A person working in Engineering in Brussel typically earns around 5,440 EUR per month. Salaries range from 2,040 EUR (lowest average) to 11,000 EUR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different Engineering careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Acoustics Engineer | 5,160 EUR |
Assembly Engineering Technician | 4,450 EUR |
Assistant Chief Engineer | 6,100 EUR |
Associate Engineer | 4,860 EUR |
Autocad Operator | 3,710 EUR |
Automation Engineer | 5,550 EUR |
Avionic System Support Engineer | 5,250 EUR |
Biochemical Engineer | 5,030 EUR |
BMS Engineer | 5,290 EUR |
Bridge and Lock Tender | 3,030 EUR |
Broadcast Engineer | 5,420 EUR |
CAD Design Engineer | 5,670 EUR |
CAD Designer | 3,530 EUR |
CAE Engineer | 5,280 EUR |
Ceramics Engineer | 4,950 EUR |
Civil Engineer | 5,390 EUR |
Commissioning Engineer | 5,510 EUR |
Communications Engineer | 5,780 EUR |
Condition Monitoring Engineer | 4,820 EUR |
Contract Associate Engineer | 5,110 EUR |
Control Systems Engineer | 5,420 EUR |
Controls Engineer | 5,420 EUR |
Controls Software Engineer | 4,780 EUR |
Corrosion Engineer | 5,200 EUR |
Design Engineer | 5,770 EUR |
Drafter | 3,620 EUR |
Drafting Manager | 6,120 EUR |
Drilling Engineer | 5,370 EUR |
Electrical Draughtsman | 3,020 EUR |
Electrical Engineer | 5,870 EUR |
Electrical Engineering Manager | 7,340 EUR |
Electromechanical Engineering Technologist | 5,890 EUR |
Electromechanical Equipment Assembler | 3,030 EUR |
Energy Engineer | 5,610 EUR |
Engine Assembler | 2,580 EUR |
Engineer | 5,950 EUR |
Engineering Account Manager | 6,230 EUR |
Engineering Chief Designer | 5,880 EUR |
Engineering Consultant | 7,300 EUR |
Engineering Key Account Manager | 7,920 EUR |
Engineering Lab Technician | 5,250 EUR |
Engineering Planning Manager | 7,140 EUR |
Engineering Production Manager | 9,200 EUR |
Engineering Project Analyst | 6,520 EUR |
Engineering Project Coordinator | 6,470 EUR |
Engineering Project Director | 10,700 EUR |
Engineering Project Manager | 7,180 EUR |
Engineering Research and Development Manager | 8,150 EUR |
Engineering Safety Coordinator | 4,170 EUR |
Engineering Sales Manager | 7,200 EUR |
Engineering Technician | 4,170 EUR |
Engineering Technologist | 4,170 EUR |
Environmental Engineer | 5,420 EUR |
Equipment Engineer | 4,950 EUR |
Equipment Engineering Manager | 6,770 EUR |
Estimator | 4,580 EUR |
Fabrication Specialist | 4,150 EUR |
Fabricator | 2,760 EUR |
Facade Engineer | 5,510 EUR |
Fiber Analyst | 3,450 EUR |
Field Engineer | 5,860 EUR |
Field Engineering Manager | 9,010 EUR |
Fire Engineer | 5,680 EUR |
Fitter and Turner | 2,080 EUR |
Forestry Strategic Planner | 6,040 EUR |
Generation Engineer | 5,310 EUR |
Genetic Engineer | 5,870 EUR |
Geological Engineer | 5,670 EUR |
Geotechnical Engineer | 5,700 EUR |
Heavy Equipment Mechanic | 3,070 EUR |
Highway Engineer | 5,230 EUR |
HSE Professional | 5,290 EUR |
HVAC Engineer | 5,990 EUR |
HVAC Supervisor | 4,950 EUR |
Industrial Engineer | 5,330 EUR |
Industrial Engineering Technologist | 5,200 EUR |
Instrument Engineer | 5,460 EUR |
Instrumentation and Control Engineer | 5,600 EUR |
Instrumentation Engineer | 5,460 EUR |
Instrumentation Manager | 5,320 EUR |
Irrigation Engineer | 5,240 EUR |
Licensed Aircraft Engineer | 5,890 EUR |
Locomotive Engineer | 5,200 EUR |
Maintenance Engineer | 4,940 EUR |
Maintenance Fitter | 2,140 EUR |
Maintenance Manager | 5,230 EUR |
Manufacturing Engineer | 5,460 EUR |
Marine Engineer | 5,540 EUR |
Materials Engineer | 5,280 EUR |
Materials Researcher | 4,900 EUR |
Materials Technician | 4,240 EUR |
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer | 5,740 EUR |
Mechanical Design Engineer | 5,700 EUR |
Mechanical Designer | 4,580 EUR |
Mechanical Engineer | 5,550 EUR |
Mechanical Engineering Manager | 7,750 EUR |
Mechanical Inspector | 5,460 EUR |
Mechatronics Engineer | 5,840 EUR |
Mining Engineer | 5,640 EUR |
Oil and Petrochemical Engineer | 5,820 EUR |
Optical Engineer | 5,100 EUR |
Optical Instrument Assembler | 3,090 EUR |
PCB Assembler | 2,350 EUR |
Photonics Engineer | 5,870 EUR |
Photonics Technician | 4,740 EUR |
Pipeline Engineer | 5,200 EUR |
Piping Designer | 3,190 EUR |
Piping Engineer | 4,950 EUR |
Planning Engineer | 5,590 EUR |
Pressure Vessel Inspector | 2,780 EUR |
Principal Cost Engineer | 5,450 EUR |
Principal Engineer | 5,590 EUR |
Principal Support Engineer | 5,450 EUR |
Process Engineer | 5,190 EUR |
Process Operator | 3,450 EUR |
Product Development Engineer | 5,860 EUR |
Product Development Technician | 4,030 EUR |
Product Engineer | 5,720 EUR |
Product Safety Engineer | 5,110 EUR |
Production Engineer | 5,500 EUR |
Project Engineer | 5,660 EUR |
Proposal Manager | 7,180 EUR |
Purchasing Engineer | 5,120 EUR |
Quality Assurance Engineer | 5,190 EUR |
Rail Engineer | 5,680 EUR |
Robotics Engineer | 6,340 EUR |
Robotics Technician | 4,600 EUR |
Safety Engineer | 5,500 EUR |
Safety Inspector | 4,500 EUR |
Safety Manager | 6,600 EUR |
Safety Officer | 3,100 EUR |
Sales Engineer | 5,700 EUR |
Scheduling Engineer | 4,820 EUR |
Service Engineer | 5,900 EUR |
Solar Engineer | 5,930 EUR |
