Average Salary in Europe, 2026
About €3,317 per month before tax across the EU as a whole. That single number hides a five-fold gap between the top and bottom of the union — and it is not what a factory or warehouse worker takes home anywhere.
Average pay by country
Eurostat's full-time adjusted annual salary for 2024, the most recent complete year. This is total labour compensation per full-time equivalent employee, so it runs higher than the wage most people see on a payslip.
| Country | Per month | Per year | vs EU average |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU average | €3,317 | €39,800 | — |
| Luxembourg | €6,914 | €82,969 | +108% |
| Denmark | €5,964 | €71,565 | +80% |
| Ireland | €5,088 | €61,051 | +53% |
| Germany | €4,483 | €53,791 | +35% |
| France | €3,649 | €43,790 | +10% |
| Spain | €2,808 | €33,700 | -15% |
| Italy | €2,794 | €33,523 | -16% |
| Cyprus | €2,301 | €27,611 | -31% |
| Portugal | €2,068 | €24,818 | -38% |
| Poland | €1,770 | €21,246 | -47% |
| Hungary | €1,538 | €18,461 | -54% |
| Greece | €1,496 | €17,954 | -55% |
| Bulgaria | €1,282 | €15,387 | -61% |
Source: Eurostat, released November 2025 for the 2024 reference year. Not every member state appears in the release — the Netherlands, Slovakia, Romania and the Baltic states are missing from the published summary, and we have left them out rather than estimating.
Why the average is misleading for shop-floor work
The figure above includes managers, engineers and office staff. If you are looking at warehouse, packing or production work, the number that matters is the median for your trade — and it sits well below the national average everywhere.
Czechia is a clear example. The national average is €2,077 per month. A warehouse worker medians at €1,638 gross, which is about €1,309 net after tax and insurance. That is a 21% gap on the average, before you even get to the difference between an experienced local and a new arrival.
| Trade in Czechia | CZ-ISCO | Median gross | Median net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warehouse Worker | 8344 | €1,638 | €1,309 |
| Sorter | 93332 | €1,400 | €1,134 |
| Order Picker | 93332 | €1,400 | €1,134 |
| Machine Operator | 7223 | €1,886 | €1,490 |
| Forklift Operator | 8344 | €1,638 | €1,309 |
| Welder | 7212 | €1,877 | €1,484 |
| Metal Fitter | 72223 | €1,822 | €1,443 |
| Lathe Operator | 72231 | €1,812 | €1,436 |
| Woodworker | 7522 | €1,241 | €1,017 |
| Truck Driver | 8332 | €1,576 | €1,263 |
| Road Worker | 9312 | €1,470 | €1,185 |
Source: ISPV wage survey 2025 (Ministry of Labour), medians for the private sector by CZ-ISCO code. Net calculated on 2026 rates. Converted at 24.21 Kč/€.
Want to work in Germany? Start in Czechia.
Most people search for Germany first — and then hit a wall: language requirements, long embassy queues, employers who will not sponsor. There is a legal route around it that almost nobody explains.
You get a Czech work permit through a Czech employer. Once you hold it, EU posted-worker rules let that employer send you to work in another member state on an A1 certificate — with no German language requirement and no second visa application.
Read how the A1 route worksFrequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Europe?
Across the EU as a whole it is about €3,317 per month before tax, based on Eurostat's full-time adjusted figure for 2024. The spread is enormous: Luxembourg is roughly five times Bulgaria.
Is that what a factory worker earns?
No. The average includes managers, engineers and office staff. Shop-floor pay sits well below it — in Czechia a warehouse worker medians around €1,638 gross, against a national average of €2,077.
Which European country pays best for unskilled work?
By minimum wage: Luxembourg, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands. But those are also the hardest for a non-EU worker to enter directly, which is why the Czech route exists.
Gross or net — which figure should I look at?
Net, always. In Czechia the gap is roughly 20%: income tax at 15%, employee insurance at 11.6%, less a monthly tax credit. Any advert quoting only gross is making the job look better than it is.
Want the number for your trade?
Tell us your trade and experience level. We will quote the real net figure for the positions we currently have — not a national average.