SALARY IN NORWAY
Norway does not have one national minimum wage for every job, so a salary offer has to be assessed by sector, qualifications, working hours and any applicable collective agreement. Anyone planning on working in Norway should compare a contract with the mandatory rate for the industry where one exists, not simply with the national average.
AT A GLANCE
- Norway has no single statutory minimum wage for the entire labour market.
- Mandatory minimum rates apply in ten sectors, including construction, electrical work, cleaning, transport, hospitality and automotive services.
- Average monthly earnings across all industries reached NOK 63,700 before tax in the second quarter of 2026 — about €5,500.
- Ordinary income is taxed at 22%, with bracket tax and national-insurance contributions added according to the worker’s income.
CONTENTS
Minimum pay in Norway
Norway does not set a universal statutory minimum wage. Pay is normally agreed in the employment contract or through a collective agreement. In ten sectors, however, parts of collective agreements have been made generally applicable. The resulting minimum rates are legally binding for workers in those sectors, including foreign employees.
The table below lists the current minimum hourly rates published by the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority. Most of the listed rates apply from 15 June 2025; automotive services became a separately regulated sector from 15 June 2026. Amounts are gross and shown in Norwegian kroner. As a broad guide only, NOK 200 is roughly €17; the exact euro value changes with the exchange rate.
| Sector | Worker category | Minimum hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Automotive industry | Newly qualified skilled worker | NOK 223.50 |
| Automotive industry | Skilled worker with at least one year of experience | NOK 237.00 |
| Automotive industry | Unskilled worker aged 18 or over | NOK 208.00 |
| Automotive industry | Unskilled worker aged 18 or over with at least one year of experience | NOK 212.00 |
| Construction | Skilled worker | NOK 264.32 |
| Construction | Unskilled worker with no sector experience | NOK 239.61 |
| Construction | Unskilled worker with at least one year of sector experience | NOK 249.00 |
| Construction | Worker under 18 | NOK 162.44 |
| Electrical work, excluding offshore petroleum activity | Skilled worker | NOK 270.45 |
| Electrical work, excluding offshore petroleum activity | Other worker | NOK 241.77 |
| Fish processing | Skilled worker | NOK 240.96 |
| Fish processing | Production worker | NOK 225.96 |
| Freight transport by road | Transport of goods in vehicles over 2.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight | NOK 229.00 |
| Agriculture and horticulture | Seasonal worker under 18 | NOK 142.90 |
| Agriculture and horticulture | Seasonal worker aged over 18, up to 12 weeks’ seniority | NOK 162.90 |
| Agriculture and horticulture | Seasonal worker aged over 18, 12 weeks to 6 months’ seniority | NOK 168.40 |
| Agriculture and horticulture | Permanent unskilled worker | NOK 182.80 |
| Agriculture and horticulture | Permanent worker under 18 | NOK 152.40 |
| Agriculture and horticulture | Supplement for a skilled worker | NOK 14.50 |
| Hospitality | Worker under 17 | NOK 142.58 |
| Hospitality | Worker aged 17 | NOK 152.08 |
| Hospitality | Worker aged 18 | NOK 166.34 |
| Hospitality | Worker over 20, or over 18 with at least four months of experience | NOK 204.79 |
| Passenger transport by tour bus | Employee in a covered business | NOK 218.62 |
| Cleaning | Worker over 18 | NOK 236.54 |
| Cleaning | Worker under 18 | NOK 185.55 |
| Maritime construction | Skilled worker | NOK 216.79 |
| Maritime construction | Semi-skilled worker | NOK 207.14 |
| Maritime construction | Unskilled worker | NOK 197.61 |
NOTE
Overtime, night work, shift work, Sundays and public holidays may attract mandatory supplements. In construction, for example, the statutory overtime supplement is at least 40% of the hourly rate. Travel, accommodation and food reimbursement are not wages and should not be used to make up the minimum rate.
Outside these ten sectors, there is no statutory wage floor. An employee may still be covered by a collective agreement, so the contract should identify the agreement that applies and the wage provisions it contains.
Average salary in Norway
Statistics Norway reported average monthly earnings of NOK 63,700 across all industries in the second quarter of 2026, before tax. This is roughly €5,500. The measure includes basic pay, variable supplements and bonuses under the SSB methodology.
An average is not the same as a typical entry-level salary. High earnings in management, finance and extraction industries pull the national figure upward. A job offer should be compared with the occupation, experience level and work schedule. The overview of shortage occupations in Norway is a useful starting point when looking for roles where skills are in demand.
