High salaries at Lake Balaton: workers might earn EUR 4,500 over summer

In the summer, as hotels and beaches open to welcome tourists along Lake Balaton, the demand for seasonal workers in the hospitality sector skyrockets. During the holiday season, employers offer competitive salaries to retain their workers, often providing accommodation, meals and transportation as part of their package. Such terms are essential to maintain the workforce, as the catering sector is both physically and mentally demanding, with staff regularly taking on 10-12 hour shifts.

Seasonal workers around Lake Balaton earn relatively high wages each year. Cooks might earn between HUF 2,500 (EUR 6.4) and HUF 3,500 (EUR 8.9) an hour, while kitchen helpers may receive between HUF 2,000 (EUR 5.1) and HUF 3,000 (EUR 7.6) per hour. These high incomes are due to the labour-intensive nature of the catering industry, requiring employers to offer attractive incentives to retain their staff, writes Pénzcentrum. 

Restaurant workers earn high wages along Lake Balaton

In hotels and restaurants, chefs are expected to be highly skilled and creative, with experience in kitchen work and comprehensive knowledge of hygiene regulations. For kitchen assistants, reliability, speed and physical stamina to cope with the fast pace of Lake Balaton are crucial.

Pénzcentrum surveyed job offers in the most popular tourist destinations around the lake, comparing salaries from various employers. It found that, for example, in Siófok, chefs may earn a net hourly wage of HUF 4,000 (EUR 10.2). Balatonvilágos and Hévíz offer slightly lower earnings: in these towns, chefs can find work for HUF 3,000 (EUR 7.6) an hour in some restaurants. Meanwhile, a kitchen assistant in one establishment in Balatongyörök might earn HUF 2,800 (EUR 7.1) per hour. The lowest salaried job offer listed by Pénzcentrum for chefs and bar staff is net HUF 2,500 (EUR 6.4) per hour.

Many employers around Lake Balaton also offer bonuses and cover transportation costs for their employees. In some cases, hotels provide discounts on the use of their facilities, while others offer opportunities for discounted sporting activities. Often, accommodation and meals are included, which can be a significant benefit for those working from out of town.

View from Tihany, photo: Pixabay

Despite outstanding salaries, seasonal jobs are not without challenges

According to Pénzcentrum, cooks may earn a net of approximately HUF 550-600 thousand (EUR 1,400-1,532) per month, equating to a total income of up to HUF 1.6-1.8 million (EUR 4,086-4,597) for the entire summer season. These figures compare favourably to the average gross incomes in the country as calculated by the Central Statistical Office, the magazine highlights.

However, restaurant workers near Lake Balaton often work 50-60 hours per week, instead of the usual 40, with shifts lasting 10-12 hours. Moreover, they are frequently only guaranteed one or, in more favourable circumstances, two days off per week. This line of work is not only physically demanding but also mentally exhausting. Such conditions explain why seasonal employees have higher wage expectations.

Additionally, the demanding working conditions and the fact that Austrian restaurants attract Hungarian workers during the summer season are important factors affecting salaries in the country. The net wages offered by hotels and restaurants in Austria range from HUF 550 to 650 thousand (EUR 1,400 to 1,532) per month. Therefore, catering establishments along Lake Balaton must match or exceed these figures to persuade workers to remain in Hungary for the summer.

Read also:

Lake Balaton forecast: guest workers to ease labour shortage, relatively low price increase

Sky-high prices: Would you pay this much for a lángos on the beach in Hungary?

Source: Pénzcentrum