SALARY IN THE NETHERLANDS

The Kingdom of the Netherlands (Holland) is considered one of the most successful countries in the European Union. It is a country with a high standard of living, a stable economy and excellent infrastructure. Work in the Netherlands attracts a huge number of foreigners from all over the world. In most cases, Dutch companies provide foreign workers with very high wages and comfortable working conditions.

Unemployment in the Netherlands does not exceed 3-4%. The local labour force is very skilled, flexible and productive. Dutch universities provide quality education and train highly qualified specialists. More than 90% of Dutch citizens are fluent in English. Next, let's find out what salaries in the Netherlands in 2024.

Minimum wage in the Netherlands

Every salaried worker in the Netherlands between the ages of 21 and 65 who is employed for standard working hours (36-40 hours per week) is entitled to receive the local minimum wage. According to official information from the Dutch government, as of 1 January 2024, the minimum wage in the Netherlands is €2,069.96 per month (€13.27 per hour).

There are lower rates for those aged between 15 and 20, calculated as a percentage (between 30 and 80%) of the basic minimum wage.

MINIMUM WAGE IN THE NETHERLANDS IN 2024 (JANUARY 1)

Age	Per month	Per hour
21 years old and over	€2,069.96	€13.27
20 years old	€1,656.59	€10.62
19 years old	€1,241.66	€7.96
18 years old	€1,035.76	€6.64
17 years old	€817.38	€5.24
16 years old	€714.43	€4.58
15 years old	€620.83	€3.98

The minimum wage in Holland is revised by the local government twice a year, on 1 January and 1 July. The Netherlands is ahead of most EU countries, including France (€1,766.92). Dutch employers can be fined from 12 to 40 thousand euros for violation of labour law norms related to understatement of the minimum wage.

Average salary in the Netherlands

According to the Dutch Central Planning Office, the average salary in the Netherlands in 2024 is €3,460 per month before taxes. The annual income of a local worker equates to €41,520. After all mandatory deductions, the monthly average salary in the Netherlands is around €2,740. It is noteworthy that specialists in the public sector, including the field of television, by law are not allowed to earn more than 181 thousand euros a year.

SALARY IN THE NETHERLANDS DEPENDING ON AGE

AGE	EUROS PER MONTH
24 and younger	3,146
25-35	3,923
35-44	4,635
45-54	4,029
55 and over	3,791

Note. Men in the Netherlands earn on average €50,520 per year and women €33,660 per year. The gender pay gap is 13.7%.

SALARY IN THE NETHERLANDS BY CITY

CITY	EUROS PER MONTH
Amsterdam	4,415
Eindhoven	4,335
The Hague	4,250
Utrecht	4,085
Rotterdam	4,000
Breda	3,835
Nijmegen	3,750
Almere	3,665
Groningen	3,585
Tilburg	3,250

In order that a local employer, when hiring a foreign specialist, does not have to prove to the authorities that the vacancy is not claimed by Dutch or EU citizens, highly qualified foreign workers planning to obtain a residence permit in the Netherlands for the purpose of employment are required to conclude a work contract with a monthly salary in 2024 not less than:

• €5,331 for persons over 30 years of age

• €3,909 for persons under 30 years of age

• €2,801 for foreign graduates of local universities (first year after graduation)

• €6,245 for holders of the EU Blue Card in the Netherlands

SALARY IN THE NETHERLANDS BY PROVINCE (MEDIAN)

PROVINCE	EUROS PER YEAR
North Holland	34,160
Utrecht	33,572
South Holland	31,134
North Brabant	30,985
Gelderland	29,608
Zealand	29,298
Flevoland	28,952
Drenthe	28,455
Overijssel	28,043
Groningen	27,191
Friesland	26,897

The average salary in the Netherlands depends on qualifications, experience, profession, economic sector and specific region. For example, working in Amsterdam brings an annual income of €50,100 for men and €40,800 for women. In the run-up to the summer holidays, it is customary in the Netherlands to pay a holiday allowance of 8% of the annual salary. In terms of individual professions, the range of salaries in the Netherlands is very different. For example, secretaries receive between 26-40 thousand euros a year, and programmers from 30 to 85 thousand.

