Average Salary in the Netherlands 2026: CBS Wage Data by Occupation

Before moving to the Netherlands, most expats want to know whether a job offer is a fair one. This guide uses CBS (Statistics Netherlands) wage data, the Belastingdienst tax tables and Rijksoverheid rules to give you benchmarks you can check yourself.

CBS publishes Dutch wages as a gross hourly wage. In 2025 the median gross hourly wage of employees was €26.90 (source: CBS StatLine table 86355NED, “Werknemers; uurloon en beroep”, checked 8 October 2026). The median is the middle value: half of all employees earn less per hour, half earn more. On a 36-hour week that works out to roughly €50,400 gross per year (our calculation: €26.90 × 36 × 52). The figure shifts with the contracted hours, so treat it as an illustration, not as a CBS annual salary.

Whether a salary feels comfortable also depends on where you live and whether you qualify for the 30% ruling.

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How Dutch Salaries Work: The Basics

Gross vs. Net

Dutch box 1 income tax in 2026, for people below state pension age (Belastingdienst, checked 6 October 2026):

• Up to €38,883: 35.75%
• €38,883 to €78,426: 37.56%
• Above €78,426: 49.50%

The first bracket of 35.75% consists of 8.10% income tax and 27.65% premiums for national insurance (volksverzekeringen, which include the state pension AOW). The tax credits (heffingskortingen, such as the general tax credit and the labour tax credit) are deducted from the tax you owe, so your net pay is higher than the bracket percentages suggest. The Belastingdienst publishes the credit tables. For a walkthrough, see our guide on Dutch tax for expats.

Holiday Allowance

Employees are entitled to at least 8% of their gross annual salary as holiday allowance (vakantiegeld, Rijksoverheid). It is calculated over the salary of the past year and many employers pay it out in May or June. On a €44,000 salary, 8% is €3,520 (our calculation). A collective labour agreement (cao) can arrange it differently, as long as you receive at least 108% of the minimum wage. For ideas on what to do with it, see Dutch savings and investment options for expats.

13th Month

A 13th month is not a legal requirement in the Netherlands. Some employers or collective agreements include one, so check your contract or ask during negotiations.

Pension

Pension in the Netherlands is arranged through your employer’s scheme. The employer and the employee each contribute, and the contribution percentages differ per scheme, so ask for the scheme details with your contract. The guide to the Dutch pension system explains how it works for expats.

Median Hourly Wage by Occupation Group (CBS, 2025)

CBS reports wages per occupation group. The table shows the gross hourly wage per group in 2025: the 25th percentile, the median and the 75th percentile (CBS StatLine 86355NED; excludes special payments such as bonuses).

CBS does not publish a figure for education occupations (pedagogische beroepen) in this table. These are hourly wages: to compare with an annual salary offer, divide the offer by your contracted hours per year (for 36 hours per week, 36 × 52 = 1,872 hours).

The same table also splits wages by occupation level (ISCO skill level). The median in 2025 was €16.90 at level 1, €21.60 at level 2, €28.40 at level 3 and €36.90 at level 4, the highest level.

How wages developed

The median gross hourly wage for all employees rose from €18.00 in 2013 to €19.60 in 2019, €23.70 in 2023, €25.30 in 2024 and €26.90 in 2025 (CBS).

Salaries by City

CBS does not publish a simple average salary per city in the table used for this guide, so we do not give city salary ranges. Compare an offer with the occupation group above and weigh it against housing costs in the city, see the cost of living guide. For rent and budget comparisons between two cities, see Amsterdam vs Rotterdam for expats.

How the 30% Ruling Changes Your Net Salary

If you are hired from abroad and meet the conditions, the 30% ruling (30%-regeling) lets your employer pay up to 30% of your salary as a tax-free allowance. The Belastingdienst sets a minimum salary norm for it (€48,013 in 2026, with lower norms for some groups) and a maximum for the allowance. The tax-free part means a lower taxable income and so a higher net salary. The size of the gain depends on your salary and situation, so run your own numbers with our 30% ruling calculator and read the complete 30% ruling guide to check whether you qualify. From 2027 the rules change, see the Rijksoverheid page on the expat regime.

