Average salary in the Netherlands: Salaries by city and experience

The average monthly salary in the Netherlands is €3,114 after tax for full-time workers, & €10 – €12 per hour for part-time positions.

The Netherlands is a country that is known for its high standard of living, progressive social policies and a robust economy. The Dutch job market has some of the most lucrative opportunities in Europe. If you want to explore career opportunities in the Netherlands, you need to be aware of the average wages in the Netherlands. This guide is designed to provide you with all the required salary data for the Netherlands, to help you understand compensation for job roles you’re interested in.

Quick Overview

• The average salary in the Netherlands per month for a full-time worker is €3114 after tax.
• The average income in the Netherlands for a part-time worker is €10 – €12 per hour.
• Top Job Sectors in the Netherlands
  • Financial services (Average salary per year €42,249)
  • Health care, pharmaceutical and social services (Average salary per year €52,755)
  • Information Technology (Average salary per year €47,860)
  • Software Engineering (Average salary per year €48,284)
• Top Companies in the Netherlands: ASML, Prosus, Airbus, NXP Semiconductors and Stellantis.

Do you know?

• Only 3.6% of the total labour force was unemployed in the Netherlands in 2023.[1]
• In 2023, inflation in the Netherlands on consumer prices decreased to 3.8%, marking a significant 6.2% drop from the 10% inflation rate in 2022.[2 ]
• As per the OECD’s Better Life Index, the work-life balance rate in the Netherlands is 8.3.[3]
• According to CEOWORLD magazine’s report, the Netherlands is the 10th highest-paying country in the world in 2024.[4]

Netherlands salary trends: Factors affecting salary in the Netherlands

There are various economic factors affecting salaries in the Netherlands’s job market. Here are some key factors that have a notable impact on the pay scale in the Netherlands :

Overall Economic Performance

The economic health of the Netherlands significantly shapes wage levels. Factors like GDP growth, productivity, and unemployment rates directly influence salaries. During economic upswings, businesses offer higher wages to attract skilled professionals, while downturns result in lower pay packages and fewer salary increases.

Demand and Supply in the Job Market

High-demand sectors like technology, finance and healthcare face shortages of skilled professionals, driving up competition and salary rates. On the other hand, industries that experience an oversupply of workers, such as retail or hospitality, tend to see lower wage levels due to reduced demand.

Company size

Larger companies often have the financial resources to offer higher wages and more comprehensive benefits. These organisations are typically involved in high-revenue industries such as multinational corporations in finance and technology. Conversely, smaller companies may offer lower salaries but compensate with benefits like flexibility and an intimate work environment.

Location

Urban centres like Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the Hague offer higher salaries due to the concentration of large companies and higher living costs. These cities are economic hubs that attract businesses that work on national and global scales and have the financial ability to offer high salaries for skilled professionals. On the contrary, rural areas may offer exposure to smaller regional companies that only have the resources to offer lower salaries.

Average Salary for Full-Time Workers in the Netherlands

The job market in the Netherlands offers attractive opportunities in large-scale industries, providing extensive field exposure and competitive salaries. Understanding the Netherlands’ average income can clarify salary expectations in your industry and desired job role.

Here is a simplified overview of the Netherlands salary comparison across lucrative industries, along with high-demand job roles within those industries:

Source: Talent

Health care, pharmaceutical and social services: Average salary (€52,755)

Source: Talent

Science: Average Salary (€51,731)

Source: Talent

Childcare and education: Average salary (€49,516)

Source: Talent

Information Technology: Average Salary (€47,860)

Source: Talent

Technician: Average salary (€47,013)

Source: Talent

Average Salary for Part-time Workers in the Netherlands

The average part-time worker income in the Netherlands is €20 per hour, with variations based on factors like job type, age, hours worked, location, and days off. Cities like Eindhoven, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam, while slightly more expensive for international students, generally offer higher basic salaries in the Netherlands to offset living costs.