In order to be officially employed in the Netherlands as a highly qualified specialist, a local employer must provide a minimum wage of €4,840 per month (€58,080 per year) to an alien over the age of 30 and €3,549 per month (€41,508 per year) to a person under the age of 30. International students who have studied at a Dutch university for the last 3 years must earn at least €2,543 per month (€20,516 per year) in the first year after their studies.

WAGES IN THE NETHERLANDS BY OCCUPATION

Occupation	Euros per year (gross)
Chairman of the board of directors (medium-sized company)	516,300
Footballer (Dutch league)	250,000
Senior airline pilot (long-haul flights)	227,400
Commercial Director	194,900
Hospital director	205,400
Sales Director	165,700
Marketing Director	142,800
IT Director	114,800
Member of the Dutch Parliament	114,500
Treasurer	107,700
IT Manager	102,100
Public Relations Manager	98,100
Lawyer	93,000
University lecturer	70,300
Senior Accountant	62,000
Journalist (national newspaper)	62,000
Computer programmer	59,900
Elementary school principal	53,500
Office manager	45,300
Elementary school teacher	44,650
Graphic designer	41,700
Chef	40,200
Train Driver	38,800
Secretary	34,300
Bus Driver	33,600
Builder	33,500
Plasterer	32,800
Electrician	31,800
Cab driver	31,800
Garbage collector	29,000
Courier	27,400
Administrator	27,000
Janitor	24,800
Hairdresser	24,500
Packer	22,000

Payroll taxes in the Netherlands

The Netherlands has quite high taxes on salaries. For example, the income tax rate for people with an annual salary of more than 75.5 thousand euros is 49.50%. But thanks to various tax incentives, the lion's share of earnings (about 75%) still remains at the disposal of the local employee. You can calculate the net average salary in the Netherlands using an online calculator here.

Income tax in the Netherlands in 2024

Annual income (euros)	Rate (%)
Up to 75,518	36.97
Over 75,518	49.50

The personal tax credit (for low-income earners) in the Netherlands is €3,070. The tax rate on savings and investment income is 30%. In addition, employees are charged a National Insurance Contribution (27.65%). In some cases, such as having minor children, Holland has additional tax incentives to reduce the burden of payroll deductions.

HIGHEST PAID OCCUPATIONS IN THE NETHERLANDS

• Doctors

• Chief Executive Officers (CEOs)

• Programmers

• Lawyers

• Engineers in senior positions

• Bankers, financiers, insurers

• Aviation pilots

• Sales directors and business development managers

• Business consultants

• Researchers, scientists

Cost of living in the Netherlands

Compared to most European countries, living in the Netherlands is not cheap. This is especially true for property prices, including rent. The most expensive cities are Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague.

Basic costs in the Netherlands:

• Rent: 1,300-1,400 euros per month for a one-bedroom flat in the centre.

• Utility bills: 200-300 euros per month.

• Food: 300-400 euros per month per person.

• Transport: 80-90 euros per month by public transport or 200-300 euros per month by car.

• Internet/mobile phone: 60-70 euros per month.

• Clothing and leisure activities: 800-1,000 euros per month.

Frequently asked questions about salaries in the Netherlands:

1. What is the average salary in the Netherlands?

• Before taxes, the average salary in the Netherlands in 2024 is €3,406 per month.

2. What is the minimum wage in the Netherlands?

• The minimum wage in the Netherlands in 2024 is €2,069.96 per month (€13.27 per hour).

3. What is the highest earning job in the Netherlands?

• The highest paid occupations in the Netherlands are doctors and CEOs of large companies.

4. Which job earns the lowest income in the Netherlands?

• Representatives of unskilled labour – cleaners, waiters, cooks' assistants, loaders, shop assistants, maids and so on – earn the least in the Netherlands.

5. What is the average salary of programmers in the Netherlands?

• The average income of programmers in the Netherlands is estimated at 30,000-85,000 euros per year.

6. What is the payroll tax in the Netherlands?

• The income tax rate in the Netherlands depends on annual income and ranges from 36.97% (income up to €75,518) to 49.50% (income over €75,518).

7. What is the average salary in Amsterdam?

• he average salary in Amsterdam in 2024 is €4,000-5,000 per month before tax.

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