TOP Zaměstnavatelé 2026: Salary Matters – But It’s Not Everything

When choosing a career, young Czechs are placing different criteria at the forefront than in the past: security alone is no longer enough. Friendly working environments, meaningful tasks and genuine development opportunities increasingly determine an employer’s appeal.

For the 15th edition of the TOP Zaměstnavatelé (TOP Employers) study, a total of 14,404 university graduates and 9,110 school students from across the Czech Republic participated. The results reveal a significant shift in the expectations of young people entering the workforce. Stability remains important, but daily experiences in the workplace – teamwork, the meaningfulness of the work, and transparent development opportunities – are increasingly decisive.

Stability Alone Is Not Enough

83% of respondents prefer security and stability over change. Nevertheless, factors shaping the daily work experience are coming to the fore. In this year’s ranking of the ten most important attributes of an attractive employer, a friendly working environment comes first, followed by meaningful work. Job security only ranks third. Highly rated were also transparent communication, team composition, and flexible working hours – factors that directly influence day-to-day work.

Source: TOP Zaměstnavatelé 2026 | TOP Employers 2026

“Companies that rely solely on stability and a strong brand may fall behind. Young people quickly recognise whether a workplace genuinely offers development opportunities or just presents itself well. Authenticity is crucial – promises must match reality. If a company talks about growth, it must be visible in daily practice, not just in the recruitment campaign,” says Daniel Novák, Director of the TOP Zaměstnavatelé study.

Graduates’ Salary Expectations

Among university graduates, the expected starting salary is usually between 40,000–42,499 CZK (11.7%) and 45,000–47,499 CZK (11.9%). The minimum acceptable threshold is lower: 15.6% would reject offers under 30,000–32,499 CZK, and 14.3% under 35,000–37,499 CZK.

“These figures show that starting salary is only part of the story. For many students today, what comes next is more decisive – clear rules for promotion, regular pay adjustments, and real support for personal development,” explains Novák.

Most Popular Employers 2026

Across industries, the ČEZ Group is in the lead. Among students of medical and pharmaceutical faculties, Fakultní nemocnice v Motole comes out on top. The title of “Rising Star of the Year” goes to JABLOTRON.

Among secondary school students, the ČEZ Group also ranks first in the “JASNÁ VOLBA” (Clear Choice) category.

“We have seen for years that ranking positions strongly depend on how actively a company engages with schools and works with young talent. Students notice this. Our advice: choose employers who show interest in you while you are still studying – they usually have well-thought-out talent management. Companies that invest in young people often also promote the development of their entire workforce,” says Novák.

Entrepreneurship as a Global Perspective

New to the study is a ranking of Czech companies regarded by students interested in starting their own business as inspiring. Among the top 10 are Prusa Research, Rohlik Group, NOTINO, SatoshiLabs, and Aisle.

What these companies have in common is a global product focus, strong technological expertise, and the ability to succeed internationally from the Czech Republic. Students today no longer view entrepreneurship as locally limited but as an opportunity to build globally relevant companies.

In summary: Students today are looking for more than just security in their employers; they want an environment in which they can grow long-term and experience the meaningfulness of their work.

TOP Employers 2026 by Sector:

• Law Firms: HAVEL & PARTNERS

• Automotive & Technology Industry: ŠKODA AUTO

• Banking & Investments: Česká spořitelna

• Transport & Logistics: České dráhy

• Energy, Gas & Petrochemical Industry: ČEZ Group

• Information Technology: Seznam.cz

• Retail & eCommerce: IKEA Czech Republic

• Hospitality: McDonald’s CZ

• Insurance: Generali Česká pojišťovna

• Consulting, Audit & Tax: KPMG Czech Republic

• Real Estate & Development: CENTRAL GROUP

• Consumer Goods Industry: L'Oréal

• Construction: STRABAG

• Telecommunications: T-Mobile CZ

• Pharmacy & Healthcare: Fakultní nemocnice v Motole

• Public Administration: Army of the Czech Republic

• Aviation & Aerospace: Honeywell