average salaries an Equipment Operator will earn in Varna. The next interesting data point is the distribution of salaries.
Salary ranges
We already know that an Equipment Operator can earn between 5,720 BGN and 15,300 BGN on average in Varna. This is known as the range in statistics.
The difference between the maximum and minimum values is a good indicator of variability in salaries, and can be used by employers to figure out how much they can expect to pay, and for employees to know how much they can earn.
Median salary
The median salary for an Equipment Operator in Varna is 8,880 BGN. This is the middle value in the distribution of salaries.
What this means is that approximately 50% of the population earn less than 8,880 BGN, and 50% of the population earn more than 8,880 BGN.
If you are earning more than the median salary, that's a good indicator that you are being paid well.
If you're not earning more than the median salary, your objective should be to increase your earnings to be at least as high as the median salary (which you can do by asking for a pay rise, looking for a better paying job, etc).
Percentiles
Percentiles are similar to the median salary, but instead of looking at the middle value, they look at the values in the top and bottom half of the distribution.
For the average Equipment Operator salary in Varna, 25% of the population are earning less than 7,620 BGN while 75% of the population earn more than 7,620 BGN.
75% of the population earn less than 14,540 BGN, and 25% of the population earn more than 14,540 BGN.
Like the median salary, the 25th and 75th percentile salaries can be used to determine which quartile you fall into so that you know whether you are being paid well enough compared to others in your profession and location.
The difference between a median and an average salary
The median and average salary are both indicators you can use to see if you are being paid fairly based on the overall population.
- If your salary is higher than the average and the median salary, you are earning well compared to others.
- If your salary is lower than the average and the median salary, it could indicate you are not being paid well enough.
- If you are somewhere in between then it's tricky to determine if you are being paid well enough and you might need to research more closely.
Equipment Operator Salary by Experience Level in Varna
The most important factor in determining your salary after the specific profession is the number of years experience you have. It stands to reason that more years of experience will result in a higher wage.
We have researched the average Equipment Operator salary based on years of experience to give you an idea of how the average changes once you've worked for a certain amount of time.
- 0 - 2 Years Experience. An Equipment Operator in Varna that has less than two years of experience can expect to earn somewhere in the region of 5,040 BGN.
- 2 - 5 Years Experience. With two to five years of experience the average Equipment Operator salary would increase to 8,960 BGN.
- 5 - 10 Years Experience. From five to ten years of experience as an Equipment Operator, the average salary would be 10,000 BGN.
- 10 - 15 Years Experience. Once you have more than ten years of experience the average salary reaches around 11,880 BGN.
- 15 - 20 Years Experience. An Equipment Operator with 15 to 20 years of experience can earn an average of 15,880 BGN.
- 20+ Years Experience. For an Equipment Operator with more than 20 years, the expected average salary increases to 15,760 BGN.
Average Salary by Experience Chart
| 0-2 Years | - | 5,040 BGN |
| 2-5 Years | +31% | 8,960 BGN |
| 5-10 Years | +40% | 10,000 BGN |
| 10-15 Years | +20% | 11,880 BGN |
| 15-20 Years | +9% | 15,880 BGN |
| 20+ Years | +8% | 15,760 BGN |
Equipment Operator Salary by Education Level in Varna
As well as experience in a job, your education plays a big role in how much you can earn. A lot of higher paying positions require a high level of education, but how much can a degree increase your salary?
In our research we have compared the salaries of employees in the same job and career level with different levels of education to see how much more you can earn at each education level.
The salary you can earn based on your education is very specific to both your location and the career path you choose.
In our research, we looked at the average salary for an Equipment Operator in Varna based on the education level of the employees in order to find out whether a better education level would increase your salary.
- High School. An Equipment Operator in Varna with a high school education can earn an average salary of 6,080 BGN.
- Certificate or Diploma. An Equipment Operator in Varna with a certificate or diploma education can earn an average salary of 9,740 BGN.
- Bachelor's Degree. An Equipment Operator in Varna with a bachelor's degree education can earn an average salary of 16,880 BGN.