Minimum Wage in the Netherlands 2026

The statutory minimum wage (wettelijk minimumloon) for employees aged 21 and over is set per hour and adjusted on 1 January and 1 July (Rijksoverheid, checked 8 October 2026):

• €14.99 gross per hour from 1 July 2026
• €14.71 gross per hour from 1 January 2026
• On a 36-hour week, €14.99 comes to about €2,338 gross per month or €28,061 gross per year (our calculation: €14.99 × 36 × 52, excluding holiday allowance)

The statutory minimum hourly wage has applied since 1 January 2024.

Younger workers receive a percentage of the adult minimum wage. From 1 July 2026 the hourly amounts are €11.99 at 20, €8.99 at 19, €7.50 at 18, €5.92 at 17, €5.17 at 16 and €4.50 at 15.

Part-time Work and FTE

According to CBS, 48.6% of employed people in the Netherlands worked part-time in 2025 (4.782 million of 9.833 million; 30.1% of men and 69.3% of women; CBS table 85264NED). Salaries are usually quoted as a full-time equivalent (FTE). What counts as full-time depends on the employer and the collective agreement, so check the contracted hours of an offer.

If you are offered 0.8 FTE on a salary of €44,000 for a full-time job, your gross annual salary is €35,200 (our calculation: 0.8 × €44,000). Compare offers on the same basis.

Salary Negotiation Tips for Expats

Prepare with Data

Before a negotiation, collect benchmarks from:

• CBS (Statistics Netherlands): cbs.nl publishes wage statistics by occupation
• Salary survey tools such as Glassdoor and Loonwijzer; these are based on user input, so treat them as an indication
• Your own contract and collective agreement (cao), if one applies

Come with a specific number, based on the data.

Negotiate the Total Package

Besides base pay, ask about:

• Employer pension contribution
• Training and education budget
• Extra leave days (the statutory minimum is four times the weekly working hours, so 20 days on a 5-day week)
• Commuting allowance
• Work-from-home arrangements, set out in the contract
• Lease car or mobility budget

See the detailed guide to salary negotiation in the Netherlands.

How to Check Whether a Salary Offer Is Fair

1. Convert the offer to an hourly wage (annual gross ÷ contracted hours per year) and compare it with the CBS table above.
2. Check the extras: holiday allowance (at least 8%), pension contribution and any 13th month. Compare packages, not only the base salary.
3. Run the 30% ruling calculation if you qualify, with the 30% ruling calculator.
4. Weigh the offer against housing costs in your city.

Browse the full set of financial tools for expats on this site.

Understanding Your Dutch Payslip (Loonstrook)

• Bruto loon: your gross salary for the period.
• Loonheffing: income tax and national insurance premiums withheld by your employer.
• Pensioenpremie: your own pension contribution.
• Vakantiegeld opbouw: holiday allowance building up for payment, often in May.
• Netto loon: the amount paid into your bank account.

See how to read a Dutch pay slip if you want a longer explanation.

Sending Money Home? Wise

If you send part of your salary abroad, compare the total cost of the transfer: the fee and the exchange rate. Wise shows the fee and the rate it uses before you confirm a transfer. Check the current fee for your currency on wise.com. Wise is an affiliate partner of this site; see our affiliate disclosure.

Try Wise for international transfers →

Read our Wise review for expats in the Netherlands for more details.

Freelancers

If you are a freelancer (ZZP), gross revenue is not the same as salary. The ZZP guide for expats explains how self-employment income is treated. The Dutch tax return guide for expats covers the tax side.

Finding a Job

The job boards guide for expats lists places to look for English-speaking roles. For a country comparison, see Netherlands vs Germany for expats.

Conclusion

The CBS median gross hourly wage in 2025 was €26.90, and it differs a lot between occupation groups. Before accepting an offer, convert it to an hourly wage, compare it with the CBS figures for your occupation group, include holiday allowance and pension, calculate your 30% ruling benefit if applicable and set the net result against the housing costs in your city. For a wider look, use the salary comparison tool.

Sources: CBS StatLine 86355NED (Werknemers; uurloon en beroep) and 85264NED (arbeidsdeelname), checked 8 October 2026; Belastingdienst box 1 rates 2026; Rijksoverheid (minimum wage, holiday allowance).