Salary by economic sector
The full annual Statistics Norway sector dataset for 2025 provides a consistent comparison across the major industries. Figures are average gross monthly earnings, sorted from highest to lowest. They are not compulsory pay rates and should not be used as a substitute for a role-specific salary range.
| Economic sector | Average monthly salary, gross | Approximate euro value |
|---|---|---|
| Mining and quarrying | NOK 94,310 | about €8,100 |
| Financial and insurance activities | NOK 88,570 | about €7,600 |
| Electricity, gas and steam supply | NOK 84,980 | about €7,300 |
| Information and communication | NOK 80,770 | about €6,950 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | NOK 76,810 | about €6,600 |
| Real estate activities | NOK 75,060 | about €6,450 |
| Public administration and defence | NOK 66,440 | about €5,700 |
| Manufacturing | NOK 62,650 | about €5,400 |
| Transportation and storage | NOK 59,980 | about €5,150 |
| Construction | NOK 58,840 | about €5,050 |
| Education | NOK 58,240 | about €5,000 |
| Water supply, sewerage and waste management | NOK 57,940 | about €4,980 |
| Other service activities | NOK 56,980 | about €4,900 |
| Human health and social work activities | NOK 56,340 | about €4,850 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | NOK 55,680 | about €4,790 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | NOK 55,520 | about €4,770 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | NOK 54,440 | about €4,680 |
| Administrative and support service activities | NOK 53,980 | about €4,640 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | NOK 42,810 | about €3,680 |
Highest-paying sectors at a glance
Taxes and take-home pay
Norwegian payroll taxation combines ordinary income tax, progressive bracket tax and national-insurance contributions. The final net amount depends on deductions, tax residence, municipality and other personal circumstances, so there is no single net-pay percentage that applies to every worker.
| Tax element | 2026 rate or threshold |
|---|---|
| Ordinary income tax | 22% |
| Bracket tax: income up to NOK 226,100 | 0% |
| Bracket tax: NOK 226,101 to NOK 318,300 | 1.7% |
| Bracket tax: NOK 318,301 to NOK 725,050 | 4.0% |
| Bracket tax: NOK 725,051 to NOK 980,100 | 13.7% |
| Bracket tax: NOK 980,101 to NOK 1,467,200 | 16.8% |
| Bracket tax: above NOK 1,467,200 | 17.8% |
| National-insurance contribution on employment income | 7.9% |
These rates cannot simply be added together to produce one deduction percentage: different parts of income fall into different brackets, and deductions reduce the tax base. The net salary calculator can provide a preliminary scenario for a specific gross salary.
Checking an offer and living costs
An employment contract should state the hourly or monthly rate, working hours, pay date, holiday pay, overtime rules, supplements and the collective agreement that applies. In regulated sectors, reimbursement for travel, accommodation and food must not be used to fill the gap between the offered wage and the legal minimum.
When a job is also the basis for relocation, the contract needs to support the relevant immigration route. Salary is only one element; the employer, qualifications and terms of employment also matter. Anyone comparing locations should look at the best cities to live in Norway alongside the available jobs.
Norway’s high pay comes with high prices for housing, food and services. Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim can offer stronger job markets but usually require a larger rental budget. Current prices in Norway give better context to an offer than converting its gross salary into euros.
Before moving, budget for travel, a deposit and the first months of expenses. The savings calculator can help set that target. Everyday costs, healthcare arrangements and housing options are also part of living in Norway.
If Norway is one of several possible destinations, use the country comparison tool to compare net income, rent and taxes together.
Sources
- Statistics Norway — SSB
- Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority — Arbeidstilsynet
- Norwegian Tax Administration — Skatteetaten
- Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration — NAV
- Norwegian Directorate of Immigration — UDI
- Eurostat
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Norway have a national minimum wage?
No. Norway has no universal statutory minimum wage. Binding minimum hourly rates apply in ten sectors where collective-agreement provisions have been made generally applicable.
What is the average salary in Norway?
Average monthly earnings across all industries were NOK 63,700 before tax in the second quarter of 2026, or roughly €5,500.
Which Norwegian sectors pay the most?
Statistics Norway’s 2025 sector data show the highest average earnings in mining and quarrying, financial and insurance activities, electricity and gas supply, and information and communication.
What is the minimum rate for an electrician in Norway?
For covered electrical work outside offshore petroleum activity, the minimum is NOK 270.45 per hour for skilled workers and NOK 241.77 for other workers.
How is salary taxed in Norway?
Employment income is subject to 22% ordinary income tax, progressive bracket tax and a 7.9% national-insurance contribution. The individual result depends on income level and deductions.
Can accommodation or food reimbursements count towards minimum pay?
No. In covered sectors, reimbursement for travel, accommodation and food is not part of the wage and cannot be used to replace the mandatory minimum rate.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of WageCentre, with a degree in finance and 15+ years of professional experience. He writes about salaries, taxes, labour markets, immigration and financial planning for relocation.
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