Average Salary by Education Chart
| High School | - | 6,080 BGN |
| Certificate or Diploma | +47% | 9,740 BGN |
| Bachelor's Degree | +53% | 16,880 BGN |
How Much is a Master's Degree or MBA Program?
The approximate cost of a master's degree or post-graduate program like an MBA in Bulgaria is around 16,500 to 49,500 BGN and takes two years to complete.
As you can see above, there are financial benefits from reaching master's degree level, but don't expect to see much of a salary increase until you have completed the degree.
It's common for people to pursue an MBA or other post-graduate program in order to switch to a a job that pays more. On average, you can expect to earn around 10% more when switching to a new company.
Whether you decide to pursue a master's degree depends on many factors. If you are able to afford it, the numbers suggest that the return on investment is worth it and you could recover the costs in a few years from the salary increase you would receive.
Equipment Operator Salary Compared by Gender
In the modern age, we know that there should never be a pay gap between men and women. Unfortunately, in many professions, there is still a significant difference between the salaries earned by men when compared to the salary of women in the same job.
In Varna, a male equipment operator will earn an average of 9,980 BGN, while a female equipment operator will earn around 10,380 BGN.
This means that a male equipment operator earns approximately 4% less than a female equipment operator for performing the same job.
Average Salary by Gender Chart in Varna
| Male | - | 9,980 BGN |
| Female | +4% | 10,380 BGN |
Equipment Operator Average Pay Raise in Varna
In many countries, an annual pay raise is often given to employees to reward their service with a salary increase.
From our research, we can see that the average pay raise for an Equipment Operator in Varna is around 7% every 21 months.
The national average pay raise across all professions and industries in Bulgaria is around 7% every 20 months.
In this case, we can see that the number of months between the average pay raise is higher than the typical 12 months.
To make the data more meaningful, we can calculate what the approximate annual pay raise would be using a simple formula:
Annual Increase = ( Increase Rate ÷ Months ) × 12
So for this example, it would be:
Annual Increase = ( 7 ÷ 21 ) × 12 = 4%
What this means is that an Equipment Operator in Varna can expect to receive an average pay raise of around 4% every 12 months.
Annual Pay Raise by Industry in Varna for 2026
In the chart below, you can see the average annual pay raise percentages for each of the major industries in Bulgaria.
You will see that companies in bigger and more lucrative industries tend to have the higher annual pay raises.
| Banking | - | 6% |
| Energy | - | 3% |
| Information Technology | - | 9% |
| Healthcare | - | 6% |
| Travel | - | 3% |
| Construction | - | 9% |
| Education | - | 6% |
Equipment Operator Bonus and Incentive Rates in Varna
Another part of your overall compensation in a job is how much bonus you receive. Some job roles will be more likely to pay a bonus than others and also more likely to have higher bonus rates.
Generally speaking, jobs that are more involved with direct revenue generation will receive higher bonuses based on the performance towards revenue goals.
An Equipment Operator is a low bonus based job, with 27% of employees reporting at least one bonus in the last 12 months.
73% reported that they had not received any bonuses in the previous 12 months.
For the employees that did receive a bonus in the previous 12 months, the reported bonuses ranged from 0% to 4%.
| Received Bonus | - | 27% |
| No Bonus | - | 73% |
What are the Types of Bonus?
There are a number of difference types of bonus you can receive in a job. Including:
- Individual performance bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to an individual employee for general performance in the job. It's the most common type of bonus.
- Company performance bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to a company employees to share profit with the staff.
- Goal based bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to an individual employee (or a team) for achieving specific goals, objectives, or milestones.
- Holiday bonus - This type of bonus is usually paid around the holidays, often the end of the year, and is a token of appreciation for the hard work throughout the year.
Government vs Private Sector Salaries
Another commonly asked question is whether you get paid a higher salary working in the public (government) sector or the private sector.
