Ilkka Luoma tops 2025 list of Finland's wellbeing area directors

Ilkka Luoma, director of the Pohjois-Pohjanmaa wellbeing area, earned €250,282 in 2025, the highest salary among Finland's wellbeing area directors, according to YLE data. The second-highest salary went to Etelä-Karjala director Sally Leskinen with €237,507. Päijät-Häme's Petri Virolainen took €225,363 in salary and had the largest overall income after €70,665 in capital gains. Tax payments were large: Luoma paid €121,523, Leskinen €115,531 and Virolainen €127,252. Effective tax rates across the group ranged from about 40 to nearly 50 percent.

The top three shifted from the previous year, when Leskinen led. Acting Pirkanmaa director Juhani Sand earned €223,993 while covering the post after Marina Erhola was seconded to the national ministry. At the lower end, Keski-Pohjanmaa's Mikko Komulainen received €141,870; his region has under 68,000 residents. Itä-Uusimaa's Max Lönnqvist earned €163,938, and Keski-Uusimaa's Raija Kontio took €174,521. Several directors reported no capital income, while twelve reported some. Komulainen and Virolainen recorded the largest sums; Etelä-Pohjanmaa's Tero Järvinen was third with €31,467.

The figures also point to leadership turnover tied to financial strain and politics. In Pirkanmaa, the wellbeing area previously reported a €110 million surplus but still faces an uncovered shortfall earlier report of a €110m surplus and remaining shortfall. It has struggled with rising sick-leave costs that drove up payroll expenses an earlier surge in sick leave. The numbers cover those who served as permanent directors during 2025, even if a substitute covered part of the year.