A person working in Netherlands typically earns around 4,900 EUR. Salaries range from 1,350 EUR (lowest average) to 21,300 EUR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries in Netherlands vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
![]() 1,350 EUR |
![]() 4,500 EUR |
![]() 21,300 EUR |
Salaries in Netherlands range from 1,350 EUR (starting salary) to 21,300 EUR (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 4,500 EUR, which means that 50% of the population in Netherlands earns less than that while the other half earns more. 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 the population in Netherlands earn less than 3,290 EUR while 75% of them earn more. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population earn less than 6,740 EUR while 25% earn more than that.
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 into how salaries are actually distributed in Netherlands. Around 65% of all reported figures are in the range 3,030 EUR to 7,550 EUR. Approximately 20% fall under the 3,030 EUR cap. Ten percent of wages are from 7,550 EUR to 9,600 EUR. Only 5% of people grossed 9,600 EUR or more.
Salary is primarily determined by the level of experience one possesses, with higher levels of experience resulting in higher wages.
In Netherlands, employees with two to five years of experience typically earn an average of 32% more than entry-level and junior workers in all industries and fields.
Individuals with more than five years of experience tend to earn an average of 36% more than those with less than five years of experience.
After ten years of work, salaries increase by 21%, with an additional 14% increase for those who have worked for over 15 years.
These figures should be used as rough estimates, as considering individual job titles can lead to more accurate assessments.
The correlation between higher education and higher salary is widely acknowledged, but how much of an income increase can one expect from obtaining a degree?
We conducted a study in Netherlands comparing the salaries of professionals with different levels of college degrees who held similar positions in various industries.
Our results showed that individuals with a certificate or diploma earned an average of 17% more than those who only completed high school.
Those who obtained a Bachelor's Degree earned 24% more than their counterparts with a certificate or diploma.
Professionals with a Master's Degree earned 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, those who held a PhD earned an average of 23% more than those with a Master's Degree while performing the same job.
Earning a Master's degree or any post-graduate qualification in Netherlands is a substantial financial commitment, with tuition fees ranging from 24,500 EUR to 73,500 EUR and a duration of around two years. It's important to note that during this period, any salary increases are unlikely, assuming ongoing employment. Salary reviews are typically conducted after completing the program and obtaining the degree.
Many individuals pursue advanced education as a means of transitioning to higher-paying positions, and the statistics indicate that this is an effective strategy. On average, individuals who change jobs after earning a higher degree receive a salary increase of about 10% more than the typical annual raise.
Ultimately, deciding whether or not to pursue advanced education depends on a variety of factors, including the personal situation and experience. However, if one can afford the financial costs of obtaining a higher degree, the return on investment is likely to be worthwhile, with the ability to recoup the costs in approximately a year.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? In Netherlands, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 5% across all career fields.
Male | 5,020 EUR | |
Female | -5% | 4,790 EUR |
Employees in Netherlands are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 15 months.
The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare 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
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.
43% of surveyed staff in Netherlands reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 57% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 2% to 7% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 57% | |
No Bonus | 43% |
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.