Source: Yocket

The average salary in the Netherlands: citywise

Here is a simplified overview of the provincial salary variations in the Netherlands:

Source: Livingcost.org (Refer to citywise pages)

Highest paying job in Netherlands

Healthcare and information technology are high-demand industries in the Netherlands, offering some of the most lucrative job opportunities. Salaries in these sectors reflect both industry expertise and candidate experience. Here are some of the most lucrative job options in the Netherlands:

Source: Talent, Jobinthenetherlands.com

Lowest/minimum paying job in the Netherlands

As of 1st January 2024, the Netherlands mandated employers to pay at least the hourly minimum wage. These wages are standardised based on ages ranging from 15 to 21 and older.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

Beyond the minimum wage brackets, some assistant and associate-level jobs also attract some of the lowest full-time work salaries in the Netherlands. Here is an overview of some similar job roles :

Source: Paylab

Salary based on experience and education

Like most of the world, the Netherlands job market allocates salaries based on education level and industry experience. These factors allow professionals to contribute skillfully and efficiently to the work environment and the company’s productivity.

As per the 2021 statistics, here is an example of the Netherlands average annual salary by education level.

Source: Statista

Similar to education, work experience also influences the salary that a candidate attracts in the job market. Here is a quick overview for reference:

Source: Averagesalarysurvey.com

Difference between median & average

Understanding the Netherlands median income and mean income is crucial for analysing your salary accurately.. Here’s a simplified explanation of both concepts:

The median salary is the middle value in a dataset, where half of the salaries are above and half are below. Here is an example for better understanding.

The median salary is the middle value in a dataset, with half of the salaries above and half below it. Hence, in this data set the median salary is €59,123.

The mean salary is the total of all the salaries divided by the number of values in the data set. Let us consider the same data set

Hence to calculate the mean –

(€36,985+€45,621+€59,123+€68,321+€73,459)/5 = €56701.8

Hence, the mean or average income for this dataset is €56701.8.

Before you go…

The Netherlands offers a vibrant job market with diverse industries to explore. Planning early is crucial for navigating the Dutch economy and scaling your career successfully. Understanding the pay scale in the Netherlands, and researching aspects like taxes and the cost of living in the Netherlands, ensures financial sustainability after relocation. Choosing a reliable international fund transfer service, like Instarem, with competitive conversion rates, provides affordable and fast transactions for sending money back home from the Netherlands. The Instarem app on the App store and Google Play enhances convenience and accessibility for users.

FAQs

Q. What is the current average salary in the Netherlands?

The average salary in the Netherlands for a full-time worker is €3114 after tax.

Q. What is a good salary in the Netherlands?

A good salary is subjective and varies based on financial stability, accommodation location, and spending habits. Generally, a yearly income between €37,000 and €80,000 is sufficient for a comfortable lifestyle in the Netherlands.

Q. Which job has the highest salary in the Netherlands?

Surgeons are some of the highest-earning individuals in the Netherlands with an average salary of about €123,241.

Q. Which job has the lowest salary in the Netherlands?

Assistant and associate level jobs like a Nursery School Teacher Assistant are some of the lowest paying full-time jobs in the Netherlands with the salary ranging around only €1,889 per month.

Q. What is the Netherlands’ average income for IT?

The annual average salary for IT in the Netherlands is €47,860.

Q. What is the average salary in the Netherlands per month for an Indian?

The monthly average salary that can be earned by an Indian national in the Netherlands depends upon factors like the industry and job profile, location of employment, experience and education level.

Q. How do you find a job in the Netherlands?

You can easily find a job in the Netherlands by searching for opportunities on global job websites like LinkedIn and Indeed.

Other related blogs:

Germany – Average Salary in Germany

Australia – Average Salary in Australia

USA – Average Salary in USA

Canada – Average Salary in Canada

UK – Average Salary in UK

Singapore – Average salary in Singapore

Ireland – Average Salary in Ireland

Malaysia – Average salary in Malaysia

Japan – Average Salary in Japan 

Disclaimers:

This article is intended for informational purposes only. All details are accurate at the time of publishing. Instarem has no affiliation or relationship with the products or vendors mentioned.

* Fast meaning 75% of our transactions are completed in 15 minutes. Depending on the funding method.

#When it comes to affordable exchange rates and fees, it’s worth noting that the cost will vary depending on how you choose to fund your transactions. Credit card funding and bank transfer fees can differ significantly.

The values were taken on 4th and 5th July from different websites and may be subject to change.

Citations

• [1]https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS?locations=NL
• [2]https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG?locations=NL
• [3]https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/netherlands/
• [4]https://ceoworld.biz/2024/03/31/ranked-countries-with-the-highest-and-lowest-average-salaries-2024/