Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –
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Today, July 22, the mechanism of special economic zones (SEZ) turns 20 years old. During this time, they have become one of the key drivers of development of territories where the most important projects in industry, science, logistics are being implemented, and growth points in tourism are being formed. SEZs create conditions for the implementation of priority economic tasks outlined by the President of Russia.
Companies that are residents of special economic zones provide higher wages compared to regional averages. This is due to both the technological profile of enterprises and the competition for qualified specialists. According to the administrations of a number of zones, the difference in wages can reach 30-40%.
Thus, according to the results of the first quarter of 2025, the average salary at the enterprises of the Dubna SEZ residents amounted to 121.6 thousand rubles. This is approximately 15% higher than the average level in the Moscow region. According to Anton Afanasyev, General Director of JSC Dubna SEZ TVT, the zone specializes in high-tech industries – medicine, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, IT and design of complex systems – which allows creating jobs with high added value and corresponding wages.
In St. Petersburg, the difference is even more noticeable: salaries at resident enterprises exceed the city average by about 30%. As noted by Tamara Rondaleva, General Director of the St. Petersburg SEZ, this is facilitated by the concentration of knowledge-intensive and export-oriented industries in the zone: "Specialists with complex qualifications work here – developers, research associates, engineers. The growth of salaries is also affected by the competition between residents for qualified personnel."
Other regions demonstrate similar indicators. In the Titanium Valley SEZ, the average salary at operating production facilities is about 105 thousand rubles, while in the Sverdlovsk region as a whole it is 84.6 thousand. In Kaliningrad, the difference is also noticeable: the average salary at resident enterprises is approaching 83 thousand rubles, while at non-residents it is about 66 thousand.
According to Mikhail Labudin, Director of the Association of Clusters, Technology Parks and SEZs of Russia, high wages are a characteristic feature of all special economic zones: "The level of wages in SEZs traditionally exceeds the average for the manufacturing industry and other sectors by 30-40%. This is explained by the specifics of the residents themselves – as a rule, these are high-tech, capital-intensive companies focused on export and production of products with high added value. Such enterprises impose higher requirements for the qualifications of personnel, which is directly reflected in the level of wages."
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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