Finance | High | |
Architecture | High | |
Sales | High | |
Business Development | High | |
Marketing / Advertising | High | |
Information Technology | Moderate | |
Healthcare | Moderate | |
Insurance | Moderate | |
Customer Service | Moderate | |
Human Resources | Moderate | |
Construction | Low | |
Transport | Low | |
Hospitality | Low |
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.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Accounting and Finance | |
Accountant | 3,540 EUR |
Accounting Assistant | 2,670 EUR |
Accounting Manager | 7,200 EUR |
Bookkeeper | 2,300 EUR |
Chartered Accountant | 4,360 EUR |
Corporate Treasurer | 6,210 EUR |
Financial Analyst | 6,290 EUR |
Financial Manager | 9,560 EUR |
Internal Auditor | 4,500 EUR |
Administration / Reception / Secretarial | |
Administrative Assistant | 2,680 EUR |
Office Manager | 4,240 EUR |
Receptionist | 2,300 EUR |
Secretary | 2,280 EUR |
Advertising / Graphic Design / Events | |
Art Director | 4,950 EUR |
Creative Director | 4,780 EUR |
Graphic Designer | 2,970 EUR |
Photographer | 2,650 EUR |
Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense | |
Aerospace Engineer | 5,970 EUR |
Air Traffic Controller | 5,420 EUR |
Flight Attendant | 3,210 EUR |
Pilot | 8,320 EUR |
Architecture | |
Architect | 5,900 EUR |
CAD Drafter | 2,610 EUR |
Automotive | |
Mechanic | 1,940 EUR |
Service Advisor | 3,460 EUR |
Banking | |
Bank Branch Manager | 8,540 EUR |
Teller | 1,910 EUR |
Bilingual | |
Teacher | 3,890 EUR |
Translator | 4,360 EUR |
Business Planning | |
Business Analyst | 5,760 EUR |
Business Development Manager | 7,520 EUR |
Project Manager | 6,310 EUR |
Care Giving and Child Care | |
Nanny | 2,010 EUR |
Nursery Teacher | 1,820 EUR |
Construction / Building / Installation | |
Civil Engineer | 4,660 EUR |
Construction Project Manager | 7,710 EUR |
Health and Safety Officer | 2,330 EUR |
Customer Service and Call Center | |
Call Center Representative | 1,860 EUR |
Customer Service Manager | 6,750 EUR |
Customer Service Representative | 1,890 EUR |
Engineering | |
Civil Engineer | 4,270 EUR |
Electrical Engineer | 4,800 EUR |
Engineer | 4,640 EUR |
Mechanical Engineer | 4,590 EUR |
Executive and Management | |
Chief Executive Officer | 10,900 EUR |
Chief Financial Officer | 9,480 EUR |
General Manager | 8,710 EUR |
Project Manager | 5,430 EUR |
Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering | |
Chef | 3,160 EUR |
Executive Chef | 3,640 EUR |
Hotel Manager | 8,670 EUR |
Receptionist | 1,990 EUR |
Travel Agent | 3,050 EUR |
Waiter / Waitress | 1,680 EUR |
Health and Medical | |
Dentist | 11,300 EUR |
Dietitian | 9,160 EUR |
Laboratory Technician | 3,670 EUR |
Nurse | 3,920 EUR |
Human Resources | |
Human Resources Manager | 7,200 EUR |
Human Resources Officer | 2,990 EUR |
Information Technology | |
Computer Technician | 3,720 EUR |
Database Administrator | 4,900 EUR |
Developer / Programmer | 4,560 EUR |
Information Technology Manager | 7,620 EUR |
Network Engineer | 4,150 EUR |
Law Enforcement / Security / Fire | |
Police Officer | 2,840 EUR |
Legal | |
Attorney | 9,530 EUR |
Legal Assistant | 2,550 EUR |
Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment | |
Journalist | 5,410 EUR |
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology | |
Biomedical Engineer | 4,190 EUR |
Pharmacist | 6,040 EUR |
Sales Retail and Wholesale | |
Cashier | 1,980 EUR |
Sales Manager | 8,220 EUR |
Sales Representative | 3,040 EUR |
Teaching / Education | |
Elementary School Teacher | 3,280 EUR |
Secondary School Teacher | 3,900 EUR |
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 fixed 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.
The minimum pay rate per hour for a person in Netherlands is 8 EUR. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
City | Average Salary |
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in Netherlands is 5% on average across all career fields.
Private Sector | 4,780 EUR | |
Public Sector | +5% | 5,030 EUR |
It is extremely difficult to give an exact figure of a good salary when no specific job is selected, however; an estimate can be provided based purely on the cost of living. A good compensation in Netherlands would range anywhere between 4,500 EUR and 6,740 EUR.
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 salary after tax for every career.
The base salary in Netherlands ranges from 1,350 EUR to 3,290 EUR. The base salary depends on many factors including profession, experience, and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn 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
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