Public sector employees in Bulgaria earn approximately 2% more than private sector employees in the same role.
| Public Sector | - | 40,040 BGN |
| Private Sector | -2% | 39,160 BGN |
Salaries for Jobs Similar to an Equipment Operator
In the table below, we have salary information for jobs that are similar to an Equipment Operator in Varna.
| Job Title | Category | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Assembly Foreman | Factory and Manufacturing | 8,880 BGN |
| Assembly Line Worker | Factory and Manufacturing | 12,840 BGN |
| Assembly Supervisor | Factory and Manufacturing | 15,380 BGN |
| Assistance Maintenance Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 40,600 BGN |
| Assistant Shipping Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 36,800 BGN |
| CNC Machinist | Factory and Manufacturing | 25,940 BGN |
| CNC Operator | Factory and Manufacturing | 23,360 BGN |
| CNC Programmer | Factory and Manufacturing | 26,100 BGN |
| Chemical Equipment Controller | Factory and Manufacturing | 25,680 BGN |
| Chemical Technican Apprentice | Factory and Manufacturing | 22,540 BGN |
| Colour Technologist | Factory and Manufacturing | 11,880 BGN |
| Contracts Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 48,140 BGN |
| Data Collection Coordinator | Factory and Manufacturing | 19,360 BGN |
| Demand Planner | Factory and Manufacturing | 18,780 BGN |
| Derrick Operator | Factory and Manufacturing | 10,220 BGN |
| Director of Manufacturing | Factory and Manufacturing | 69,780 BGN |
| Dock Worker | Factory and Manufacturing | 9,980 BGN |
| Drying Technician | Factory and Manufacturing | 12,020 BGN |
| Export Sales Coordinator | Factory and Manufacturing | 34,280 BGN |
| Factory Superintendent | Factory and Manufacturing | 16,140 BGN |
| Factory Worker | Factory and Manufacturing | 12,200 BGN |
| Failure Analysis Technician | Factory and Manufacturing | 19,200 BGN |
| Fiberglass Laminator | Factory and Manufacturing | 12,620 BGN |
| Food Technologist | Factory and Manufacturing | 21,560 BGN |
| Forklift Driver | Factory and Manufacturing | 10,220 BGN |
| Forklift Operator | Factory and Manufacturing | 10,080 BGN |
| Forming Machine Operator | Factory and Manufacturing | 13,060 BGN |
| Furnace Operator | Factory and Manufacturing | 8,880 BGN |
| Gas Appliance Repairer | Factory and Manufacturing | 10,220 BGN |
| General Warehouse Associate | Factory and Manufacturing | 19,220 BGN |
| HSE Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 48,140 BGN |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | Factory and Manufacturing | 13,100 BGN |
| Industrial Engineer | Factory and Manufacturing | 37,740 BGN |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | Factory and Manufacturing | 22,340 BGN |
| Industrial Production Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 61,580 BGN |
| Industrial Safety and Health Engineer | Factory and Manufacturing | 34,120 BGN |
| Intake Operator | Factory and Manufacturing | 14,540 BGN |
| Key Account Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 50,180 BGN |
| Lift Truck Operator | Factory and Manufacturing | 12,840 BGN |
| Loading Supervisor | Factory and Manufacturing | 21,380 BGN |
| Logistic Coordinator | Factory and Manufacturing | 28,900 BGN |
| Logistics Clerk | Factory and Manufacturing | 13,560 BGN |
| Machine Operator | Factory and Manufacturing | 12,520 BGN |
| Machinist | Factory and Manufacturing | 10,000 BGN |
| Maintenance Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 43,080 BGN |
| Maintenance Store Clerk | Factory and Manufacturing | 10,980 BGN |
| Manufacturing Engineer | Factory and Manufacturing | 34,540 BGN |
| Manufacturing Engineering Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 57,360 BGN |
| Manufacturing Engineering Technologist | Factory and Manufacturing | 44,180 BGN |
| Manufacturing Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 60,880 BGN |
| Manufacturing Operative | Factory and Manufacturing | 17,740 BGN |
| Manufacturing Production Technician | Factory and Manufacturing | 13,560 BGN |
| Manufacturing Supervisor | Factory and Manufacturing | 31,340 BGN |
