Since its introduction in 1969, the Netherlands has regularly reviewed and adjusted its minimum wage every six months, on January 1st and July 1st. The country boasts one of the highest minimum wages in Europe, akin to Belgium. For instance, as of January 2024, the Dutch minimum wage for individuals aged 21 and above stands at €2,308.98 per month, calculated on a 40-hour work week. It's important to note that the Dutch government doesn't explicitly establish an hourly minimum wage, so the hourly rates provided are derived from dividing the weekly rate by the hours worked per week.
The Netherlands' top-paying job sectors, as per the National Profession Guide, include Banking (with an average yearly salary of €67,340), Law (averaging €67,504 annually), and Chemics, Oil, and Energy (with an average annual salary of €62,649).
In the Netherlands, your earnings in paid employment are influenced by factors such as gender, age, education level, experience, and industry. Data from the Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek reveals that in 2021, men had an average annual salary of €46,420, while women earned €29,780 annually. This indicates a gender pay gap of 43.7%.
The average annual income per province in the Netherlands reflected the concentration of major companies in the Randstad region, comprising Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague (Den Haag), and Utrecht. The average salaries were as follows:
- Noord-Holland: €30,482
- Utrecht: €30,262
- Zuid-Holland: €28,159
- Noord-Brabant: €27,871
- Gelderland: €26,711
- Limburg: €26,405
- Zeeland: €26,332
- Flevoland: €25,951
- Drenthe: €25,715
- Overijssel: €25,210
- Groningen: €24,431
- Friesland: €24,331