A person working in Portugal typically earns around 2,760 EUR. Salaries range from 700 EUR (lowest average) to 12,300 EUR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries in Portugal vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Minimum Salary 700 EUR |
Median 2,400 EUR |
Maximum 12,300 EUR |
Salaries in Portugal range from 700 EUR (starting salary) to 12,300 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 2,400 EUR, which means that 50% of the population in Portugal 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 Portugal earn less than 1,740 EUR while 75% of them earn more. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population earn less than 3,640 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 Portugal. Around 65% of all reported figures are in the range 1,590 EUR to 4,090 EUR. Approximately 20% fall under the 1,590 EUR cap. Ten percent of wages are from 4,090 EUR to 5,230 EUR. Only 5% of people grossed 5,230 EUR or more.
Salary is primarily determined by the level of experience one possesses, with higher levels of experience resulting in higher wages.
In Portugal, 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 Portugal 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 Portugal is a substantial financial commitment, with tuition fees ranging from 13,800 EUR to 41,400 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 Portugal, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 5% across all career fields.
Male | 2,840 EUR | |
Female | -5% | 2,700 EUR |
Employees in Portugal are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 16 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.
49% of surveyed staff in Portugal reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 51% 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 | 51% | |
No Bonus | 49% |
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 | 1,840 EUR |
Accounting Assistant | 1,410 EUR |
Accounting Manager | 4,100 EUR |
Bookkeeper | 1,220 EUR |
Chartered Accountant | 2,460 EUR |
Corporate Treasurer | 3,590 EUR |
Financial Analyst | 3,440 EUR |
Financial Manager | 5,110 EUR |
Internal Auditor | 2,610 EUR |
Administration / Reception / Secretarial | |
Administrative Assistant | 1,420 EUR |
Office Manager | 2,260 EUR |
Receptionist | 1,280 EUR |
Secretary | 1,160 EUR |
Advertising / Graphic Design / Events | |
Art Director | 2,530 EUR |
Creative Director | 2,580 EUR |
Graphic Designer | 1,760 EUR |
Photographer | 1,470 EUR |
Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense | |
Aerospace Engineer | 3,530 EUR |
Air Traffic Controller | 2,960 EUR |
Flight Attendant | 1,840 EUR |
Pilot | 4,460 EUR |
Architecture | |
Architect | 3,250 EUR |
CAD Drafter | 1,370 EUR |
Automotive | |
Mechanic | 1,020 EUR |
Service Advisor | 1,770 EUR |
Banking | |
Bank Branch Manager | 4,930 EUR |
Teller | 970 EUR |
Bilingual | |
Teacher | 1,940 EUR |
Translator | 2,460 EUR |
Business Planning | |
Business Analyst | 3,470 EUR |
Business Development Manager | 4,100 EUR |
Project Manager | 3,430 EUR |
Care Giving and Child Care | |
Nanny | 1,060 EUR |
Nursery Teacher | 1,000 EUR |
Construction / Building / Installation | |
Civil Engineer | 2,500 EUR |
Construction Project Manager | 4,560 EUR |
Health and Safety Officer | 1,210 EUR |
Customer Service and Call Center | |
Call Center Representative | 1,040 EUR |
Customer Service Manager | 3,610 EUR |
Customer Service Representative | 980 EUR |
Engineering | |
Civil Engineer | 2,430 EUR |
Electrical Engineer | 2,640 EUR |
Engineer | 2,410 EUR |
Mechanical Engineer | 2,450 EUR |
Executive and Management | |
Chief Executive Officer | 6,100 EUR |
Chief Financial Officer | 5,490 EUR |
General Manager | 4,690 EUR |
Project Manager | 2,920 EUR |
Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering | |
Chef | 1,680 EUR |
Executive Chef | 1,840 EUR |
Hotel Manager | 4,900 EUR |
Receptionist | 950 EUR |
Travel Agent | 1,740 EUR |
Waiter / Waitress | 850 EUR |
Health and Medical | |
Dentist | 6,500 EUR |
Dietitian | 5,110 EUR |
Laboratory Technician | 1,950 EUR |
Nurse | 2,000 EUR |
Human Resources | |
Human Resources Manager | 4,100 EUR |
Human Resources Officer | 1,630 EUR |
Information Technology | |
Computer Technician | 1,980 EUR |
Database Administrator | 2,670 EUR |
Developer / Programmer | 2,580 EUR |
Information Technology Manager | 4,590 EUR |
Network Engineer | 2,250 EUR |
Law Enforcement / Security / Fire | |
Police Officer | 1,670 EUR |
Legal | |
Attorney | 5,260 EUR |
Legal Assistant | 1,380 EUR |
Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment | |
Journalist | 2,930 EUR |
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology | |
Biomedical Engineer | 2,310 EUR |
Pharmacist | 3,510 EUR |
Sales Retail and Wholesale | |
Cashier | 960 EUR |
Sales Manager | 4,720 EUR |
Sales Representative | 1,730 EUR |
Teaching / Education | |
Elementary School Teacher | 1,900 EUR |
Secondary School Teacher | 2,240 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 Portugal is 4 EUR. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
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 Portugal is 6% on average across all career fields.
Private Sector | 2,690 EUR | |
Public Sector | +6% | 2,850 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 Portugal would range anywhere between 2,400 EUR and 3,640 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 Portugal ranges from 700 EUR to 1,740 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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