SALARY IN FINLAND

Finland is a leader in the European Union in terms of average wages. The incomes of local workers are comparable to, and in some areas higher than, those in such prosperous countries as Germany, Belgium, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Economic performance and social standards in Finland are steadily rising. And in general, the country is developing successfully. This is why working in Finland attracts a large number of migrant workers in a variety of fields, from strawberry picking to high-tech.

Since 1 January 2017, in order to reduce poverty and increase employment, the Finnish government launched an interesting social experiment. The idea was that 2,000 unemployed Finns between the ages of 25 and 58 received a guaranteed sum of €560 every month.

The income was paid even if the person found a job during this time. This once again confirms that taking care of their own citizens is a priority for local authorities. Next, let's find out what the minimum and average salaries in Finland will be in 2024, highlight the current tax rates, income by profession, economic sector and age.

Minimum wage in Finland

There has been no official minimum wage in Finland for over 40 years. The minimum wage is regulated by collective agreements between trade unions and employers for each sector of the economy. According to Statistics Finland, the minimum wage in certain industries is about half of the average earnings of full-time employees.

Collective agreements specify not only minimum wages but also other terms and conditions of employment. Sometimes it is the responsibility of the Finnish company to provide food and accommodation for employees. Even if there is no sector-specific collective agreement, the employer is obliged to pay wages and other social benefits that are "decent" by Finnish standards. Rates may depend on skills, experience and region.

For the most part, the Finnish labour force is highly skilled and educated. Finnish university diplomas are quoted almost worldwide and the education system itself is as efficient as possible. The country has a long tradition of trade unions, which cover more than 70% of the economy. Employees are protected in their rights and labour laws are enforced at all levels. The minimum wage in Finland in 2024 will not be less than 1,800-2,000 euros per month before tax, regardless of the field of activity.

Important.. In 2024, third-country nationals who wish to apply for a residence permit in Finland as a professional must earn a monthly gross salary of at least 3,638 euros per month.

Average salary in Finland

According to the local Statistical Office, the official average salary in Finland in 2024 is 4,018 euros per month before taxes. At the same time, women receive 3,693 euros per month and men 4,359 euros. After tax and social obligations are deducted, an employee is left with about 2,700 euros. Finns earn €4,119 in the private sector, €4,436 in public institutions at central level and €3,589 at local level.

Finland's population in 2024 is around 5.6 million. The unemployment rate fluctuates between 7-8 per cent. About 220,000 Finns are unemployed, while the number of employed people exceeds 2.6 million. The share of unemployed young people aged 15 to 24 is about 20%. The highest average salaries in Finland are in the information and communication sector – 4,000 euros. The lowest average salary is in the catering and accommodation industry – 2,300 euros. This takes into account that up to 40% of employees work part-time.

Even in the same industry, the average income in Finland is very different. It all depends on the level of qualification of the specialist. The Finnish Statistical Office provides data on average salaries in Finland separately for professionals, technical (support) staff and other groups of specialists.

AVERAGE SALARY IN FINLAND BY SECTOR OF ECONOMY

Sector of Economy	Euros per hour
Information and communications	25
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning	23.82
Financial and insurance activities	22.04
Professional and scientific and technical activities	21.91
Education	21.28
Mining and quarrying	20.20
Public administration and defence	20.15
Manufacturing	19.15
Real estate operations	18.99
Construction	17.98
Water, wastewater and waste management	17.84
Transportation and storage	16.89
Health care and social work	16.12
Arts, entertainment and recreation	16.08
Wholesale and retail trade	15.94
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	15.76
Accommodation and food	13.96
Administrative and support services	13.59
Other services	16.14

SALARIES IN FINLAND BY OCCUPATION

Occupation	Average salary (euros per hour)
Doctors	50.09
Legislators and high-ranking officials	42.59
Lawyers	37.74
Military officers	34.23
Financial specialist	31.65
Architects, surveyors and designers	26.60
Secondary school teachers	25.07
Cashiers, cash collectors	19.52
Workers in construction and related professions	18.87
Security service workers	18.21
Production workers	17.55
Shop salesmen	16,72
Waiters and bartenders	15.45
Car, van and motorbike drivers	15.08
Hairdressers, beauticians	14.79
Workers in agriculture, forestry and fisheries	11.23

SALARY IN FINLAND BY AGE

Age	Average salary (euros per month)
15-19	2,363
20-24	2,700
25-29	3,169
30-34	3,512
35-39	3,792
40-44	4,065
45-49	4,216
50-54	4,165
55-59	4,037
60-64	3,974
65-69	4,167
70-74	3,536
75-79	3,142

Note. Information on average salaries in Finland by economic sector, occupation and age is based on official data from the Finnish Statistical Office.

All of the above figures are Finland's pre-tax salaries and the national average figures. Depending on the city, the income is slightly different. For example, working in Helsinki will bring 15-20% more than in many other regions. The second factor is qualifications. The difference in salaries between workers with higher education and those without a university diploma can differ several times.

Experienced specialists in the medical field receive over 5,000-6,000 euros. By the way, the profession of a doctor in Finland is considered scarce, so there is a demand for certified applicants from abroad. A popular among labour migrants direction – strawberry picking in Finland will allow to earn from 1,200-1,500 euros per month and more. It depends on the ability to work.

Taxes on salaries in Finland

Along with the high level of income, taxes in Finland are also very substantial. In addition to the progressive income tax rate at the state level, municipal taxes (4.36-10.86%), church tax (1-2%) and social contributions (0-2%) are levied on the employee.

INCOME TAX IN FINLAND IN 2024

Taxable annual income (thousands of euros)		Base tax	Rate on excess (%)
0	20.5	–	12,64%
20.5	30.5	2,515 euros	19%
30,5	50.4	4,491 euros	30,25%
50.4	88.2	10,510 euros	34%
88.2	150	23,362 euros	42%
Over 150		49,318 euros	44%

In addition, Finland levies a pension fund contribution at a rate of 7.15% (up to age 53 or over 62) and 8.65% (age 53-62). In total, the amount of contributions from the salary of an average Finnish worker with an income of 3,400 euros or more per month exceeds 35-40%.

HIGHEST PAID OCCUPATIONS IN FINLAND

• Surgeons

• Senior executives and managers

• Information technology specialists

• Banking and financial experts

• Lawyers

• Aviation pilots

• Engineers

• Sales directors

• Heads of research and development institutes

• Naval officers

Cost of living in Finland

Like other Scandinavian countries, living in Finland is very expensive. There are high prices for housing, food, clothing and public transport.

The main costs in Finland are:

• Rent: 750-1,000 euros per month for a one-bedroom flat in the centre.

• Utility bills: 120-150 euros per month.

• Food: 250-300 euros per month per person.

• Transport: 60-70 euros per month by public transport or 150-200 euros per month by car.

• Internet/mobile phone: 40-50 euros per month.

• Clothing and leisure activities: 300-500 euros per month.

In conclusion, the highest salaries in Finland are recorded in the Uusimaa region (4,274 euros) and the lowest in North Karelia (3,373 euros).

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