Staff Engineer | 5,600 EUR |
Static Equipment Engineer | 5,370 EUR |
Stationary Engineer | 4,910 EUR |
Stress Engineer | 5,030 EUR |
Structural Analysis Engineer | 5,150 EUR |
Structural Designer | 4,660 EUR |
Structural Engineer | 5,550 EUR |
Structural Technician | 3,700 EUR |
Supply Chain Specialist | 5,420 EUR |
Surveyor | 4,050 EUR |
Technical Affairs Officer | 3,090 EUR |
Technical Assistant | 2,870 EUR |
Technical Engineer | 4,940 EUR |
Technical Support Engineer | 4,820 EUR |
Tender Engineer | 4,740 EUR |
Test Development Engineer | 5,420 EUR |
Transportation Engineer | 5,110 EUR |
Validation Engineer | 4,990 EUR |
Verification Engineer | 4,980 EUR |
Wastewater Engineer | 5,280 EUR |
Wind Energy Engineer | 5,590 EUR |
Wind Energy Operations Manager | 6,990 EUR |
Work Planner | 3,900 EUR |
![]() 2,040 EUR |
![]() 5,030 EUR |
![]() 11,000 EUR |
Engineering salaries in Brussel range from 2,040 EUR per month (starting average salary) to 11,000 EUR per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). This is not the minimum wage as per the law, only the lowest reported number in the salary survey that had thousands of participants and professionals from all over the country.
The median salary is 5,030 EUR per month, which means that half (50%) of people working in Engineering are earning less than 5,030 EUR while the other half are earning more than 5,030 EUR. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of people working in Engineering are earning less than 3,890 EUR while 75% of them are earning more than 3,890 EUR. Also from the diagram, 75% of people working in Engineering are earning less than 6,120 EUR while 25% are earning more than 6,120 EUR.
We grouped the most common and recurring salaries into brackets to give more insight into what salary to expect. This method is more accurate than just the average salary and gives more insights on how salaries are actually distributed. Around 65% of all reported figures are in the range 2,810 EUR to 4,820 EUR. Approximatly 20% fall under the 2,810 EUR cap. Ten percent of wages are from 4,820 EUR to 5,730 EUR. Only 5% of people grossed 5,730 EUR or more.
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a cerificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Belgium costs anywhere from 30,700 Euro(s) to 92,200 Euro(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on your situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if you can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Belgium who work in Engineering earn 6% more than their female counterparts on average.
Male | 5,410 EUR | |
Female | -5% | 5,130 EUR |
Engineering professionals in Belgium are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 16 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 17 months.
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
Banking | 3% | |
Energy | 6% | |
Information Technology | 9% | |
Healthcare | 3% | |
Travel | 6% | |
Construction | 9% | |
Education | 3% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Belgium for the year 2022. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
Engineering is considered to be a moderate bonus-based field. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
48% of surveyed staff in Engineering reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 52% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 5% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 52% | |
No Bonus | 48% |
The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Average Salary 2019 | 4,670 EUR | |
Average Salary 2020 | +4% | 4,840 EUR |
Average Salary 2021 | +2% | 4,930 EUR |
Average Salary 2022 | +3% | 5,070 EUR |
Engineering salaries in Belgium are rising in the year 2023 based on recent submitted salaries and reports. As displayed in the chart, salaries in 2022 are 3% higher than those of 2021. The trend suggests a slow yet continuous increase in pay in 2024 and future years. These numbers may vary from industry to another.
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
This minimum pay rate per hour for a person in Brussel is 12 EUR. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
The average salary for Engineering is 14% less than that of All Jobs.
City | Average Salary |
Antwerp | 6,090 EUR |
Brugge (Bruges) | 5,270 EUR |
Brussel | 5,440 EUR |
Charleroi | 5,780 EUR |
Gent (Ghent) | 5,970 EUR |
Leuven | 4,990 EUR |
Liege | 5,670 EUR |
Namur | 5,200 EUR |
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Belgium earn 5% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 6,000 EUR | |
Public Sector | +5% | 6,320 EUR |
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 5,030 EUR and 6,120 EUR. This is a very rough estimate and your experience and education will play a very huge part into your final earnings.
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salart after tax for every career.
The base salary for Engineering in Brussel is ranges from 3,890 EUR to 6,120 EUR. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range in a grain of salt.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary