Russia’s Prisoner Wages Skyrocket, Now Higher Than Teachers’ Pay in Most Regions

In Russia, prisoner wages have significantly increased over the past six years, now surpassing the average salaries of teachers, The Moscow Times reported on October 14.

Elena Dyubova, vice-president of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told The Moscow Times that the average salary for inmates rose from 14,700 rubles per month in 2019 to 33,000 rubles in 2025, marking a 125% increase. However, the productivity of prisoners only grew by 84% during this period.

Regional chambers of commerce are working to improve collaboration between businesses and Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) to create jobs for inmates, with contracts worth nearly $10 million already signed.

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Despite this, businesses face challenges such as the lack of prisoner qualifications, high turnover, difficulties in maintaining production schedules due to strict prison regulations, and reluctance to place expensive equipment in correctional facilities, The Moscow Times writes.

Interestingly, the average salary for prisoners is 1.5 times higher than that of teachers in most regions of Russia. In 73 regions, teachers' salaries fall below the 2025 minimum wage of 280$, with some earning under 250$ a month.

Russia is also facing a teacher shortage of about 250,000, with many teachers nearing retirement age. The high workload and low pay are pushing young teachers to leave, exacerbating the shortage, according to a report by The Moscow Times.

Previously, it was stated that the Kremlin is increasingly concerned that the return of tens of thousands of veterans from the war in Ukraine—including many former prisoners—may pose a serious internal threat to Vladimir Putin’s regime.

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