| Manufacturing Technician | Factory and Manufacturing | 12,120 BGN |
| Materials Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 50,520 BGN |
| Materials Supervisor | Factory and Manufacturing | 31,520 BGN |
| Mechanical Fitter Engineer | Factory and Manufacturing | 37,620 BGN |
| Mechanical Foreman | Factory and Manufacturing | 10,080 BGN |
| Merchandise Planner | Factory and Manufacturing | 19,160 BGN |
| Metrology Engineer | Factory and Manufacturing | 34,120 BGN |
| Operations Engineer | Factory and Manufacturing | 34,540 BGN |
| Operations Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 56,460 BGN |
| Order Management Coordinator | Factory and Manufacturing | 30,800 BGN |
| Order Processing Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 43,800 BGN |
| Order Selector | Factory and Manufacturing | 14,620 BGN |
| Package Handler | Factory and Manufacturing | 12,760 BGN |
| Packaging Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 36,020 BGN |
| Packer | Factory and Manufacturing | 12,840 BGN |
| Packing Deputy Supervisor | Factory and Manufacturing | 26,280 BGN |
| Planning Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 50,560 BGN |
| Plant Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 58,240 BGN |
| Precision Instrument Repairer | Factory and Manufacturing | 15,300 BGN |
| Process Technician | Factory and Manufacturing | 12,240 BGN |
| Product Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 59,000 BGN |
| Production Analyst | Factory and Manufacturing | 48,160 BGN |
| Production Director | Factory and Manufacturing | 68,900 BGN |
| Production Engineer | Factory and Manufacturing | 34,280 BGN |
| Production Engineering Supervisor | Factory and Manufacturing | 51,900 BGN |
| Production Inspector | Factory and Manufacturing | 37,880 BGN |
| Production Laborer | Factory and Manufacturing | 8,880 BGN |
| Production Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 69,240 BGN |
| Production Operator | Factory and Manufacturing | 15,760 BGN |
| Production Scheduler | Factory and Manufacturing | 29,040 BGN |
| Production Supervisor | Factory and Manufacturing | 35,340 BGN |
| Production Technician | Factory and Manufacturing | 15,760 BGN |
| Production Worker | Factory and Manufacturing | 12,580 BGN |
| Quality Control Analyst | Factory and Manufacturing | 44,540 BGN |
| Quality Control Inspector | Factory and Manufacturing | 36,720 BGN |
| Quality Control Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 52,180 BGN |
| SHEQ Officer | Factory and Manufacturing | 15,380 BGN |
| Service Technician | Factory and Manufacturing | 14,660 BGN |
| Shipping Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 57,360 BGN |
| Small Engine Mechanic | Factory and Manufacturing | 19,020 BGN |
| Spray Painter | Factory and Manufacturing | 13,660 BGN |
| Sterile Processing Technician | Factory and Manufacturing | 11,360 BGN |
| Structural Welder | Factory and Manufacturing | 8,880 BGN |
| Supply Chain Operative | Factory and Manufacturing | 32,900 BGN |
| Technical Operator | Factory and Manufacturing | 15,580 BGN |
| Technology Development Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 62,460 BGN |
| Testing Technician | Factory and Manufacturing | 24,800 BGN |
| Toolmaker | Factory and Manufacturing | 18,780 BGN |
| Warehouse Forklift Operator | Factory and Manufacturing | 12,620 BGN |
| Warehouse Operative | Factory and Manufacturing | 13,540 BGN |
| Warehouse Worker | Factory and Manufacturing | 10,988 BGN |
| Warranty Handler | Factory and Manufacturing | 21,100 BGN |
| Welder | Factory and Manufacturing | 9,960 BGN |
| Workshop Manager | Factory and Manufacturing | 38,700 BGN |
Salary Comparison by City
If you want to compare salaries with different cities in Bulgaria, you can use the links below to explore the data for each specific city we have researched.
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Burgas | 9,980 BGN |
| Plovdiv | 8,880 BGN |
| Rousse | 10,380 BGN |
| Sofia | 12,520 BGN |
| Stara Zagora | 8,100 BGN |
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